Games meaningless without the Big Three
Alex Smith has every tool an NFL quarterback could hope for: a Pro Bowl tight end, a Pro Bowl running back, even a Pro Bowler in the making at wide receiver.
But then, what does all the skill-position star power in the world mean if those guys can't get on the field during training camp, when offenses are meant to develop rhythm and timing and all that good stuff?
"If we just think we have these names or we're going to show up on game day and get it done, that's crazy," Smith said. "It's totally crazy. We've got to get the work in and get better; otherwise, you're just hoping."
The 49ers will have to settle for hoping for at least another week, because they probably won't have their Big Three available in today's exhibition game at Candlestick against Brett Favre and the Vikings.
Tight end Vernon Davis is out with a strained knee after sitting a week. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree will miss a second straight game with a sprained neck. Running back Frank Gore is probably out another game, just to keep him rested for when games start to mean something.
Only, these games aren't as meaningless as they seem - at least not to a 49ers offense bent on showing it can be all it can be.
This isn't about outscoring the visiting club. This is about validating all the offseason work. To this point, the offense has done nothing to indicate it can just roll out of bed Sept. 12 in Seattle and hit the field running.
Davis, Crabtree and Gore are being held out, more than anything, as safety precautions to make sure they're ready for the regular season. Only, if they don't all play together now, it's hard for the offense to be ready when the regular season starts.
"You need to have some reassurance that what you're doing gives you some instant gratification," offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye said. "You don't want to go into the start of the league season not having made first downs, not having converted on third downs, wondering if this is going to turn around when the season starts."
Yet that's exactly where the first-team offense is after 42 yards in one quarter of play in the exhibition opener.
This isn't to say anyone is panicking - just tired of waiting.
This is the first time in six seasons that Smith has entered the season with the same offensive coordinator and playbook. The 49ers have been telling anyone who would listen how much further ahead they are than this time last year.
But until it translates on the field, it's just a working theory. And as long as the Big Three are sidelined, the theory isn't working - and the team knows it.
"We've had a tough camp, but we've got to be out here," Smith said. "We've got to get the work in."
Remember, the 49ers had the Big Three together for the final 11 games last season and still managed to rank 27th in total offense. The offense is clearly more confident, but as coach Mike Singletary put it, it doesn't have that "swagger" yet.
Singletary hopes to see that before training camp breaks. The non-serious nature of Davis' and Crabtree's injuries gives reason to hope better days are ahead.
"When I look at the offense, I see a comfort zone, I see a calming," Singletary said. "They have to begin to feel like we can do this. We can be a very, very potent offense."
By "potent," Singletary means an offense that can provide a balanced attack. The sooner the Big Three get back on the field, the sooner the offense can resume its pursuit of such things.
"It's very important," Smith said. "We've all got to finish in order to really take that to the next level of consistency. Otherwise, you're going to have these ups and downs like we had last year."
