10 Things San Francisco 49ers Must Fix During Their Bye

At the conclusion of Week 7, the 49ers now hold a two-game lead over the Seattle Seahawks. The abysmal NFC West went 0-3 this past Sunday, while the 49ers rest up in preparation for their Week 8 matchup against the 3-3 Cleveland Browns. 

The 49ers have surprised many, including their own Niner faithful, but as Week 8 approaches, the Niners' have issues of their own. Of course these minor issues pale in comparison to the issues the rest of the NFC West teams must face in the upcoming weeks. 

Here are a few kinks the 49ers must fix while on their bye. 

Pass Protection Issues

The 49ers are ranked 22nd in sacks allowed, giving up 16 total for the season thus far. The Niners' offensive line has done a tremendous job run blocking the last few weeks but the same can't be said in the area of pass protection. 

The Lions were easily able to bother Alex in the pocket in the 49ers victory a week ago. The Browns don't have a vaunted pass-rush, but the Niners need to keep Alex clean if they expect him to operate the offense efficiently.

Turnovers

The Niners have done well overall in this department, but their victory over the Lions showed otherwise. On the first possession of the game for the 49ers against the Detroit Lions in Week 6, Alex Smith was sacked and stripped by Kyle Vanden Bosch. It was shocking to see, because coming into the Lions game, the 49ers turned the ball over four measly times.  

Some might say I'm overcritical, but the Niners can't afford to turn the ball over and expect to win. This team's success is predicated on running the ball and playing solid defense. When you turnover the ball, it can force teams to play out of their identity. 

Handshake Gate

This isn't a serious issue, but I felt it needed to be addressed. The handshake fiasco was idiotic and really took away from the awesome game that was played on the field. Harbaugh can definitely tone it down, at least until he respectfully shakes the opposing coaches hand at the end of the game. 

The Niners are having a great season, and it would be awful to see a fiasco like last Sunday overshadow their strong performances. 

Secondary Concerns

The Niners' secondary played relatively well against Calvin Johnson and Co. last week, but they still have the tendency to give up the big play. Calvin Johnson was kept in check, but the Niners' have been awful defending the deep ball at times during the season. 

The Browns offense thankfully doesn't play vertical often, but the Niners' must address communication issues in their back-end. 

Penalties

The Niners' lack of discipline in this area against the Lions in Week 6 was a cause of concern, though playing at Ford Field isn't a picnic either. The Niners' can't hurt themselves with penalties considering their offense already tends to become stagnant at times. 

Penalties were a major issue for this squad last season, as they suffered another losing season and resulted in Mike Singletary's firing. 

QB Play

Alex Smith came through at the end of that Lions game, but before that drive, he was awful for most of the afternoon. Penalties contributed to his poor start, but Smith threw a few inaccurate balls, with one of them resulting in a turnover. 

The Browns have a solid passing defense, so he may struggle for a second consecutive game. Braylon Edwards' possible return may help. 

Third Down Conversions

The Niners' were 2-of-15 on third downs in their victory against the Lions last week. Penalties played a major role in this issue, but the Niners' have struggled in this area the last few years.  

Where's VD?

Vernon Davis hasn't been involved in this offense as much as I would like. Besides Frank Gore, Vernon Davis is the most explosive player the 49ers have on offense. It seems Davis has been used more as a blocker than a receiver. 

While Vernon Davis is an excellent blocker (likely the best at his position), his talents as a vertical threat aren't being emphasized as much. 

More Explosive Plays

The Niners' aren't built to win with explosive plays, but it would be quite refreshing if they had a game or two where this was the case. They have the playmakers to execute such plays, and it would really surprise the opposition if they came out guns-blazing. 

It would be nice to see Harbaugh run Kendall Hunter or Tedd Ginn off some screen plays, as both players have phenomenal agility and quickness. 

Start Faster

The Niners' didn't start well against the Lions and have traditionally started slow on the offensive end. This may not be an issue with the Browns, but this could become problematic against teams like the Steelers or the Giants. 

If the Niners' are able to start quicker, it will allow them to play more towards their strengths, which is running the football.