Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The facts: San Francisco had five turnovers during a 23-13 home defeat to the Cardinals at Candlestick Park.
The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two ...
- The 49ers showed they can run the football effectively. They moved the ball on the ground even after a shoulder injury forced starting center Eric Heitmann from the game for an extended stretch. Right guard Tony Wragge moved to center, with David Baas taking over at right guard. Frank Gore found ample running room, specifically on a 41-yard touchdown run.
- Offensive coordinator Mike Martz succeeded in stretching the defense with tight end Vernon Davis. The 49ers are not making Davis the focal point of the passing game, but they expect him to make big plays. Davis had a 37-yard reception and a 17-yard average.
- Justin Smith had two quarterback hits and a half-sack in his first game with the 49ers.
- Allen Rossum had a 44-yard kickoff return in his first game with the 49ers.
The 49ers needed to win this game. They will have to run the ball effectively for their offense to stand a reasonable chance of functioning at Seattle in Week 2.
Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.