San Francisco 49ers vs. the Dallas Cowboys: Ted Ginn Finds His Mojo

In past years Ted Ginn sometimes was criticized by fans and media types alike for dropping balls, not being in sync with the quarterback and, as one wag put it, ‘overrated and unproductive’ as a speedster.  But someone must have seen something in him to keep him around for his third season.

Whoever had that faith was vindicated last week when Ted Ginn set a 49er record by running both a kickoff and a punt back for touchdowns—and doing both in just 59 seconds. 

Ted Ginn found his mojo.

Against the Cowboys he caught four passes for 38 yards and only had one pass he missed catching.  He had an average of 11 yards on four punt returns.  And he had the attention of the Cowboys’ special teams coach.

This week, the second week of the season, he proved he had his mojo back by being a productive and quick receiver and a potent weapon for Alex Smith to target.  Along with tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker, the 49er quarterback now has receivers Braylon Edwards, Michael Crabtree, Joshua Morgan, Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn as threats in what very well may develop into a top-notch pass offense.  Frank Gore is efficient as the check-down receiver.  All have demonstrated skill in running routes and catching difficult passes.

An offense with eight good receivers can be deadly when they are in sync with the quarterback.  Seven of the eight caught passes in the game against Dallas; one sat the game out with an injured foot.  Now if the offensive line will just gel...

Against a resurgent Cowboy team the 49ers held the lead until the last few seconds when Dallas kicked a field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime.  In the fifth quarter Dallas kicked a field goal to win it.

So, where is the 49er team as of this time?

It has not mastered the second half slump, either on offense or defense.  It has not yet acquired the killer instinct to put a team away when they are ahead at the half.

It is competent enough to be productive for all but the last two quarters.  Some of that is due to not being in football shape, because of the lockout caused abbreviated training camp.  Some of it is due to an entirely new playbook, which the team is still learning. 

Some of it is because the new coach is also learning his job on the fly.  This was, after all, only his second game as an NFL coach.

And a big, big part of the reason they let the game get away is that the 49ers are not yet a team than can bounce back from adversity.  They do not respond well when the offense is not moving.  They have not yet figured out how to regain the momentum when it has been lost.

Parts are there and other parts are not there—yet.

But, as more and more teammates get their mojo back, including Frank Gore and the offensive line, they will improve.