"The View From The Cheap Seats"- I Think I've Seen This Before!

In the Niners' first two games -- Arizona and at St. Louis -- they played to the wire. Both contests were defensive struggles, and San Francisco was fortunate enough to eek out just enough offense to come out on top in each. But the offense appeared to continue its poor season on Sunday, as shown by its weak third-down conversion rate (5 of 15), lack of rushing yards (91 total) and lousy yards per catch average (5.7). The Niners' offense appeared to show cracks in its armor during the last two preseason games, and it continued through the Arizona and St. Louis matchups.

This time, the weakness was completely exposed. At the end of the third quarter, the the Steelers led 17-9, so the Niners were solidly in the fight. However, because of a serious lack of offensive production through most of the game, the defense fatigued and gave way to the Steelers, who scored two touchdowns and racked up a pair of converted field goals. BLAH, BLAH,BLAH... sounds like the description after every Niner game aginst a good team, doesn't it?

I found it comical that as the clock was running out on this one, the Fox broadcast crew of Kenny Albert and Darrell Johnston were quick to excuse the 49ers collapse at the end, and proclaim that they had taken strides forward and should be proud of the moral victory that they competed with the Steelers. Forget that! 3 field goals and a late meaningless touchdown are nothing to be proud of. This team did what this team always does against elite competition. The defense is solid and opportunistic and holds their fingers in the damn for 3 quarters or so, (example, Marques Douglas with a sack on Big Ben, left) waiting for any signs of life by the offense. Well, we've all seen this show before, the defense can't hold back the ocean with a broom forever and the close game turns into a blowout. But, oh wait, then the 49ers are able to move the ball for a meaningless touchdown that makes the stats look slightly less pathetic.

I don't know what the answer is for this offense. The first overall picked QB isn't getting it done, nor is the "improved" receiving corps or the upgraded offensive line. Vernon Davis was slightly better in this one, enough to make him stand out as the best 49er offensively on the field. The man who normally holds that spot, Frank Gore, was unable to get anything done, being completely shut down by Casey Hampton and the Steelers run-stuffing "D".

Brace for a long year, Niner fans, but don't be shocked if you see some changes on the horizon if things don't change and the ship isn't righted soon. If the offense can't get it together, quick, that spiffy tie of Mike Nolan is going to start to feel like a noose soon.