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Titans opponent Q&A: San Francisco 49ers Examiner Samuel Lam
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San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
As the Titans prepare to travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers this Sunday, San Francisco 49ers Examiner Samuel Lam was kind enough to ask me my thoughts on the game along with the season so far.
We exchanged five questions with one other about the teams we cover.
Here's what I asked:
1. With NFL Hall of Fame linebacker, and one of my childhood icons Mike Singletary calling the shots now in San Francisco, what do you feel is the most important attribute he brings to the table as a head coach?
Belief. Before Singletary, I could tell that the team was not sold on Mike Nolan. There was no discipline, and not a single ounce of passion that resonated to the fans. But with Singletary, a man that has been to the top as a player, the team believes he is the answer. What he has done is brought in a no-nonsense, unselfish team attitude. Everyone on the team believes that Singletary has something that can help the team get to the next level. The team believes in him. The fans believe in him. And for the first time in a long while, there is a true belief that the 49ers are going in the right direction.
2. With this seasons sudden re-emergence of former number one overall draft pick Alex Smith at quarterback, who accepted a pay cut and re-signed back in the Spring, do you feel that he has the opportunity to retain the job for the long-term? Should the Niners experiment with rookie QB Nate Davis, possibly take a run at free agency or even search in next year’s draft?
The off-season stuff I will have to save for the off-season. However, it looks like Smith is here to stay. The team has always believed in Smith and has retained him just for the fact that they believe he can still be a factor for the team. That is why they reworked his contract and why he stayed. This opportunity for him to play, after missing all that time and slowly relearning the ropes, probably worked out for the best. The team will probably keep Smith under center the rest of the year. And depending on how he does, that will determine his fate. I don’t think Nate Davis will be the answer for the immediate future, but having such a talent as a backup helps out the team. I don’t think the 49ers should pursue a quarterback this off-season. The 49ers have two quarterbacks (three if you count Shaun Hill) that they believe in.
3. With the Rams and Seahawks currently in your rear view along with the early inconsistent play of last years NFC Champion Cardinals, who already lost to the Niners in Week One, do you feel that the NFC West is the 49ers to lose?
The 49ers haven’t won anything, so they can’t lose it. I believe that the 49ers, despite their 3-0 division record, need to win their game against the Cardinals on Monday Night to solidify their place as division champions. I don’t want to put away the Cardinals just yet. They are too talented of a team to just fall off and falter. They have been inconsistent, but I do believe that the division title might be determined in the very last weeks of the season. But it’s the 49ers that will determine their own fate. They have to grab the title, not play keep away.
4. While Frank Gore, when healthy, is quickly establishing himself as one of the NFL’s elite backs, and rookie bruiser Glen Coffee waiting in the wings, is it safe to say the Niners ground attack is on its way to becoming one of the most explosive in the league?
I hope so. But at least for this season, it hasn’t happened. The team promotes running the ball and they have what it takes to do so. But Gore has not played to the level we expect him to. He’s been hurt, he doesn’t get enough carries and aside from big long touchdown runs, has a very small rushing average. The team has great elite potential in the running back spot, but until the offensive line gets healthy and starts opening up holes, it will be hard to see them as a threat. On paper, they can be a good running team. But until the offense allows them to do so, it will be hard to imagine Gore being a major factor.
5. Who wins the game and who is the game MVP?
The 49ers in the past two games have showed us that they have a potential offensive threat in the passing game with Smith under center. The defense has been tremendous, especially the #2 ranked run defense. That will come to factor in the game when the 49ers have to stop the Titans running attack. It might be a close game and I predict a 49ers 17-14 win. I think the 49ers defense will do enough to contain the Titans offense.
For game MVP, I might just give it to Alex Smith. Smith might just pass for about 250 yards, but I think he’ll continue his success with Vernon Davis and get Michael Crabtree his first touchdown of his career.
Check out the questions Sam asked me at the San Francisco 49ers Examiner page HERE.
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