Where Did This Come From?

Linebacker Patrick Willis is in charge.

Pulling yourself off the scrap heap in the NFL isn’t quite as hard as it is in some other sports.  But when you’ve had as many front office snafus, bad draft picks and unwise coach hirings I was wondering if my long dormant NFL team would ever see the light of a winning record ever again.  Somehow this team of no name players have dusted themselves off and is showing the NFL what they are made of.

Let’s be honest, in all actuality this team should be 4-0 at this point, with a notch on their belt over Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings.  And yet despite the loss, things are starting to feel good in the Bay Area and for those who never jumped off the bandwagon from the 80′s, like me.

San Francisco is dictating the terms of every game they are playing in.  Head coach Mike Singletary has his opportunistic defense playing a brand of 3-4 defense that ranks up near the top of the league.  The running game was haltered a bit yesterday without the presence of running back Frank Gore, but rookie Glen Coffee did a solid job as fill in.  Shaun Hill continues to do a serviceable job under center by not losing game and doing a great job managing it.  I hate that cliche of a line for quarterbacks, however it rings true for the Niners.

How are they getting it done?  How is this team averaging 25.5 points per game?  Which is, by the way, up there with the likes of Indianapolis, New York and Chicago and ranks above teams like New England and Pittsburgh.  Maybe the NFC West isn’t the best test for a team’s true worth, however the fact this team is finally winning games they should is a step in the right direction.

The next three games will be a test for the 49ers with Atlanta coming to town before a bye week, then traveling out on the road to face down the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts.  Looking further down the line, games at Green Bay and Philadelphia will be a true test for this young team.  San Francisco is clearly the best team in the NFC West, and if injuries or a meltdown don’t get in their way they are my early pick to win the division.  I guess that’s not so bold considering we are 3-0 in the division now.  But as we all know, the Niners have been prone to folding after showing signs of life.

Also, is there a better middle linebacker in the NFL than Patrick Willis?  If you get a chance to watch a 49ers game this season and like defense and linebacker play, make sure you stop your dial on whichever channel is showcasing his skills.  The man is simply a beast.  His tackles may not rank up there, but he’s in the top seven and can also rack up sacks and has a nose for the ball in terms of takeaways.  Look for this kid to shine for years to come.  York family and the rest of the Niner front office, if you let him get away you could lose a fan.  Consider this your official notice.