Biggest Takeaways from San Francisco 49ers' Week 8 Loss

The San Francisco 49ers are no longer in denial.

They certainly were in denial about a week ago. They thought they were going somewhere. So, head coach Jim Tomsula went easy on the players during practice before the Week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

“We just walked through the assignments,” Tomsula said on October 23. “I mean, you’ve got to take care of the bodies.”

As if the Niners were preparing for a long playoff push. As if the Seahawks game wasn’t do-or-die.

Well, it was do-or-die, and the Niners lost. Then they lost the next game against the St. Louis Rams. Now, San Francisco is clearing house. On Monday, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported the Niners traded tight end Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos, officially waiving the white flag for the season.

That’s one big takeaway from Week 8. Here are five more.

The Defense Isn’t Terrible

Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

Considering all of the players the Niners lost during the offseason, like defensive end Justin Smith, outside linebacker Aldon Smith, inside linebacker Patrick Willis, inside linebacker Chris Borland, cornerback Chris Culliver and cornerback Perrish Cox, we would understand if the defense was terrible.

But it isn’t terrible. It’s actually decent. It definitely isn’t the reason the Niners are one of the worst teams in the league.

San Francisco’s defense ranks 14th in third-down-conversion percentage, while San Francisco’s offense ranks 26th in third-down-conversion percentage. The offense continually puts the defense in bad positions.

If only the offense was merely mediocre, the Niners’ record might be 4-4 right now.

The 49ers Probably Should Have Spent a Higher Pick on a Running Back

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

A reporter asked Jim Tomsula about his X’s and O’s philosophy at his introductory press conference. Tomsula rambled a response, then general manager Trent Baalke spoke for the head coach: “I think somewhere in there, he said we’re going to run the football,” Baalke said.

If running the football is what Baalke had in mind, he should have given Tomsula the tools to do that. Instead, Baalke gave Tomsula one good running back (Carlos Hyde), an injury-prone backup (Reggie Bush) and a rookie fourth-round pick (Mike Davis).

Hyde suffered a stress fracture in his left foot Week 5, Bush may be out for the season with a torn MCL he suffered Week 8, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, and Davis is averaging one yard per carry. The only healthy running back on the roster is someone named Kendall Gaskins.

In retrospect, Baalke probably should have spent the Niners’ third-round pick on a running back—either David Johnson or Matt Jones—instead of outside linebacker Eli Harold.

Geep Chryst Is Doing the Offense No Favors

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The 49ers have developed no rhythm on offense this season. Part of the blame falls on the players, and part falls on Geep Chryst, who's in the running for worst offensive coordinator in the NFL.

Have you noticed how often Chryst substitutes players? He subs almost every play. At any given time, quarterback Colin Kaepernick must have no idea who’s in the huddle with him.

Part of an offensive coordinator’s job is to get his players into the flow of the game. How can players get in a flow when they’re constantly running on and off the field?

Chryst needs to decide who his best 11 players are and play them.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick May Have Started His Final Game for the 49ers

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

On October 23, a reporter asked Jim Tomsula if he’s set at quarterback. “Yes,” Tomsula said. “Colin is our quarterback. There’s no controversies.”

On November 2, a reporter asked Tomsula more or less the same question. This time, Tomsula changed his tune. “We’re evaluating everything right now,” he said. “So, we’re in the middle of it right now. I don’t have any comments on any position on our field right now.”

In other words, Kaepernick may or may not be the 49ers quarterback Week 9 when the 49ers play the Atlanta Falcons. Someone in the front office must have instructed Tomsula to keep his answer vague.

Perhaps the front office finally has seen enough of Kaepernick.

Head Coach Jim Tomsula Might Be out After the Bye Week

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

The 49ers have gotten blown out five times already this season.

Week 9, they will play the Atlanta Falcons, a good team who must be mad about losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Atlanta should beat San Francisco by about 24 points, give or take.

So, that would be six blowout losses before Week 10. Would that be a record?

After the Falcons game, the Niners will have their bye week, which would be a natural time to fire head coach Jim Tomsula. He is partly to blame for all of these blowouts.

But, what would be the good of firing Tomsula? The ship is already sinking—changing captains now is kind of silly.

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow @grantcohn.