49ers vs. Saints: Complete Week 10 Preview for San Francisco

San Francisco's 2014 season is at a crossroads as the team heads out on the road to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 10—a game to be played on Sunday, November 9 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.

The 4-4 49ers are five-point underdogs in this contest, according to Odds Shark, and after what happened at the hands of the St. Louis Rams a week ago, it is easy to understand why the Saints are listed as favorites.

San Francisco's offense failed to show up in Week 9. It sputtered and ultimately flopped during a lackluster 13-10 loss to the last-place Rams. The 49ers offensive line was permeable—allowing eight sacks of quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the process.

The underwhelming offensive performance obviously created plenty of consternation surrounding the team. This was supposed to be a vastly improved unit, but a vast majority of the season has revealed nothing of the sort.

"

What's that smell? Oh, right, it's the 49ers offense. http://t.co/gnck3MJG4J pic.twitter.com/KlWbvZG41f

— Bay Area Sports Guy (@BASportsGuy) November 3, 2014"

While the 49ers defense has held up its end of the bargain, the offense's ongoing struggles continue to be a problem—one that will have to be rectified if the 49ers hope to make any sort of playoff push in the second half of 2014.

That challenge begins with a tough road contest against a 4-4 Saints team that is 3-0 on the season at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. 

Let's break down everything you will need to know as San Francisco attempts to right the ship in the second half.

49ers' Week 9 Recap

Week 9 was perhaps the most embarrassing 49ers loss during the Jim Harbaugh era.

Coming off a Week 8 bye, one might have expected San Francisco to be rested and prepared for the second divisional matchup against the St. Louis Rams—a team the 49ers had beaten 31-17 three weeks prior.

But an uninspired San Francisco offense was only able to muster just 263 yards and totaled a mere 10 points against a banged-up and weakened St. Louis team.

The 49ers defense held its own, but the 49ers offense proved to be more than problematic. 

San Francisco has long been known as a run-first, run-heavy team. This is how the franchise has been built over recent seasons. But with an added crop of receiving weapons, the 49ers have seemingly gotten away from their inherent strengths—an aspect that was revealed in full light against St. Louis.

Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier broke down just how this has affected San Francisco's offense, pointing out how the added talent has taken something away from what used to be in the past. He writes:

"

The 49ers also have one of the most creative schemes in the world, orchestrated by head coach Jim Harbaugh and coordinator Greg Roman. But the 49ers might be a little too talented and too creative for their own good. With so many new playmakers on the roster, the 49ers are trying to do too much. The offense that was once great at one thing is now a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none, at risk of falling desperately behind in the NFC playoff race with a loss to the surging Saints.

"

"

The #49ers have plenty of talent. What they need now is an editor. http://t.co/dXhYGRQ2vP

— Michael Tanier (@MikeTanier) November 6, 2014"

This apparent lack of identity has created more than just a few headaches. The offensive line, once thought as a preeminent 49ers strength, has underperformed and is widely struggling in pass protection.

The O-line allowed eight sacks of Colin Kaepernick to a Rams team that could boast of just six in its prior seven games. 

One might wonder whether this loss will prove to be the deciding factor in determining San Francisco's playoff chances—a question discussed further in the above video.

Running back Frank Gore was one to question exactly where San Francisco's offense is heading, having stated such via NBC Sports' ProFootballTalk writer Josh Alper:

"

We’ve just got to make our minds up, do what we feel we’re good at, and go do it. I still think we have a good coordinator. I still believe in our coordinator. He’s been successful since he’s been here. As players, we’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror. When he makes a call, we’ve got to do it. I wouldn’t put it on him. It’s also us. I feel he put us in good situations. We’re just too up and down.

"

Gore's defense of Greg Roman stands in contrast to the notion that the 49ers' offensive coordinator is not calling plays that fit into what San Francisco is best-suited to do.

If the system is broken, it ultimately falls upon Roman and Harbaugh to fix it. So far, this has yet to be the case.

News and Notes

The primary theme behind San Francisco's recent struggles has been the lack of identity on offense. This stands in stark contrast to the thought that the 49ers offense would be vastly improved in 2014 considering the added weapons acquired during the offseason.

These additions have certainly shifted San Francisco's offensive theory to a certain degree. For the first time in the Jim Harbaugh era, the 49ers are passing more than they are running the ball. Are the results positive?

It certainly doesn't look that way.

Offensive Identity Crisis

San Francisco's offensive woes are hot among the heated topics surrounding the franchise in 2014. David Fucillo of Niners Nation points out the conflicting approach that has gained nothing more than inconsistency up to this point.

"

The offense is getting plenty of complaints. What do the coaches and players need to do to get back on track? http://t.co/wrUiEIb9aq

— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) November 5, 2014"

Fucillo also states that the answer isn't simply to just fire Greg Roman. The problem is deeper than just the play-calling of one man.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com backs up this thought:

"

But Roman does not block anyone. He does not handle the center-quarterback exchange. He is not responsible for throwing the ball. He is not responsible for catching the ball. He is not responsible for holding onto the ball. At the goal line against the St. Louis Rams, if Colin Kaepernick had thrown a good pass to Michael Crabtree, the 49ers win.

If Kaepernick and Marcus Martin had executed a clean snap exchange on the quarterback sneak, the 49ers win.

"

Roman's offensive theories and approach may be offsetting this team to a certain degree. But the players on the field still have to execute. If the results are poor, they also work themselves into the problem.

Harbaugh's Future?

Hearing news and rumors about the 49ers head coach's future with the team is nothing new to the 2014 season. 

How big was the apparent rift between Harbaugh and the front office? Is the head coach losing his locker room, as once stated by Deion Sanders on NFL GameDay Final?

We've heard it all before.

The notion that winning cures everything might have put these questions to rest. But the 49ers aren't winning now, and those stories and rumors are beginning to surface once again.

Hall of Famer Jerry Rice was one of the latest to chime in on Harbaugh's future with San Francisco. 

"With Jim Harbaugh, there’s a lot of questions out there right now," Rice said via Sports Illustrated (h/t Chris Chase of USA Today). "We don’t really know if he wants to come back and be the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers. ... Maybe that’s starting to wear and tear on the team and it’s taking its toll."

Rice came to the conclusion that Harbaugh would be gone after the season, no matter what the results.

"

WATCH: Jerry Rice on Harbaugh's future with the San Francisco 49ers: "I think he's gone" http://t.co/C9diLfCgCZ pic.twitter.com/oGBx77k8Tx

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 4, 2014"

But fellow Hall of Famer Joe Montana took a different approach on SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News):

"

Whether Jim moves on for another reason, I don't know. If there is something going on, I would say he wouldn't be back, that would be my guess. But if there isn't, I don't see any reason why. He's got a great nucleus there. I'm not sure why you would want to leave a team like that, with as much talent that's on there. I'm sure there are places he'd like to fill in. But it's hard to leave a team you've coached for so long, you know well, you've got guys getting into position you'd want them to be.

"

Whatever the final result is one can be certain that the speculation will continue, especially if San Francisco's struggles remain a consistent theme over the rest of the year.

Marcus Lattimore Announces Retirement

What was shaping up to be one of the best feel-good stories in recent memory came to a sad end on Wednesday.

Former University of South Carolina running back and 2013 49ers fourth-round draft pick Marcus Lattimore elected to end his NFL career after attempting to make a comeback from the gruesome knee injury suffered in college.

The team announced his decision on Wednesday, and Lattimore released the following statement via his Twitter account:

"

pic.twitter.com/IUV78B4lmr

— Marcus Lattimore (@MarcusLattimore) November 5, 2014"

Lattimore had spent his first season on the non-football injury list only to start off 2014 the same way. In the end, the recovery process proved to be too much for this talented back.

Aldon Smith's Suspension

San Francisco's defense was hoping that it would get linebacker Aldon Smith back a little earlier than what his nine-game suspension initially indicated.

News of this possibility was reported by NBC Sports ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio back in October, suggesting that Smith's suspension could possibly end a game or two earlier based on Smith's good behavior.

Since that point however, no news has emanated out of the NFL camp suggesting that Smith's return will happen prematurely. 

ESPN's Ed Werder, citing a source, was the latest to tweet that Smith's suspension will be carried out through all nine games.

"

Source says Aldon Smith nine-game suspension won't be reduced, so he's out Sunday vs Saints

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) November 5, 2014"

While San Francisco's pass rush has missed Smith's performance on the field, the defense has been able to maintain good effectiveness eight games into the season.

Elite Defense?

Don't look now, but the 49ers are the second-best team in the league with just 2,335 all-purpose yards allowed.

Aside from Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray in Week 1, San Francisco's defense has yet to allow a 100-plus-yard rusher. The run defense ranks No. 5 in fewest yards against (685), and while the pass rush has not exactly been a strength, one has to consider the front seven as having performed well above expectations.

Here is another surprising stat: San Francisco's secondary has allowed the third-fewest yards through the air in the NFL (1,650). This revamped unit is quietly emerging as one of the league's best, offsetting the said pass-rushing woes from earlier.

"

49ers safety tandem (Eric Reid / Antoine Bethea) quietly one of the NFL's best. Underrated secondary all around.

— Big Easy Sports Talk (@BestFantasyNick) November 3, 2014"

Veteran safety Antoine Bethea is putting together a Pro Bowl season. Perrish Cox, who is tied for second in the league with four interceptions, is having a breakout year. 

Overall, the defense has been the one constant the 49ers have been able to enjoy this season. This has to be a bit of a shock considering all the injuries suffered and Smith's suspension.

Considering the extended losses of Smith, NaVorro Bowman, Tramaine Brock and Patrick Willis, what the defense has been able to do is quite commendable. Excellent play from fill-ins like Cox, Aaron Lynch, Chris Borland and Michael Wilhoite have provided the difference.

Injury Report

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

Patrick Willis' toe injury continues to linger.

Injuries    

Brandon Lloyd, WR: Questionable (hamstring)

Dan Skuta, LB: Questionable (ankle)

Patrick Willis, LB: Questionable (toe)

Ian Williams, DT: Questionable (shin)

Tramaine Brock, CB: Questionable (toe)

Frank Gore, RB: Probable (hip)

All injury statuses courtesy of CBS Sports and Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Linebacker Patrick Willis' toe injury continues to be a factor as the 29-year-old perennial Pro Bowler once again missed practice leading up to Week 10, per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee.

This leads us to believe that Willis will not be able to go on Sunday versus the Saints. Instead, the 49ers will again turn to rookie inside linebacker Chris Borland to fill the void—a job in which he performed admirably well a week ago, according to Taylor Price of 49ers.com.

"

#49ers coaches counted 22 tackles for Chris Borland vs. the Rams, the most by a Niner since @PatrickWillis52 recorded 22 vs. ATL in 2013.

— Taylor Price (@TaylorPrice) November 4, 2014"

A linebacker corps without Willis, Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman has been reinforced by solid play from Borland, Aaron Lynch and Michael Wilhoite. The 49ers will expect more of the same on Sunday.

Dan Skuta's ankle injury also kept him out of practice, which means we'll likely see more of Lynch when defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's play-calling needs him.

Frank Gore was also limited during practice, but he is almost certain to suit up for Sunday's contest.

X-Factors and Matchups to Watch

After stumbling out of the gate to start the 2014 season, the New Orleans Saints have begun to turn things around. A 1-3 start has given way to three victories in four games. Over their last two contests, the Saints have outscored opponents 72-33.

Oh, and New Orleans is a perfect 3-0 at home this year, which makes for an even tougher challenge for the visiting 49ers.

Combine this with San Francisco's recent offensive woes, and one is forced to wonder just how an underachieving 49ers team can defeat an opponent that is riding a hot streak.

That outcome will be largely contingent on the following matchups:

Antoine Bethea/Michael Wilhoite vs. Jimmy Graham

Tight end Jimmy Graham has once again emerged as quarterback Drew Brees' favorite receiving target. Through eight games, he leads all Saints receivers with 46 receptions, 518 yards and five touchdowns.

"

49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio talks about the difficulty in covering Saints tight end Jimmy Graham. http://t.co/pOKWmvwi0X

— Steve Corkran (@CorkOnTheNFL) November 6, 2014"

We should speculate that the 49ers will use a combination of safety Antoine Bethea and Michael Wilhoite to cover the potent tight end, much like this tandem did against Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce a number of weeks ago.

Both tight ends create difficult matchups, and both are favored targets of their respective quarterbacks.

Perrish Cox vs. Marques Colston

Depending on how Vic Fangio's defense matches up on Sunday, we might expect to see a lot of Perrish Cox lining up against Saints wideout Marques Colston.

Colston is No. 2 on the Saints with 444 receiving yards and figures to be a part of the flurry of New Orleans' offensive weapons utilized against San Francisco on Sunday.

Cox is second in the league with four interceptions and also has notched 13 passes defended over that span. The 49ers are quietly getting a lot of production out of a player who was once viewed as little more than depth and a special teams contributor.

The 27-year-old is looking forward to the challenge, as reiterated in the above video.

Also, keep an eye out on a matchup between rookies Jimmie Ward and Brandin Cooks. This slot matchup could also prove to be vital.

Aaron Lynch vs. Saints' Front Five

New Orleans has allowed just 11 sacks to Brees on the season. It's safe to assume that they are doing a good job of protecting him.

Across the scrimmage line, San Francisco continues to struggle in the pass rush. The 49ers have generated a total of just 13 sacks on the year—a far cry from what was hoped for prior to Week 1. 

But rookie Aaron Lynch has put a stop to some of the 49ers' concerns in this area. According to Pro Football Focus (h/t Eric Branch of SFGate.com), Lynch notched five quarterback pressures in 20 pass-rushing attempts last week versus St. Louis.

"

Per @PFF, #49ers LB Aaron Lynch had five QB pressures in 20 pass rushes vs. #Rams. LB Ahmad Brooks? Zero pressures in 20 pass rushes.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 3, 2014"

Getting to Brees won't necessarily be the issue. It will be creating the pressure that forces him to deliver the ball earlier than hoped. Lynch will be asked to continue what he has done so well thus far.

49ers O-Live vs. Junior Galette

Saying that San Francisco's offensive line has struggled mightily as of late is kind of like saying water is wet.

The O-line's problems have been a paramount issue almost all season—further revealed by the 14 sacks given up over the 49ers' last two games.

Permeability of the O-line is something that can be attributed to a number of factors. Perhaps the pass-first offensive scheme does not fit into what this unit does best—run blocking. It's possible the general lack of continuity and injuries (Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati, Daniel Kilgore, etc.) have forced a lack of chemistry.

We could also assume that this unit is just not playing up to expectations.

Steve Berman of Bay Area Sports Guy delivers an excellent dissertation behind these struggles. His points will be vital factors in determining what happens with the 49ers offense in Week 10.

Chief among the Saints' pass-rushing threats is fifth-year pro Junior Galette. Galette leads New Orleans with 6.0 sacks on the season. As a whole, the Saints can boast of 17 sacks on the year.

If San Francisco's pass-protection struggles continue, we can bet that Galette will be a reason.

49ers' X-Factor of the Week: OC Greg Roman

Nope, it's not Colin Kaepernick. It's not Frank Gore. It's not Vernon Davis.

The X-factor of the week is 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

We can debate all day and all season long about whether Roman should retain his job. It's nothing new. But the bigger debate, at least within the 49ers' coaching staff, will be how Roman can get this offense back on track at a crucial turning point in the season.

"

49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman had this to say about team's offensive woes, criticism from fans/media. http://t.co/CPEdndg59S

— Steve Corkran (@CorkOnTheNFL) November 6, 2014"

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com describes this importance:

"

The offensive coordinator has not been able to find the answers and push the right buttons. I think everybody can agree on that.

But I do not believe Roman is the problem with the 49ers’ offense. I think the problems are widespread.

It starts with Roman. He is the one who cobbles together the game plans. Then, he’s the one upstairs who sends the play calls down to Harbaugh, who relays them to Colin Kaepernick. Obviously, at any point, Harbaugh can make his own play calls.

"

Whatever the approach Roman had in Week 9, the final results indicated that it didn't work. The problems are widespread, as Maiocco writes, but it ultimately falls upon Roman to put his offense in a position where it is best-suited to win.

Perhaps this means a return to the 49ers' strengths—less emphasis on a pass-happy attack and more reliance upon San Francisco's abilities to move the ball on the ground.

But feeding the ball to Frank Gore for a multitude of up-the-middle runs won't be the cure-all against Rob Ryan's defense. The aggressive defensive coordinator could be thrown off by a combination of misdirections, sweeps and screens—plays the 49ers mixed in with decent success in Week 9.

A little more of this couldn't hurt, especially considering how deep into despair San Francisco's offense has sunk.

Prediction

The Saints are riding a hot streak. The 49ers offense has gone cold.

New Orleans is 3-0 at home on the season. San Francisco has a road record of 2-2.

The 49ers can boast of a top-10 defense. The Saints have one that is more toward the middle of the pack.

San Francisco has dominated the all-time series between these two teams, 47-25-2.

"

#49ers are 47-25-2 vs. @Saints, with many great images from over the years. VIEW #TBT photos: http://t.co/3xbFkOHeyL pic.twitter.com/4ltQ8tkZZB

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 6, 2014"

How much of this will matter on Sunday?

For New Orleans, the story will be to maintain the team's recent success. The NFC South is as poor a division as there is in football right now, and the 4-4 Saints sit atop the chain. Riding that two-game winning streak and home-field advantage will be one of their focal points.

But the 49ers have far more questions of which to answer.

Defensively, San Francisco will look to do its best against a formidable Saints offense led by Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham. The 49ers defense has done well enough to keep the team in the majority of games this season, but ultimately, this unit does not shoulder the burden of San Francisco's general concerns.

That almost entirely falls upon the offense.

While the 49ers defense will try to limit the offensive damage done by New Orleans, it will be up to the offense to keep pace with and eventually ascend over what the Saints can do. 

It's a basic yet effective thought: The best way to keep a prolific offense from hurting you is to keep it off the field.

Does this suggest the 49ers will return to their inherent strengths? An effective, regulated ground game will eat up the clock, keeping Brees and Co. off the field for as long as possible. It will also help set up the 49ers' play action—an area in which Colin Kaepernick has had success in recent years.

If Sunday's game figures to be a shootout, it would be in San Francisco's best interests to throw that philosophy right in the face of its opponent. New Orleans may get its scoring chances, but the 49ers will be able to limit them if they can regain some sort of momentum of the offensive side of the ball.

But this requires an identity and the correct approach—elements that have been lacking in recent weeks.

Overcoming this challenge will ultimately fall upon Jim Harbaugh, Greg Roman and all the players on offense. 

Prior to the season, this author predicted this contest to be one of four losses the 49ers would endure—the others being at Arizona, at Denver and at Seattle. San Francisco has matched those four losses already, and if the prediction holds true, this loss would put the 49ers at five on the year.

Unfortunately, this prediction still seems too far out of reach to overturn. It's hopeful, perhaps even likely, San Francisco generates a greater offensive push than shown in its previous two games. But the apparent problems are just too deep to solve in just one week's time.

Let's hope I'm wrong.

Prediction: 49ers 20, Saints 31 

All statistics and records courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.