49ers Team Report

INSIDE SLANT

Now that the San Francisco 49ers have snapped their four-game losing streak, they can’t stop if they want to make good on coach Mike Singletary’s promise of a spot in the NFC playoffs.

The 49ers face a critical game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and they received several additional days to prepare for it.

Coming off their 10-6 victory Thursday night over the Chicago Bears, the 49ers quickly shifted their focus to the Packers.

“We came in here, but I think for the most part we needed the recovery time to get fresh,” 49ers quarterback Alex Smith said. “We got a jump start on Friday, just to recover and get back to it.”

The 49ers usually begin on-field preparations for the upcoming opponent on Wednesday, but they got going a day earlier with five scheduled practices to game-plan against the Packers, beginning Tuesday.

“I think any time you have an extra day or two for guys to get their legs back underneath them, some of the pounding that they’ve taken, to heal and use it wisely, I think it can do nothing but help us,” Singletary said.

The 49ers will need one of their best games of the season to defeat the Packers and remain alive and well in the playoff hunt. The 49ers (4-5) are one game behind the Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants for one of the two spots available for NFC wild-card teams. And they are two games back of the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals.

That makes Sunday’s game close to a must-win. The 49ers know they must begin getting stellar play from Smith, who makes his fourth start of the season after replacing Shaun Hill(notes) at halftime of the 49ers’ Oct. 25 game against the Houston Texans with the 49ers trailing 21-0.

Singletary said he believes Smith is ready to take his play to the next level.

“I think he’s comfortable right now, I really do,” Singletary said. “I just think that the nice thing about where he’s at is, first of all, he’s a bright guy. Second of all, it’s one of those things where the system that we’re running is not so different.”

Smith is in his fifth offensive system in five years for the 49ers, but there are similarities with Jimmy Raye’s offense and systems he has learned in the past. Smith’s best year—and last healthy season—came in 2006 with Norv Turner as offensive coordinator. Raye previously worked under Turner, so the 49ers’ offensive scheme this season is similar.

Smith is completing a career-best 64.8 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and six interceptions in 14 quarters of play. He is averaging 230 yards passing a game. Smith has not started four consecutive games in a season since 2006, but he remained with the organization in 2007 and ’08 in hopes of getting healthy and earning another chance.

“He just continued to work on his own, so when he did get the chance, it’s not like he had to shake a lot of rust off,” Singletary said. “I’m excited about where he’s at and the conversations that I have with him going forward are just continuing to ask him what does he need in order to be successful and trying to surround him with those things, whether it’s more time, whether it’s more detail, whether it’s more meeting time, whether it’s more route running out here with the wide receivers—just making sure he gets all of the things he needs so that he can feel as comfortable as he can during the game.”

Smith said he asked for more detail in the offense, and he often remains after practice to work individually with receivers, such as rookie Michael Crabtree(notes), who missed 71 days in a contract stalemate after being the No. 10 overall pick.

The 49ers’ offense is going through a transition with Smith at quarterback. Through the offseason and first half of the season, Singletary and Raye expressed their desires to establish a power running game as the basis of the team’s offense.

But the 49ers have also shown elements of the spread offense with Smith in the shotgun.

“I think it will always be like that over the course of a season,” Smith said. “You are going to have cycles and go through things—things you are doing well and things you aren’t—when you are finding out who you are. You want to set that identity to a certain extent, but it kind of evolves as you go along. You continue to adjust it to the personnel you have and the things we are doing well.”

Series History:   55th regular-season meeting. Packers lead series, 28-25-1. Packers have also won four of five meetings in the playoffs. The Packers have won the past six meetings at Lambeau Field. The last time the 49ers defeated the Packers in Green Bay was during the 1990 season.

NOTES, QUOTES

—Running back Frank Gore(notes) is the 49ers’ most versatile player. He figures to be a huge factor for the 49ers as a runner and pass-catcher. But because of the strain the Packers’ defense puts on teams, Gore’s biggest responsibility might come in pass protection.

Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye cited corner blitzes from Charles Woodson(notes) and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman(notes) being matched up on a running back as two concerns the 49ers face. It most instances, it would be Gore’s responsibility to protect quarterback Alex Smith.

“I just have to know what I’m doing,” Gore said. “They bring a lot of pressure. As long as I feel I know what I’m doing and what man to block. I’m going to try my best to block him.”

And how will Gore go about trying to block Kampman, a 260-pound natural defensive end.

“I just have to attack—get as close as I can before he can make moves, attack and keep working,” Gore said.

• When starting linebacker Takeo Spikes(notes) sustained a hamstring injury before halftime of the 49ers-Bears game last Thursday, rookie Scott McKillop(notes) got the call to replace him. But at halftime, the 49ers coaches reconsidered and sent veteran Matt Wilhelm(notes) into the game.

“Matt has been in a lot of situations in San Diego and has played a lot of games and was a starter,” 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. “We just felt comfortable with Matt being in there at the time. That’s why we made the transition. Nothing against Scott, it is just that right now we felt Matt had a better feel for the game and we were confident in his ability to play.”

• Coach Mike Singletary gushed about the play of veteran left tackle Barry Sims(notes), who has filled in for injured Joe Staley(notes).

“Outstanding. It’s a pleasant surprise,” Singletary said. “I think he’s done a great job. I’m really excited about what he has been able to bring to that position. I think he’s done a phenomenal job.”

However, Sims probably will not remain in the starting lineup once Staley returns, Singletary said. Staley is on target for a possible return for the Dec. 14 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Singletary said Sims would only remain in the starting lineup if Staley were rusty. And when asked if Sims might move to right tackle? Singletary answered, “Probably not. (Adam) Snyder is doing a good job on that side.”

• Instead, veteran Isaac Bruce(notes) is the one who found himself aced out of a starting job. And that hardly comes as a surprise to the 16-year veteran who ranks statistically as one of the top receivers in NFL history.

“I knew I was holding that spot for Josh,” Bruce said Tuesday. “He’s ready to play. He’s ascending and improving a lot.”

• Bruce resists the suggestion that he has served as a mentor to the team’s young receivers. But Morgan said he has learned a lot from his “life coach” about issues other than football. As far as the tenets of the job, Morgan said he gleans as much as possible from “one of the best route-runners to play the game.”

Bruce is in the final year of his contract, and does not figure to return to the 49ers next season. Morgan and Crabtree have a chance to team together for a long time.

“I like the progression,” Singletary said. “I just want to see it faster. I want to see when Josh Morgan(notes) and Michael Crabtree line up, the (the defense) has issues on both sides.

“I think Josh Morgan is extremely talented. He’s extremely physical. There are just a lot of things that he can do and present a lot of issues for a defense. So, I’m just looking for the time that, and hopefully soon, where he presents a lot of issues over there.”

By The Numbers:   59—Number of yards per game the 49ers’ passing game has improved after Alex Smith replaced Shaun Hill as starting quarterback.

Quote To Note:   “This is my first time going, so I look forward to it. There are a handful of places now I have never been and this is one of them. I look forward to it and I am excited for it. I have heard a lot about it.”—49ers quarterback Alex Smith on the anticipation of his first trip to Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

It appears as if Isaac Bruce has not only been bumped out of the starting lineup, but he might also be knocked another spots on the depth chart with the emergence of Jason Hill(notes).

“We’ll see. I know he’s not starting,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said of Bruce. “Whether he’s No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, I don’t know right now. It just depends on the package.”

Bruce has struggled this season with just 20 receptions for 244 yards and no touchdowns. When Hill replaced him at the end of the first half of the 49ers-Titans game Nov. 8, Hill caught two touchdown passes in his first extended playing time of the season.

Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree have started every game in which they’ve suited up this season. Morgan started the first nine games, while Crabtree started all four games in which he has appeared after joining the team late because of a rookie contract issue.

Player Notes  

• TE Delanie Walker(notes) has gotten more playing time in recent games as the 49ers have utilized a one-back, two-TE and two-receiver formation. But Walker, a wide receiver in college, has yet to create big mismatches. Walker has just five catches for 81 yards on the season.

• CB Tarell Brown(notes) gets his fourth straight start since moving into the starting lineup ahead of veteran Nate Clements(notes).

• NT Aubrayo Franklin(notes), in the final year of his contract, has played the best of his career. Franklin ranks third on the 49ers with 56 tackles, including 31 solo stops, according to the team’s film review. The 49ers want to retain Franklin, and it’s likely they would ensure his services via the franchise tag next season.

• LB Scott McKillop ranks as the 49ers’ top special-teams player according to a formula the team uses to grade the players. McKillop has 12 tackles. He has made 45 blocks in the return game, and he recovered a fumble for a touchdown.

• DL Kentwan Balmer(notes), the 49ers’ first-round pick in the 2008 draft, is the fourth man in the team’s rotation of defensive linemen. He gets limited playing time, but the club is pleased with his progress. Balmer has 17 tackles.

Game Plan:   The 49ers have yet to settle on an offensive approach, as they have let the game dictate how they want to attack opposing defenses. Two weeks ago when the 49ers faced the No. 32-ranked pass defense of the Tennessee Titans, the 49ers tried to throw the ball around the field. Alex Smith attempted 45 passes and was sacked four times. He threw three interceptions in that game. A week later when the 49ers were protecting a lead against the Chicago Bears, the 49ers ran the ball almost exclusively. They attempted just 11 passes of their 31 total plays in the second half. “I think it will always be like that over the course of a season,” Smith said. “You are going to have cycles and go through things—things you are doing well and things you aren’t—when you are finding out who you are.” The 49ers want to get running back Frank Gore going against the Packers to control the clock and keep the ball away from Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers(notes). Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky has done a good job of coming up with game plans each week to match up against the opponent. The 49ers’ pass rush has been up and done, but he should be able to use a variety of fronts and third-down coverages and blitzes to get pressure on Rodgers, who has been sacked a league-leading 41 times.

Matchups To Watch:   49ers WR Michael Crabtree, the team’s No. 1 wideout who has 18 receptions for 215 yards in four games, vs. Packers CB Charles Woodson, who leads the Packers with five interceptions on the season.

49ers RB Frank Gore, who will be called upon to pick up some blitzes, vs. Packers defense, which will occasionally blitz Charles Woodson from the corner or try to get a matchup with OLB Aaron Kampman on Gore.

49ers CB Tarell Brown, who has played consistently in his three starts after replacing Nate Clements, vs. Packers WR Greg Jennings(notes), who has averaged 14.3 yards per reception on 38 catches.

Injury Impact:   Cornerback Nate Clements (shoulder) and tackle Joe Staley (knee) will not play Sunday against the Packers.

• LB Takeo Spikes did not practice this week due to a hamstring injury. His status for Sunday’s game against the Packers is up in the air. If he is unable to play, veteran Matt Wilhelm will replace him in the 49ers’ starting lineup.

• Rookie running back Glen Coffee(notes) and defensive lineman Demetric Evans(notes) will both play, Singletary said. Evans missed two games with a shoulder injury, while Coffee was sideline for one game with a concussion.

• Defensive lineman Justin Smith(notes) (back) saw limited practice during the week, but should be available to see his usual number of snaps in the game Sunday.

• The following players saw full practice and will be available for their usual duty in Sunday’s game: WR Isaac Bruce (ankle, elbow), WR Michael Crabtree (knee), S Michael Lewis (quadriceps), RB Michael Robinson(notes) (shoulder), S Mark Roman(notes) (knee) and T Adam Snyder(notes) (shoulder).