49ers Aren't Dead Yet: Three Things to Build from and Five Things to Improve

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When the season began, the San Francisco 49ers started off hot, compiling an early 3-1 record and starting some early talk not just about the playoffs, but of an NFC West division title.

One four-loss streak later, and many of the 49ers faithful have been pulling their hair out over what might have been.

The season is far from over, however, and the team is not out of it yet. Even failing to win the division title might not end their hopes. Yes, Atlanta is playing well and has a 5-3 record, but Chicago and Green Bay are both struggling at 4-4, and those are teams the 49ers play in the next half of the season.

At 3-5 nothing is certain, but hope has not yet been lost. With that in mind, here are three things the 49ers can build on and five things they either must change or have fall their way over the course of the rest of the season.

THE THREE

1) The Weapons

One thing above all else that the team has going for it is a solid group of players at the key "skill" positions. Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and now Michael Crabtree are a good core to build around, even for just one season.

It's hard to argue with Gore's ability, even if he's had injury issues this year. He's had a pair of bad games, but for the most part, when healthy, he has produced in grand fashion.

Gore has had three monster games (246 total yards against Seattle, 134 against Indianapolis, and 158 last week against Tennessee). It's worth noting that he's done this with an offensive line that lets him down more often than not (we'll touch on that in a minute).

Gore is on course for another season of over 1,000 yards. If he can stay healthy and if the 49ers can keep him fresh enough to keep it up late into the season, he will continue to move the ball well and open things up for the rest of the offense.

If at the end of 2008, someone had walked up to you and said, "You know what I think? Vernon Davis is going to have a career year in 2009. Book it," you'd have likely pried the Budweiser out of their hands, checked them into a clinic for the Delusional and Hopeful, and walked away chuckling.

Yet here we are. I was very optimistic that Davis would have a big year, so I'm not totally surprised. What I didn't expect was Davis being ranked 14th in targets league-wide with 66. That's not just among tight ends but wide receivers and running backs as well. Only the Colts' Dallas Clark has more.

Of those, he has caught 42 for 477 yards and seven touchdowns (more than any other tight end in the league and tied with Miles Austin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Vincent Jackson overall).

Despite the emergence of rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Davis has continued to see a tremendous number of targets (11, 5, 11 in the last three games). Davis has given the team a tremendous weapon both in and outside of the red zone

I'll admit it—I was dubious of the idea that Crabtree would contribute in 2009. Despite coach Mike Singletary's insistence that the rookie would be used early and often in his first game, I chalked it up to gamesmanship.

I'm pretty sure I was wrong though.

Not to say Crabtree has been perfection; far from it. He makes good plays, but he also makes rookie mistakes. He's fumbled, he's tipped passes into the opposing secondary's hands, he's bobbled, and he's run bad routes.

All that said, he's doing much better than anticipated. While he will have bad games (Tennessee did a great job of smothering and frustrating the rookie out of Texas Tech), he's already gained the attention of defenses, and that will open things up for the other offensive players.

Now if Alex Smith can just stay consistent.

2) Schedule

I wouldn't call it cake, but I WOULD call it winnable.

Three of their remaining eight games are against division opponents. What that means is they hold some of their fate in their own hands.

A second win against the also 3-5 Seahawks isn't out of the question. As far as Arizona goes, yes, they are playing at a high offensive level right now, but the 49ers get them at home and if they can get the defense to step up, the game is very winnable.

Also, they get to face the perpetually struggling St. Louis Rams, and while I don't like guaranteeing a win, it's hard to fathom losing that one.

Speaking of gimmes, Detroit comes to Candlestick on Dec. 27, and that's perfect timing if the division is on the line.

Jacksonville can play tough, but the Niners have the tools to beat them. We are talking about the 23rd-ranked defense in the NFL, 26th versus the pass and 22nd against the run.

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