During the San Francisco 49ers 18-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, left tackle Joe Staley and cornerback Nate Clements sustained injuries that will keep each of them out for six weeks.
The Staley injury is a huge blow to an offensive line that was already reeling from the season-ending injury to right tackle Tony Pashos.
Staley has been the one solid constant on an otherwise mediocre offensive line. With Barry Sims as his short-term replacement, expect the 49ers to play even more conservative to avoid third and long situations.
The Clements injury may be the beginning of the end for the 49ers richest defensive back. Clements did not start the game against the Colts in favor of the much taller Shawntae Spencer and much younger Tarell Brown.
You can argue that Clements has been a minor disappointment, but he is still one of the best tackling corners in the league. He also has a knack for creating turnovers that every other 49ers defensive back doesn’t possess.
Expect teams to air it out against the 49ers now that they have a thin secondary. It was already the team’s weakness, and I worry that quarterbacks like Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers will pick apart the 49ers through the air in the coming weeks.
As for the loss to the Colts, I was moderately disappointed in our offense. Quarterback Alex Smith played pretty poorly, but his touchdown drive at the end of the first half showed why he should start for the rest of the year. He showed great clock-management, matriculating the ball down the field in a little over a minute to the Colts 8-yard line. From there, he hit tight end Vernon Davis in the numbers for a touchdown, giving the 49ers a 14-6 lead.
The Colts dominated the game from that point on, although the 49ers clearly frustrated Peyton Manning. If it wasn’t for a trick play that netted the Colts go-ahead touchdown, one has to wonder if Indianapolis would have ever reached the end zone.
The 49ers run defense was dominate again. It is clearly the strength of the team. And the 49ers pass rush frustrated Manning, as he was sacked a season-high three times.
But the 49ers did just enough to lose and drop to 3-4. Fortunately, the Arizona Cardinals laid an egg against the Carolina Panthers, which keeps the 49es just one game back in the NFC West Division.
Next up for the 49ers are the 1-6 Tennessee Titans. If the 49ers can stop the run and make Vince Young beat them with his arm, they should be in good shape.
And if the 49ers offensive line can give Alex Smith some time to throw, he should have a big day against a poor Titans secondary.
A loss in this one would change the culture of this team. A win is needed if the 49ers want to continue any postseason aspirations.
