What We Confirmed About the 49ers Week 3

I’m knee deep in Kraft Mac n’ Cheese and a growler of Pliny the Elder, a fantastic double IPA from Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. Sorry for the slight product plug but if I could get it free for the rest of my life, it would be heaven. If this post gets worse as we go on, well, blame Jed York. I do. The 49er game is almost at half in Arizona and I just watched Kap throw his 3rd interception of the day. Fortunately, Arizona didn’t return this one for a score. Blame could go everywhere so we won’t waste our time discussing how terrible the right side of the offensive line is or how Kap needs to put the ball upfield on his 3rd interception. Instead, let’s use our time constructively. Let’s discuss what we have confirmed about the 49ers. This is not what we have learned, because that signifies that some new material was introduced. Let’s look at what we expected this season, and has now been confirmed by the first half performance this week against Arizona.

The 49ers have almost no pass rush without exotic blitzes. When Aldon Smith was released this offseason there was plenty of discussion about if, and how much, it mattered. I don’t care how many sacks the guy had last season, this team could use his length on the edge right about now. I don’t mind Aaron Lynch much but Ahmad Brooks looks slow in his drop and rarely seems to get in throwing lanes when he does get to his landmarks. The 49ers need to get to the quarterback quickly because the backend of the defense simply isn’t very strong right now and quarterbacks with nothing but time can easily make them look overmatched. When the 49ers send Bowman in with some extravagant blitz, Mangini looks like a genius. But what can he dial up with only three or four men with pass rush responsibilities? He has to figure something out, until he does it is safe to say that we have confirmed that the 49ers pass rush won’t be much this season.

Michael Wilhoite is nothing more than a backup fringe starter at Inside Linebacker. Wilhoite has played admirably in past games for the 49ers but the reality is that he isn’t good enough to start each week in the NFL. The 49ers need another athletic inside linebacker to pair with Bowman, otherwise this base defense will continually be toasted by teams that pass well. I have called for Tartt to get more playing time for the last two weeks in the “Big Dime” defense that we saw featured in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Quite frankly, I would be much more comfortable with a base defensive unit featuring Tartt and Bowman as opposed to what we have now. I expect the 49ers to target an inside linebacker in the first two rounds of the draft next year. I would not be shocked to see them select Jaylon Smith in the 1st round, even if they have to move up to get him.

Lastly, for some slightly good news, Jarryd Hayne is a legit NFL return man. After watching DeAndrew White look timid returning kickoffs, I would strongly consider Hayne as the primary return man for all special teams for the remainder of the season. The man has incredible vision and, although not incredibly fast, seems to excel at hitting an extra gear through holes that allows him to run out of tackles. The team

had a slight spark after his long punt return in the 2nd quarter and he looked excited to make a play and feel some contact on the sideline. That’s a man I want to have the ball. Whether he does it every week or not, the energy provided off the bench is worth it even if for two plays a game. The skillset that he has can consistently develop throughout the year and perhaps turn into elite stuff quickly. I don’t know how many punts I expect the 49er defense to force but if he returns kickoffs then he will get a ton of work.

I know it seems like I am being pessimistic. And I probably am. Because I’m hurt. I realize I am acting like a six-year old child that says something mean in retaliation but that’s the way it goes as a 49er fan right now. After Week 1, I spent some time convincing myself that this team could actually pull of ten wins, and they still may, but the last two weeks aren’t encouraging and next week won’t get any easier with the Packers on the schedule. I may just have to keep a growler of this Pliny handy each Sunday as we suffer through some of this. At least I have an excuse to enjoy it on a Sunday afternoon.