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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- J.T. O'Sullivan dropped back to throw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce during the San Francisco 49ers' season opener Sunday.

So he thought.

Joe Staley, making his first regular-season start at left tackle for the 49ers, shoved Arizona Cardinals defensive end Bert Berry past O'Sullivan but not quite out of the play. The wily Berry, 33, reached back and stripped the ball from O'Sullivan just as the quarterback was about to move his arm forward.

	Greg Trott/Getty Images
	Frank Gore rushed for 96 yards on 14 carries Sunday, but the 49ers couldn't capitalize.

The split-second sequence changed everything for the 49ers during their eventual 23-13 defeat at Candlestick Park. Yet, while the 49ers long ago squandered the ability to claim moral victories -- O'Sullivan and coach Mike Nolan rejected the notion -- the rest of us are remiss if we ignore the obvious signs of progress.

The 49ers fielded one of the worst offenses in league history last season. They ranked last in yards per game, yards per play, passing yards per game, passing yards per play, sacks allowed per pass attempt, first downs per game, third-down conversion rate, time of possession and scoring.

They were much better than that Sunday. San Francisco ranks 19th on average in the categories listed above. The 49ers averaged an eye-opening 9.2 yards per pass attempt while repeatedly springing Frank Gore for chunks of yardage.

The 49ers were careless with the football, but the Cardinals deserve credit for some of that. Darnell Dockett's crushing hit on Zak Keasey would have separated anyone from the football. Berry's heads-up play reflected the pure pass-rush ability he's always had when healthy.

O'Sullivan had completed a 37-yard pass to tight end Vernon Davis one play before Berry interrupted O'Sullivan's would-be pass for Bruce on a post-corner route.

A touchdown for Bruce would have given the 49ers a second-quarter lead while rewarding their confidence in Mike Martz's big-play offense. Instead, the Cardinals took possession and played keepaway for most of the day, putting together second-half scoring drives spanning 15 and 18 plays.

"The ball was going to Isaac," O'Sullivan said. "You guys can watch the film and see if it's going to be open."

That was as close as O'Sullivan came to acknowledging progress during a typically curt interview with reporters in the 49ers' locker room Monday. O'Sullivan wore a black concert T-shirt advertising "The Who" and the customary day-after game QB icepack on his throwing arm. He might as well have worn one of Nolan's game-day suits. O'Sullivan was that serious when saying the 49ers deserved no slack while breaking in a new offense.

"You should judge us on what we did Sunday, that's all," he said. "Everything else doesn't matter."

That is how management might have to view things if the 49ers don't start winning in a hurry. The defeat to Arizona dropped Nolan's regular-season record to 16-33 heading into a road game against Seattle in Week 2. But for a franchise that redefined offense during the 1980s and, sadly, again last season, the first game under Martz represented progress.

The offensive line sprung Gore for 96 yards on 14 carries. Davis' big reception down the seam was exactly what Martz wanted from the speedy tight end. O'Sullivan held the ball too long at times, one reason the Cardinals collected four sacks, and receiver Arnaz Battle shared blame in the quarterback's lone interception. O'Sullivan still managed to complete 14 of 20 passes for 195 yards.

"I thought his awareness of where the outlets were was good," Nolan said. "I thought he delivered the ball downfield several times -- that was good. His statistics back that up but, again, we're getting back to the whole thing where we talk about individuals and it's about winning. And we didn't win."

The 49ers held the ball for less than 23 minutes, not enough time to analyze O'Sullivan or anyone else in much detail. It's still fair to wonder if the 49ers have the receivers they'll need for Martz to run the offense. Rookie Josh Morgan impressed during camp, but rookie receivers rarely produce during the regular season. Bruce went without a reception. Battle's route contributed to the interception. Bryant Johnson caught three passes for 48 yards.

Martz will have to prove he can stick with the running game, which is clearly the 49ers' strength on offense. The offensive linemen are with him so far. They love the simplified pass-protection schemes that shift more of the burden to the quarterback, running backs and receivers.

"There's not a whole lot of talking and jibber-jabbing about things," right guard Tony Wragge said. "We have our rules, we have our responsibilities and we go with it. We're not getting all threatened about, 'Oh, this [safety] is creeping down a little bit.' No! It is what it is and we go out and do it.

"I love this offense. I feel privileged to be part of it."

That in itself qualifies as progress in San Francisco.