49ers vs. Saints: Poor Performance for Niners, but What's All the Fuss About?

The San Francisco 49ers will not sink based solely on one preseason game. While the game proved to be a disappointment for 49er fans, it shouldn't have caused this much of an uproar. 

The quarterback position was never solid to begin with and Sunday's disaster proved as such. Both Alex and Colin performed poorly but they should not be faulted entirely for the lack of offensive movement. There were numerous factors that affected the poor offensive showing the 49ers displayed in their first preseason game.

A few positives should have been highlighted but the focus was on the spotty quarterback play. 

Here are a few concerns (besides the quarterback play), along with a few positives that I picked up from the 49ers' encounter with the New Orleans Saints. 

Offensive Line

The young offensive line showed their inexperience in playing against a very blitz-happy Saints defense. They couldn't adjust properly and because of their poor play, it strongly affected the quarterback play. Both Alex and Colin struggled to stay upright throughout the game and as a result, the offense was nonexistent.

The 49ers signed Jonathan Goodwin (a Pro Bowl in 2009 and served as an alternate in 2010) to help this young offensive line but improvement must be made within house. Mike Iupati will be a force in this league but the same cannot be said for his former draft-mate Anthony Davis. 

Davis has enormous potential but his play continues to show mediocrity at best. Will Smith abused Davis on several plays in the preseason opener that left Niner fans shaking their heads. If Davis can pick up his play, it will not only help the offensive line as a whole but also give Alex/Colin the chance to be successful under center. 

Special Teams

Special teams isn't talked about as much unless a big play is made but it is a very underrated aspect of football (just ask the Chargers). Undrafted free agent Joesph Morgan returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown and rightfully earned his 15 minutes of fame on SportsCenter. 

This is a pretty young 49ers team and the last thing Harbaugh would like is for his players to lack focus.

On the other hand, the positive of the night was David Akers' 59-yard field goal (the only points the Niners scored). Akers was a solid pickup and will likely bring the same consistency Nedney brought in all his years with the 49ers. 

Mizzou Standout

The pass defense against Brees was fantastic (held him to one completion of four attempts for only six yards). The 49ers secondary will likely improve with the additions of Whitner and Madieu Williams. If Reggie Smith can stay healthy, the 49ers secondary will be one to watch. 

Despite the improvements of the secondary, the 49ers will still rely on their top-notch defensive line. What caught my eye was the play of first-round draft pick Aldon Smith. He showed flashes of his explosiveness that caught a lot of eyes. Smith is still learning and will likely be used only in situational downs to start his career but there's a lot to like. 

If Smith is able to progress quickly, it will surly help a team that can have trouble at times pressuring the quarterback.