Houston has been done in over the years by a wonky offensive line, butterfingered running backs, a pass rush that poses no threats outside of Mario Williams, and a defensive backfield that typically ranks near the bottom of the league; a veritable thirty-secondary, if you will. (You're welcome.)
The 49ers, on the other hand... well you're more familiar with their problems. Coaching, Alex Smith, poor drafts, Alex Smith, a piss-poor offensive line, Alex Smith, an alarming lack of team speed on the perimeter, Alex Smith, a pass rush that poses no threats outside of
Still, it could very well be a fun match-up of two teams who swear This Is The Year and offer a contrast in playing styles and philosophies. Add to it the fact that the Texans and 49ers visit each other about as often as they visit a meaningful January, and the game offers enough angles -- barely -- to keep our attention until the Giants get a runner in scoring position at least.
So of course Jim Harbaugh wants to ruin everything by going to his backups early, throwing Colin Kaepernick to the wolves and giving Xavier Omon carries in a game even earlier than Xavier Omon will feel appropriate. The official reason is that he wants to test the mettle of his backups against the Texans' starters.
The real reason is everyone at 4949 Centennial Blvd. has grown tired of listening to Frank Gore bitch about not wanting to risk his unsigned-beyond-2011 body unnecessarily. Just to not make it seem totally obvious, they'll probably rest Vernon Davis too, because hey, he's also good at football.
Then there's that whole Kaepernick thing. It's probably dawned on Harbaugh that there is a chance, however slight, that Alex Smith may not turn into Joe Montana v. 2.0 despite all this wonderful new coaching he's getting. Or maybe he's realized that even if Smith revives his career, the whole thing will be moot in short order as soon as Anthony Davis or Chilo Rachal have an ole moment. Really with them it's not a matter of "if" but rather "when," "really? That soon?" and "How about you fellas try standing in front of somebody for a change?"
So in that regard, it's probably smart business to give Kaepernick some run with the ones, just to give him an idea of how very much his life will stink come October or November. I guess that is important.
What is more important, however, is making sure the starters are ready to play against Seattle in two weeks when these puppies begin to count, and I don't think a half against the eminently pliant Raiders was enough to accomplish that. The New Orleans Saints are a whole different species than Oakland and for all we know the Texans, who come into tonight's game with 11 sacks through two contests, may be too. I think not-so-young Alex and his offensive line need as many snaps against Houston's starters as possible. Instead of heading to the bench after a couple of series, the 49ers should play the game as seriously as they can, and I wouldn't fault Harbaugh if he politely asked counterpart Gary Kubiak to keep his guys in there the whole four quarters if he can.
If Harbaugh insists on treating this game like his starters have nothing to prove, that sends a dangerous message to me for two reasons. Either he's as arrogant and overconfident as the last joker with the whistle was; or worse still, he's been so unimpressed by the erstwhile starters he inherited from the previous regime that he's already looking ahead to full-fledged rebuilding mode in 2011.
Now that that's all out there, by all means enjoy the game.
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Guys to Watch:
QB: See above.
RB: I don't think Xavier Omon is a serious threat for a roster spot, not until I see him get work with the first-string line, but if he has another solid all-around outing as a runner/receiver/blocker and Anthony Dixon falters in a couple of those departments, it could get interesting.
FB: I think Bruce Miller already won a roster spot, by hook or by crook. He'll have to have a truly disastrous showing to lose it now. You know, kind of like the game Moran Norris had against Oakland the other day. I'm curious how their playing time will be divied.
WR: As earnest as offensive coordinator Greg Roman sounded about sixth-round pick Ronald Johnson's roster chances, I remain skeptical. Lets see how much he plays tonight, and whether he does anything outside of special teams. Dominique Zeigler also needs to show up in a big way to have any chance of preventing the team from ordering several thousand pallets of Edwards #17 jerseys. Speaking of which, Edwards against Texans CB Jonathan Joseph might be a good match-up for a series or two. Youngsters Chris Hogan, Lance Long, Tyler Beiler and Kevin Jurovich all need to show up on the stat sheet to make their cases for spots on the practice squad.
TE: The third tight end job is rookie Konrad Reuland's to lose. At this point he'd need a Pascoenian effort to give it away, with challenger Nate Lawrie turning into Mark Bavaro circa 1986. Also, it wouldn't kill Delanie Walker to do something.
OL: As much as we may wish it to be true, Rachal and Davis are not fighting to keep their starting jobs. That ship has sailed until a few weeks into the regular season at least. Against all odds Adam Snyder has managed to hold off Jonathan Goodwin in their battle for the starting center spot despite the fact that Goodwin is more talented, experienced and most important of all, compensated. If he still comes out ahead on the cards after tonight, then I'll finally buy it, shrug my shoulders, and admit before god and country that I guess Snyder is the guy. Joe Staley is in no danger of losing his job, even though his backup Alex Boone has been the most impressive lineman in camp, but it would behoove him to have an uncomplicated showing against Mario Williams, just because. As far as the backups go, G/C Tony Wragge, who played superbly against Oakland, and rookie seventh-round pick T Mike Person may be competing for the ninth and last offensive line job. Person would be in no danger either way because a practice squad slot would be waiting for him, but Wragge has no such protection. Among the third stringers, Stanford rookies Chase Beeler and Derek Hall look like they have the best shots for practice squad spots.
DL: Four jobs secure and three kids playing for two paychecks beyond that, with ends Will Tukuafu and Demarcus Dobbs trying to hold off Ian Williams. But that could just be my imagination; it could just as easily be any combination of the two and the other guy as the underdog. Again, there's no real loser here, as the seventh guy will either find a home on the practice squad, or, even better for his wallet, a spot on somebody else's 53-man roster. The part I'm curious about is how Isaac Sopoaga will hold up against the interior of the Texans line. If Arian Foster becomes as much of a non-factor as Gore will be, then I'll venture that maybe Aubrayo Franklin won't be missed so much around these parts after all.
LB: One last chance for Aldon Smith to claim the starting job from Parys Haralson outright before he gets it for good in October anyway. Beyond that Ahmad Brooks and NaVorro Bowman have to continue being "arrow up" in Harbaugh-speak, and one of them might have to cover Foster or tight end Owen Daniels, which should be interesting. As far as the backups go, inside 'backer Keaton Kristick will have to have one whale of a game to show he's more valuable than special teams ace Blake Costanzo. Also, we continue to wonder if Scott McKillop will ever get on the field. It seems cruel to let him wear the uniform if he won't.
CB: Another chance for Tramaine Brock and Tarell Brown to play everyone's favorite home game "Guess who's the starter and who's the nickel back." Will they both start in this one or is Carlos Rogers feeling up to playing? Either way, somebody is gonna have to deal with Andre Johnson and that doesn't figure to be a pleasant experience. Third-round pick Chris Culliver can make things interesting from a role standpoint if he does something, but as far as roster guys go the only one playing for his livelihood is Phillip Adams, who has to show A) he's fully and healthy and B) far more deserving of a job than Brock. While it's true that Brock still has practice squad eligibility and Adams doesn't, I don't think he'd survive waivers if the Niners took that step. Have you SEEN some of the corners people are trotting out there?
S: The five guys who'll make the club are set, even Reggie Smith, who's still on the mend. Chris Maragos, Curtis Taylor and sixth-round pick Colin Jones are all playing for practice squad slots, although "playing" might not be the right word since the coaching staff hasn't given any of these guys much of a chance at all from scrimmage. Not that any of them practiced worth a damn back when practices were open, but whatever.
ST: Sean Paulescu will handle the punting duties while Andy Lee heals up, and his sole objective is to put good film out there for the 31 other teams who won't cut him next week. In the return game Johnson and Adams can really help themselves if they can do something.
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Today's song on my iPod typically enjoyed by a 13-year old girl:
"Labour of Love" by Frente! (Well, it would have to be a girl who was 13 twenty years ago, but I digress. Frente's voice is goddamn adorable.
"If you want to find me, call me/I'll be far away from the cars and guitars and everybody."
Just starting to read you, what exactly is your stance on Alex Smith? That he's at least half the reason the Niners have sucked the past six years?
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