In August most NFL observers believed the 49ers would be one of the teams most hurt by the NFL lockout. The conventional wisdom was that a new coaching staff would not have sufficient time to install its playbook and the team would flounder as a result. Another long year was expected for the 49er Faithful.
Fast forward to January, and the 49ers have made the playoffs as NFC West Champions. This is their first trip to the NFL postseason since 2002 when Steve Mariucci was coach. Only one player, long snapper Brian Jennings, remains from that team. The 2011 49ers have had a remarkable year, regardless of their performance this month.
What were the keys to the turnaround? Here are the three leading factors according to Off the Bench:
- The environment fostered by new coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff
- A remarkably stingy defense led by All Pro linebacker Patrick Willis
- The ability of the offense, particularly quarterback Alex Smith, to hold onto the ball and cash in on most of its opportunities
Excellent special teams have also played a part, especially the kicking of David Akers and the punting of Andy Lee. Both have a chance to make the Pro Bowl. But specialists don’t get a chance to make an impact unless the factors listed above are in place. Let’s review them one by one.
Coaching: The 49ers made several expensive mistakes before finally Harbaugh. Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary were often outmatched, outfought and outthought by their peers across the field. Reports have surfaced indicating that Erickson was unprepared, Nolan lacked confidence and Singletary was more style than substance.
Harbaugh, on the other hand, has been everything anyone could have hoped for and more. He is the first coach in six years to have put quarterback Smith in a position to succeed. He seems to have a knack for understanding when to gamble and when to pull back, and his defiant nature with the press and the handshake incident with Lions coach Jim Schwartz seemed to have helped rally the troops. For the last several years San Francisco looked like a team that hoped to win. The 49ers now expect to win, and a lot of that is to the credit of their head coach.
Defense: Through November, the 49ers gave up fewer rushing yards than any team in the NFL. They have three times as many interceptions as their opponents. They lead the NFC in fewest total yards allowed. Linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis have more than 100 tackles, and they have created 16 more turnovers than the team has allowed. Against the toughest competition, the 49ers defense has kept the team in the game and allowed the offense time to figure out how to penetrate its opponents.
Offense and Alex Smith: Until this year the most apt comparison to Smith was Giants pitcher Barry Zito. Both appeared to be expensive disappointments and impediments to winning. The Giants’ success in 2010 occurred when Zito was deactivated from the postseason roster. Smith’s emergence this season has ended such comparisons. Going into this season, Smith’s passer rating was 75.3, an historic low for a quarterback who had about four seasons worth of starts. This season it has settled in the low 90s, slightly above league average. Smith’s ability to run away from potential sacks helps slow down opposing defensive lines, and he is among the most successful quarterbacks in putting up points when the team crosses its opponent’s 20 yard line. He is setting career highs in most statistical categories. Harbaugh, a former Pro Bowl quarterback, is considered a catalyst for Smith’s success.
It might be premature to dream of a Super Bowl with the defending champion Packers in the same conference. It is not too early to declare that the 49ers are back among the NFL’s elite and that things should only get better as Harbaugh and his staff get more time to implement their approach.
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