There's No Telling How Good the 49ers Are Just Yet
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BREAKDOWN
San Francisco
at Pittsburgh
1 p.m.
"We've just got to get the correct game plan. Sometimes the game plan you use might not be the best one."
TE Vernon Davis, expressing frustration over the 49ers' offense. Davis has been used largely as a blocker and has just four catches for 27 yards.
The 49ers are 2-0 and at the top of their division, but no one seems convinced it's not a mirage.
Their offense is last in the NFL in total yardage and has yet to gain 200 yards in a game. QB Alex Smith hasn't been intercepted in 48 pass attempts, but has no touchdowns and a total of 252 passing yards.
Making up for it, at least so far, is the defense, with six new starters from last season. It held Arizona's vaunted wideout duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to 42 receiving yards in Week 1, then limited star RB Steven Jackson to 60 yards and forced three turnovers against the Rams in Week 2.
Rookie LB Patrick Willis has led the 49ers in tackles in each game while playing all over the field. He'll have more responsibility now that second-year LB Manny Lawson, who also had impressed, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
The Steelers, meanwhile, are in the words of Dennis Green, who we thought they were.
Mike Tomlin, the new coach, has maintained the team's image: It has outscored its first two opponents 60-10, and RB Willie Parker has 235 rushing yards on 50 carries.
"We're going to ride Willie until the wheels come off," Tomlin told reporters.
