By Nicholas Navaro
Two weeks ago the San Francisco 49ers were heralded league-wide as perhaps the best team in the NFL. After an impressive win over the always-dangerous Green Bay Packers, many analysts were ready to write them in for another appearance in the NFC Championship, and perhaps, the conference's representative in a consecutive appearance in the Super Bowl.
How quickly life can change in the NFL.
For most teams, a 1-2 record isn't particularly indicative of how much trouble an organization might be in. But as the Niners prepare to close out arguably the toughest September schedule in the league, this has turned into a pivotal week for the defending NFC champs.
It started to go downhill after the brutal trip to Seattle, where a 29-3 score still doesn't quite paint a clear picture of how bad of a night it was for the 49ers. After getting roughed up physically and emotionally, the 49ers hoped to rebound at home against the visiting Indianapolis Colts, led by Jim Harbaugh's former protege, Andrew Luck. Once again, however, the 49ers were dominated in all aspects of the game. And with injuries adding up, it was far more than their pride that was hurt.
Of course, life may not be so bad if it was just issues on the field, but the 49ers are now facing adversity off of it. Linebacker Aldon Smith has been in the news the past couple of weeks for all the wrong reasons. The talented pass-rusher was arrested for DUI and drug possession at 7 a.m. last Friday when his car crashed into a tree. With a second strike for DUI, Smith's ultimate punishments, both from the law and the league, are still unknown. In the meantime, he has taken an indefinite leave of absence and has admitted himself into a rehab center far away from the team.
The 49ers have put Smith on the non-injury PUP list, so they can choose to play him should he be available later on in the year. But if Smith is even allowed to return this season is a whole different question entirely.
Fortunately, it's still early on, but the Niners will have to start digging deep. It won't get much easier this week as they visit the St. Louis Rams, a team they couldn't beat in two attempts last season. To make matters worse, they will likely have to do so without key members of the team.
Absent are perennial linebackers Patrick Willis and Smith. They might also be without their supremely talented tight-end Vernon Davis. And of course, Michael Crabtree, who injured his achilles back in May. Right there are arguably the two biggest playmakers on defense and the two most explosive players on offense. That is production that simply won't be replaced by bench players.
This is not how anybody saw the season starting for this organization. For the first time since his arrival, Harbaugh has not yet had an answer. After numerous questionable strategies and tactics the past couple of weeks, the questions keep on coming (notably from some of his own players, such as runningback Frank Gore). For San Francisco's sake, Harbaugh and co. need to figure out how to get the offense rolling again, starting with the two most important players: Colin Kaepernick and Gore.
Although newcomer (and former arch-rival) Anquan Boldin provides the team with veteran leadership and a reliable target for Kaepernick, the other receivers on the team have not been able to make their mark. From not being able to beat press coverage off the line of scrimmage or just not getting open downfield, guys like Kyle Williams and Quinton Patton are not making life easy for the team's young quarterback. A healthy Vernon Davis makes a big difference, but ultimately, this offense won't be firing on all cylinders until Crabtree and Mario Manningham recover from their injuries. Until then, the 49ers have to will themselves to victory.
Seven months off their Super Bowl appearance, the 49ers are not sneaking up on anybody. They will continue to be a measuring stick to their opponents despite their current record. But it is still early on in the season and the 49ers can take solace in the fact that they aren't the only contender who has had a rough start (surely the Packers, Giants, and Falcons aren't too upset to see the Niners struggling). As we see every year, the teams that get hot at the right time are usually the ones that make the biggest splash in the postseason. If this 49er team wants it bad enough, they are dangerous enough to be that team in January.
But before all that, they have to get back to being the bullies--not the bullied.
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