The Not So Quiet Bye Week
by: Bryan Hersh
On a regular basis I will be providing an exclusive commentary to HOTN. Of course, your feedback and comments are most certainly welcome (see the bottom of the article). However, if you want more of me, and some more great 49ers news, check out 49ersParadise.com. I think that's enough for shameless self promotion - though at the end of each article you will find a bye-line linking back to 'Dise, from time to time I may advertise a new feature this way as well, but in general, I will not go on to great lengths promoting 'Dise via this medium. Instead I intend to talk 49ers football.
As you might have guessed, 'what makes me qualified' to talk about the 49ers is my experience with 'Dise. I think I fit in well here at HOTN where "the never played or coached approach" tends to reign supreme. It's right up my ally actually, as I've been covering the team since 1996 - but the closest I have been to the field is a visit in training camp or pregame. You have likely realized that I am not just an average fan, but rather a completely devoted fanatic - and speaking of not average, I'm also from Canada, so you may notice a few too many "eh's" in my writing, and sometimes I'll spell things like favorite with a "U". I do my best to edit this slang out, but if you see it from time to time, consider yourselves for-warned.
Time to get down to business...
The bye week in recent years, was rather quiet. Fans, and the team for that matter, focused simply on 'how to improve'. This year though, things were very different, and the 49ers received some good and not so good news. Yes, of course, the focus and intent has not changed, the team wants to get better - but the level of desperation has certainly changed - even coming off a horrible loss. In particular, there have been three important issues the team has dealt with this bye week: 1) concussions, 2) the offensive line, and 3) Michael Crabtree.
Not since Steve Young was taken out by the Tampa Bay Buc's have concussions been such an issue with the 49ers. Science has evolved considerably since then, and players even have the option of wearing a few different helmets to try and curb these head injuries. Despite these advances the team has two defensive players, Michael Lewis and Jeff Ulbrich who have a severe concussion history. Head injuries should never be taken likely, and while Lewis has been cleared to continue to play, Ulbrich has been placed on the injured reserve. Ulbrich, who has been with the team 10 years now, may never play again, and quite frankly, I respect that decision. Our brains do not heal in the same way the rest of our bodies do, and despite the advances in science, concussions and post-concussion syndrome are still a big mystery. I hope Ulbrich recovers, and for that matter, I hope Lewis has considered the risks appropriately.
The 49ers made a move to replace Ulbrich on the active roster by signing for Charger, Matt Wilhelm. Wilhelm will have a tall task ahead of him replacing Ulbrich - who despite not starting was an important rotational player for the team. Fortunately, the team is fairly deep at linebacker, and Ulbrich's injury may just mean a bit more play time for the starting crew. The 49ers have enough depth at safety to survive if Lewis is knocked out again, but for a team that has built its identity around defense, it needs all the health it can get.
Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you'll know that the 49ers offense has struggled mightily this season. Much of that struggle seems to come from poor play on the offensive line. Sure, a case could be made for some lack luster performances by the receivers, or Shaun Hill, or even blamed on the injury to Frank Gore; the truth is, it all starts in the trenches. With that in mind, the 49ers have been shuffling the offensive line this week... only I am not sure that will matter.
Tony Pashos has won the job at right tackle, over Adam Snyder. Snyder will begin another rotation at right guard with, Chilo Rachal, who has been under-performing. Snyder had requested in the off-season to remain at one position, so that he could concentrate and improve. The 49ers were content with that until now. Whether Snyder's performance really dictated this move, or whether it's the under-performance by Rachal is not really clear. The entire line has been struggling, and it did not look like Pashos was doing any better than Snyder. Perhaps the team simply wants to make use of Snyder's versatility.
As I have said above, I'm not sure any of it actually matters. The talent one the 49ers line was brought in to block for a west coast style offense. Quick, short passes, and pulling to set up runs. The team is trying to move towards a power run game, but does not really have the talent up front to support that type of attack. Regardless of how good Frank Gore is, the team should be modifying the run game to the strength of all the talent. Sadly, the team lacks a Kevin Gogan type offensive lineman. I hope these moves improve the offense, but I'm not overly optimistic that we will see improvement from the line until we see a change in offensive mentality.
Finally, it seems that first round draft pick Michael Crabtree has earned a starting spot on the roster despite missing all of training camp and the start of the season. That's right folks, Josh Morgan has reported that Crabtree will start ahead of him. This means one of a few things. Either a) the team is that unimpressed with Morgan, b) Crabtree is THAT good, or c) the receiver spot is basically irrelevant in this offense. Unfortunately, it's option C that seems to be the most likely reasoning. The 49ers have not been throwing the ball, and when they do, veteran Isaac Bruce seems to drop more passes than Morgan. I think the team is hoping to add a spark to the offense with Crabtree, but the spark really has to come from the play calling. The team is loaded at talent at receiver, but it is probably the most under-utilized part of the offense. Crabtree may get lots of play time, but if the team does not throw the ball, it simply will not matter.
I am very perplexed by the idea of starting Crabtree at all. Even if he is really ready to go, to start him sends the wrong message to the team. Training camp this year was brutal, and Crabtree missed all of it. He missed the contact, the grueling nut cracker drills, and in general sent the wrong messages to the club. Morgan was there, sweating it out; so was Jason Hill for that matter. Crabtree better be darn good or players will quickly lose respect for the system and the approachSingletary is trying to impose. Truth is, Isaac Bruce has been under performing, and if anyone should sit at the receiver spot, it's Bruce ... but again, how do you demote a player like Bruce for Crabtree who has missed it all? Quite frankly, I am surprised Singletary is putting himself, and his first overall pick, in this situation.
Bryan Hersh is the Founder and President of 49ers Paradise, www.49ersparadise.com He is a good friend and supporter of Hooked on the Niners. Please contact Bryan with any questions or comments at bryan_hotn@49ersparadise.com