Colin Kaepernick, 49ers’ offense struggle again

The 49ers found – if ever so briefly – their missing run game. But a lot of other facets of their offense were nowhere to be found on Sunday in a 27-7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Candlestick Park. “We didn’t make plays,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “There wasn’t enough opportunities to make plays. It was a combination of . . . the players not having the opportunity to make them and not making them.”

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick had his second rough performance, as he completed just 13 of 27 pass attempts for 150 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He gained just 20 yards rushing on seven attempts, and was sacked three times. “I’m frustrated with myself,” Kaepernick said. “Because I have to play better.”

The 49ers’ passing attack was weakened by the loss of tight end Vernon Davis, who did not suit up for the game due to a left hamstring strain. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin caught five passes for 67 yards. But the 49ers had no other serious threats in the passing game. Kyle Williams, Marlon Moore and Quinton Patton – the team’s other three wide receivers in uniform for Sunday’s game – combined for two catches for just 12 yards.

The only time the 49ers managed to move the ball against Indianapolis came on the second drive of the game. Running back Frank Gore was featured, and he tore off runs of 22, 11 and 21 yards during one four-play sequence. Running back Kendall Hunter accounted for the 49ers’ only points with a 13-yard touchdown run to cap the drive and pull the 49ers even at 7-7 in the first quarter.

At halftime, Gore had 70 yards on eight rushes. He finished with 82 yards on 11 just attempts. “I thought we tried to continue to stay balanced after that drive,” Harbaugh said. “And (we) did not have success moving the ball today or on third down. And (we) couldn’t make plays – didn’t find enough plays.”

Said Gore, “When things are not going right, you get frustrated. But I think the game kind of got different in the second half and we had to do what we had to do, just throw the ball. “We just haven’t made plays. We’ve got to look at ourselves and see what’s going on, and see what we’re not doing right. We’ve got the talent. We’ve got the coordinator (Greg Roman). We’ve just got to keep driving and getting in a rhythm. We’re getting out of rhythm going three-and-out, and that’s hard when you’re not getting in any type of rhythm.”

- Matt Maiocco, CSN Bay Area