Biggest Takeaways from San Francisco 49ers' Week 7 Loss

First big takeaway from the San Francisco 49ers’ crushing 20-3 Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks: It’s almost Blaine Gabbert time.

We’ve seen enough of Colin Kaepernick—the man is too inconsistent to be a starting quarterback right now. One week he plays well and looks confident; the next week he throws grounders and beans an equipment manager on the sideline.

You’ve got to keep your head on a swivel when Kaepernick is playing.

The way things are going, Kaepernick probably will get cut at the end of the season—he’s too expensive to keep as a backup—and general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Jim Tomsula probably will get fired.

Instead of accepting their fate and going down with Kaepernick, Baalke and Tomsula probably will bench No. 7 and give Gabbert a chance to start a few games. If Gabbert plays well (a long shot), Baalke and Tomsula can say Kaepernick was the problem and ask for another season with the team.

The Gabbert Era is coming.

Here are five more takeaways from Week 7.

It’s Almost Jarryd Hayne Time

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Starting tailback Carlos Hyde has a stress fracture in his foot, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Hyde played only 22 of 48 snaps Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, per Pro Football Focus. Clearly, the coaches had him on a snap count, not wanting to overwork their injured running back. Smart.

Here’s what wasn’t smart: deactivating running back Jarryd Hayne. He could have helped Hyde carry the load. Instead, Reggie Bush was the backup, and he’s no load-carrier—he ran the ball only four times.

Now that the 49ers’ season is over, there’s no reason to keep playing Hyde and his injured foot. Let him heal. Hayne should be the starting running back until Hyde is healthy.

The 49ers Probably Won’t Win Another Game Until December

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Don’t think the 49ers’ season is over? Look at the schedule.

Week 8: At the St. Louis Rams. That’s a loss.

Week 9: Versus the Atlanta Falcons. Loss.

Week 10: Bye.

Week 11: At the Seattle Seahawks: Loss.

Week 12: Versus the Arizona Cardinals. Loss.

In all likelihood, San Francisco’s record will be 2-9 before December. Good luck making the playoffs with nine losses.

In Week 13, the Niners will play the Chicago Bears in Chicago. The Niners could win that game. Of course, they could also lose it. San Francisco and Chicago are two of the worst teams in the NFL, and neither will have anything to play for in December. Should be a great game.

The 49ers Are Rebuilding

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When the 49ers parted ways with former head coach Jim Harbaugh in December, general manager Trent Baalke famously said, per the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, “This isn’t a rebuild situation. This is a reload situation.”

Translation: Sure, we just lost a great head coach, and we may lose several quality players this offseason. But we’re prepared to lose those guys. We have good replacements, and we’re a winning team.

Turns out, Baalke was wrong. The Niners are a losing team that was facing a rebuild situation all along.

Colin Kaepernick has to go, and NaVorro Bowman may have to go, too—he’s too expensive to be such a liability in pass coverage. Baalke probably didn’t realize these things when he made that bold proclamation in December.

The 49ers Don’t Have a Strong Young Core of Players to Rebuild Around

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The Niners might not have been facing a reload situation if Trent Baalke’s draft picks had been better the past few years.

Since 2013, Baalke drafted 33 players. What does he have to show for all of those picks? How many of them are impact players right now?

I count two: the running back, Carlos Hyde, and the outside linebacker, Aaron Lynch. Those two are terrific. The Niners definitely should build around them, although Hyde may be injury prone. He’s a violent runner who has a stress fracture in his foot.

How many other young players should the 49ers definitely build around? Arik Armstead? Jaquiski Tartt? Eli Harold? What have they proven?

The young core consists of two players until further notice.

The 49ers Probably Will Have a Top-Five Pick in the 2016 Draft

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Good news for the 49ers: They will have an opportunity to add a premier talent to the young core of players this offseason.

As long as the Niners win only one or two more games (which seems likely), San Francisco should have a top-five pick in the upcoming draft.

If the Niners want, they can draft a pass-rusher to replace Aldon Smith, like Joey Bosa from Ohio State. Or an offensive tackle to replace Anthony Davis, like Laremy Tunsil from Ole Miss. Or a linebacker to replace Patrick Willis, like Jaylon Smith from Notre Dame.

Or a quarterback to replace Colin Kaepernick, such as Jared Goff from Cal or Connor Cook from Michigan State.

Choose wisely, and the Niners might have a decent team in a few seasons.

Follow @grantcohn.