Are the Niners Just the 2006 Bears with Laid Back Fans?

I remember watching  ESPN in late September /early October of 2006 to be amazed that the recently released NFL power rankings had the Chicago Bears as the top team in the league. Seriously? I thought to myself. They really fooled this many people? I know they have a great defense anchored by Brian Urlacher, a highly effective running game, a sure footed kicker and a young man on his way to become the best returner in the history of the league. No question that these are all important elements to a championship team capable of controlling the ball and strategically playing a game of field position, but has the entire football world overlooked the fact that their QB is Rex Grossman? (On a side note I believe that Rex Grossman is nothing short of a total gentleman who was abused by the media and handled it with dignity and class without exception. It is not my intention to bash the guy but merely point out that like all 5 Billion people on this planet with the exception of 20 men he is not a good NFL QB.)

Unfortunately for the San Francisco 49ers, winning a Super Bowl in this era does not require a good QB; it requires a great one. Over the last decade, every Championship team had a QB whose last name was either Brady, Manning, Brees, Rodgers or Roethlisberger. With the exception of the older Manning who had a ring handed to him by incompetence of the aforementioned 2006 Bears, all these QBs had to either orchestrate a game winning drive or run the clock out of a one possession game to seal the deal against a worthy opponent in at least one of their championships. As important as all the other elements to the game are to get to the playoffs, you need a franchise QB to win the big game in this decade. There’s a reason why the Ravens have not been back to the Super Bowl since 2000 despite the annual tradition of “expert” prognosticators picking them to get there, or that overgrown Blue Hen playing behind the center.

Unlike many, I was not fooled by Alex Smith or the 49ers last season, nor did any of their impressive off season moves woo me. In fact, their only signing that truly caught my attention was the one they didn’t make – Peyton Manning. However, I’m embarrassed to admit that like the rest of the football watching world I too was ready to abandon my franchise QB theory and declare them champions after week 1. After all, I’m not crazy. They do have the stingiest defense in the game, an efficient RB in Frank Gore, a dominating offensive line, a hungry and dynamic head coach, the best current playmaking TE and a receiving trio as good as any. Throw in a healthy Ted Ginn Jr. to return kicks and you have all the makings of a champion……..in 1987. In 2012, you need a QB and Alex Smith simply will not do.

AND THAT’S THE BRUTAL TRUTH!