ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The facts: The 49ers fell to 4-6 with a 30-24 road defeat to the Packers in Week 11.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• Tight end Vernon Davis made an overhead catch almost worthy of Ghost-to-the-post comparisons. Davis has become a big-time receiving threat down the middle of the field. Though his game isn't perfect, Davis has become a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end. He showed why again Sunday with six receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.
• Rookie Michael Crabtree caught a touchdown pass for the first time in his NFL career. He finished with four receptions for 77 yards.
• Quarterback Alex Smith tossed three second-half touchdown passes on his way to an 88.8 passer rating.
• Running back Frank Gore had a 42-yard run.
• Receiver Josh Morgan gained 76 yards on a kickoff return.
• Outside linebackers Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson each recorded sacks.

Looking ahead: The 49ers face the Jaguars at home in Week 12.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee blames the 49ers' coaching staff for a poor game plan against the Packers. Barrows: "The 49ers had what amounted to a second bye week to get ready for a game with all sorts of NFC playoff implications. It's not that they swung and missed Sunday. It's that they didn't start swinging until they were down." When the 49ers hired Mike Singletary, team president Jed York said the team needed more intensity. I didn't think that was the problem at all. The team played hard for Mike Nolan. Singletary was going to make the 49ers play smarter. That has happened, but the offensive line has failed to develop, the 49ers remain unsettled at quarterback and the team failed to acquire a legitimate pass-rusher. Those are the real problems facing the 49ers.

Also from Barrows: a report card and a 49ers injury update. Barrows: "Eight players landed on the report, including starting left guard David Baas (ankle) and return man Arnaz Battle (leg strain). The others are: Michael Robinson (stinger), Mark Roman (rib), Reggie Smith (groin), Marcus Hudson (back) and Delanie Walker (forearm)."

More from Barrows: Rookie Michael Crabtree offers advice to the 49ers' coaching staff. More fast-break offense, please. Crabtree: "It enabled everybody to get open and make plays. It kind of opened it up for all the playmakers we have."

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Michael Crabtree was due for a touchdown and he scored one Sunday.

The 49ers rookie made a strong play for the ball against Packers cornerback Al Harris. I thought Crabtree pushed off slightly as the ball arrived. It looked like a veteran move to help create a little separation. It was subtle enough to avoid a call.

That's the thing about Crabtree: He shows the moxie of a player with much more experience. The 49ers are probably going to lose this game. They trail 23-10 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. Any sort of rapport between Crabtree and Alex Smith counts as progress for the 49ers.

Receiver Michael Crabtree's unexpected availability to the 49ers in the 2009 NFL draft continues to affect the team's other receivers.

The 49ers no longer have much use for Isaac Bruce or free-agent addition Brandon Jones. Bruce has become a backup. Jones has zero catches this season. The 49ers named him inactive against the Packers in Week 11.

The team paid a $3.5 million signing bonus, $1.18 million roster bonus and $100,000 workout bonus to Jones as part of the deal he signed in February, well before the draft. The 49ers are also paying $620,000 in base salary to him. Jones' salary climbs to $2.15 million next season.

An injury derailed Jones early in the season and perhaps prevented him from gaining traction with the coaching staff. Crabtree's unexpected addition and tight end Vernon Davis' increased role as a receiver have left Jones on the outside.

Two potentially lopsided matchups add intrigue to the 49ers-Packers game at Lambeau Field in Week 11.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. joined me to discuss them Wednesday.

Beyond the matchups, this game is huge for the 49ers as they try to keep pace with Arizona and the wild-card challengers in the NFC.

49ers front seven vs. shaky Packers pass protection

Matt Williamson: Aaron Rodgers is going to get hit, going to get sacked. There might not be any one area of any team in the league that is worse than the Packers' pass protection. Rodgers just gets crushed every week, but they still make plays in the passing game. He is really tough, he keeps coming back, he is really competitive, he is throwing the ball really well -- but they cannot protect.

Mike Sando: One hit from the 49ers' Patrick Willis can be one too many. Ask Matt Hasselbeck. Will the Packers adjust?

Matt Williamson: They are starting to wise up a little bit by calling fewer 7- and 5-step drops. They are getting it out quicker and their wide receivers are very good after the catch, which is what they were two years ago. Last year, the Packers were very vertical and they cannot do that as much any more. They have everything but the protection.

Mike Sando: Do you see any problems for the Packers specific to the 49ers' front?

Matt Williamson: Not really. A team like Minnesota just crushes them with Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. I don't see any great angle making the 49ers different from other teams. Detroit sacked Rodgers five times. It happens every week no matter who they play. Even guys like Manny Lawson should give Green Bay's protection all they can handle.

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