Let's Take A Step Back

"But to me this performance was telling and I’m worried - very worried. What about you?"
-49er Huddle

So you fair-weather asshats and worrywarts that read 49er Huddle, it's time to start worrying?!?! I can't tell who's worse - the author or the commenters. Unacceptable and they should consider themseves on notice from the True Faithful. Ugh. What horseshit.

Even though the boys did embarass themselves Saturday night, this was still an exhibition game. Against the reigning NFC Champs. At their house. But this was indeed a resetting, or at least a clarification, of expectations for the team and the fans. We may have been getting a little ahead of ourselves on what this team is capable of. I'm just excited that the roster is actually stocked with high-quality talent at every position and even some depth (OL, WR, and LB). No one's going to remember this game in 3 weeks but it did point out some things the team can work on in preparation for 9-10-07.

Let's put things in perspective as Opening Day rapidly approaches. Making the playoffs would be phenomenal and every NFL fan can expect, hope, or at least pray for their team to make a run at the Super Bowl. That's what has made the NFL the world's finest sports league. Unlike baseball or English Premiership soccer, where there are only 4-6 teams that even have a legitimate hope of winning the title, there is a 2006 Saints, 2005 Bears, or 2004 Chargers lurking out there every season in the NFL. Maybe 2007 is our year to make the leap. Maybe it's 2008. What's clear is that the leader and attitude of accountability necessary for winning have been put in place that ensure that we are close to turning the corner. I'll do a stake-in-the-ground prediction for the season next weekend. For now let's just say I haven't felt this good about a team since our 2001 vintage, which turned out a-ok.

Scrimmage #3 Post-Mortems from the Nattering Nabobs
SFGate - 49ers Not Quite Up to the Bears' Standards
Press Democrat - Not Their Kind of Town (See here for more Maiocco, who is the best Niner beat writer in my opinion)
The Merc - Going the Other Way
Scout.com - Bears-49ers Recap