Alex Smith is Having Nightmares This Week

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls have a feeling the Steelers’ defense is going to have another big game Sunday against the 49ers, who are undefeated after two narrow wins over St. Louis and Arizona. San Francisco’s young quarterback Alex Smith, a former Number One Overall Draft Choice out of the University of Utah, is in his third year as a starter, which makes him a veteran, but he is still the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL for the third straight season – and how is that even possible? Frankly, he hasn’t shown much in the NFL, although he and the Utah Utes did dismantle the Pitt Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl a few years ago – but the Steelers’ defense ain’t the Pitt Panthers’ defense. Thank God for that, a painful fact young Mr. Smith will discover soon enough.

Smith does have good mobility (he’ll need it!) and a decent passing touch, but he doesn’t have a big arm, his receivers are pedestrian, and the 49ers’ coaching staff have maintained a fairly conservative playbook (demonstrating what appears to be a lack of confidence in Smith).

A number of factors are likely to come into play on Sunday:

· The 49ers will be playing a second straight game on the road, following their win in St. Louis on Sunday. This time, they cross the country to the Eastern Time Zone.

· After playing in St. Louis and returning to San Francisco, the Niners’ Pro Bowl starting RB, Frank Gore, flew to Miami for his mother’s funeral (our condolences, by the way). He then flew back from Miami to San Francisco and was expected to return to practice on Thursday. He was accompanied by two teammates, left tackle Jonas Jennings and fullback Moran Norris, along with running backs coach Bishop Harris. Jennings was described as “exhausted” when he returned to San Francisco on Wednesday. This has to have been an emotional and draining week for all concerned, but Gore may play an inspired game fueled by adrenaline on Sunday. In any case, the majorly talented Gore, who had 1,595 yards rushing (!) last year, spearheads the 49ers’ offense.

· And it’s a good thing for them, because their receivers are average, at best. Arnaz Battle is Hines Ward Lite, and Darrell "Pushoff" Jackson, continues his history of erratic, sometimes effective play, plagued by periodic drops, including two long passes this season that have gone through Jackson's hands.

· The 49ers have yet to get the ball much to their talented young tight end, Vernon Davis (the number six overall draft pick in 2006), much to his chagrin (and he’s started to woof about it).

· As noted above, the offensive game plans have been conservative, and dapper head coach Mike Nolan has had to defend the play calling all week: “We don't have a creativity problem,” Nolan said. "We do shotgun, reverses, play-action passes, and we do a lot of things with formations. But when it's ineffective, then that's what you have to fix. Our inconsistencies really lie in the execution." Uh-huh.

· Which may happen (execution) to the Niners backfield on Sunday, if starting center Eric Heitmann can’t handle the Steelers’ monster All-Pro nose tackle Casey Hampton. Heitman (or anybody else) would have problems with Hampton even when healthy, but Heitman has been hobbled by a dodgy ankle. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “OL David Baas filled in at practice for Heitmann, the starting center who has endured two tough games already this season. Baas, the 49ers' backup at both guard positions, played center during his senior season at Michigan. He could be snapping to Alex Smith in games soon if Heitmann's injured ankle doesn't improve.” Oh-oh. Alex Smith should not be sleeping well this week.

· Having said that, the Niners do have some good players on their offensive line, including the stalwart veterans Jonas Jennings (tackle) and Larry Allen (guard) on the left side, and impressive rookie first-rounder Joe Staley at right tackle.

The 49ers’ problem is they just don’t have enough playmakers on offense.

In Their Defense

Expect Daniel Sepulveda to get several chances to punt because the 49ers’ defense is fairly good. They definitely have some intriguing talent. Rookie inside linebacker Patrick Willis is being hailed as the early front-runner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Free agent signee Tully Banta-Cain has demonstrable pass-rushing skills. The second of last year’s two number one picks, Manny Lawson, is a super-fast, super-freak of an athlete at outside linebacker/rush end. (*Thursday Afternoon Update: Lawson tore his ACL in practice on Wednesday and is done for the season.)

The secondary is talented and aggressive. It features shutdown cornerback Nate Clements, with Pitt’s Shauntae Spencer playing a key role at nickel back, and the rangy, physical Michael Lewis at strong safety. Also, 33-year-old cornerback Walt Harris had eight interceptions last year and went to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his 11-year NFL career.

Kicking It About

In a game of attrition and field position, then, punting could become a major factor. This makes for an interesting storyline, if only because of the off-season maneuvering whereby the Steelers made a contract offer to San Francisco punter Andy Lee, who punted for Pitt during his college career and was a restricted free agent following last season.

Lee initially accepted the Steelers offer, but the Niners matched or bettered it, thereby retaining the rights to keep Lee. Having failed in their attempt to woo the veteran left-footed Lee away from San Francisco, the Steelers traded up in the draft to select their own southpaw kicker, Daniel Sepulveda, with a fourth-round draft choice. We’re glad they did. We would rather have Sepulveda than Lee.

Of course, we may feel differently on Sunday, if the Niners manage to block a punt or two, God forbid, but Sepulveda has the stronger leg, more upside and counts less against the salary cap (San Francisco signed Lee to a six-year, $7.1 million contract, for cryin’ out loud).

Prediction

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls will be surprised if the Niners get 200 yards of offense. We wouldn’t be surprised if San Francisco turns the ball over two or three times. And we expect the Steelers' defensive pressure to wear down the Niners, while the Steelers offense should be able to pop some big plays.

All in all, then, this could become a game of field position and turnovers. Which we expect the Steelers to win. Handily.

Footnote: After describing the 49ers' attack as conservative, tight end Vernon Davis almost laughed when asked whether such a plan would work Sunday against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers: "No way."

Well, at least we can agree on one thing.

49ERS	Rank	STEELERS	Rank
Total Offense	32	Total Offense	6
Passing Offense	31	Passing Offense	22
Rushing Offense	23	Rushing Offense	2
Total Defense	17	Total Defense	3
Run Defense	17	Run Defense	5
Pass Defense	17	Pass Defense	3
KOR Average	24	KOR Average	10
PR Average	12T	PR Average	24T
KO Coverage	5	KO Coverage	24
PR Coverage	4	PR Coverage	1