I went into this 49ers season not knowing what to think or expect, and here I am looking at the 3-0 49ers in late September — still not knowing what to think or expect.
Does the 3-0 start mean a special year awaits, magic in 2025?
Or does the 3-0 start get totally obscured by the loss of Nick Bosa for the entire season?
Does the 3-0 start mean the “refuel, refresh and revenge” storyline is playing out after last year’s Super Bowl hangover haze?
Or is the 3-0 start entirely an overly fortunate byproduct of a few lucky breaks — a Jake Tonges leap in Seattle, multiple Arizona Cardinals drops — and not at all close to the NFC elite?
I can hear the Niner faithful now: Who cares, you mouth-breathing Jock Blogger? A 3-0 start in the NFL is worth its weight in divisional gold.
And I can hear the glass half-empty cynics retort: I’ll tell you what to think — the 49ers’ 3-0 start doesn’t even register on the radar of the Eagles, Lions or Packers, who are asking: “The Niners without Bosa and with that o-line? Sign me up for a roadie to Levi’s, pronto!”
Which brings us to Sunday in Santa Clara.
Can’t believe the Jock Blog would say a September game against the Jacksonville Jaguars will tell us a lot, but . . . well, a September game against the Jacksonville Jaguars will tell us a lot.
First off, we aren’t even sure how Brock Purdy will look or feel with that darn turf toe. Steve Young —back on The Sports Leader weekly, don’t ya know — warned us that turf toe is far more than banging your pinky toe on your way to hotel bathroom in the dark.Young called it a “nefarious little thing”, and he wasn’t even talking about Young Tony. Hey Oh!
Purdy’s situation must be monitored closely — with a game at the Rams on Thursday looming.
Next up to be answered on Sunday is life without Bosa.
In three short games, the return of Robert Saleh has proven to be the most welcome comeback since The Who rocked Shoreline Amphitheater a couple of weeks ago. Meet the new kick-A defensive coordinator — same as the old kick-A defensive coordinator.
But Saleh can only do so much without a pass rush. Until the 49ers find out that rookie Mykel Williams is, indeed, that guy; or that Bryce Huff can continue to rev up his engine; or if the Bosa-by-committee group of Yetur Gross-Matos and Sam Okuayinonu and Robert Beal, Jr can hold their ground, it’ll be a challenge sacking QBs.
Will John Lynch and the crew make a big trade for a blue-chip pass rusher instead?
See, this brings us back to the whole theme of our Jock Blog: I’m not sure what to think or expect of the 49ers, because key personnel remains TBA.
A win against the Jags and the possible return of George Kittle for Week Six at Tampa Bay gives one hope, a lot of it.
A loss to the Jags and a short week game at a hot Rams team and one begins to get slight indigestion.
A win against the Jags and more confidence for this Saleh-bred group of defensive rookies makes one feel sanguine heading into October.
A loss against the Jags and the idea of facing Matt Stafford and Baker Mayfield without Bosa gives one the feeling of grumpiness and discomfort.
I’ve never felt so ambivalent about a 3-0 49ers team. Then again, ambivalence about a 3-0 start beats the hell out of the Chip Kelly and Jim Tomsula years, so someone hand me a cold one and kick the ball off on Sunday in the 408.
