2008 NFL RANK    vs.    2009 NFL RANK                          

           Offense: 23rd                                           Offense: 28th

           Defense: 13th                                          Defense: 19th

   2008 NFC RANK    vs.    2009  NFC RANK

            Offense: 12th                                             Offense: 15th

            Defense: 7th                                              Defense: 9th

Questions are: Did the 49ers really improve from last year? Did Alex Smith cement his place as the starting QB even as the offense got worse in 2009? Did Coach Singletary actually make a bad situation worse?

I believe that this team has improved from the ground up, and if you squint your eyes just enough you can see a championship contender taking shape. With that said these stats absolutely shock me!! I can't help but wonder did we really improve or do i just have the "feeling" we have improved because apparently the numbers are not there.  Just wondering on what all my other NINER fans think about these rankings.

I read an intersting article about the bust of Alex Smith, it pointed out points from both sides about how the 49ers or Smith himself was to blame for his fall from grace.. I wonder what do you think and who is to blame..

my opinion:  I believe that the 49ers are to blame for rushing Alex Smith into the starting role. He may not have ever been a John Elway but he has a terrific arm and plenty of potential and i believe the 49ers organization failed to groom him..

the 49ers need to make a play for brett favre, our qb position is so bad that everyone embraced an unproven career back up qb in shaun hill just because he promised a change.. the truth is shaun hill is not the answer.. alex smith's meltdown last year offically anointed him a complete bust.. its so bad, that people whisper about jt o'sullivan like he may have some hidden mvp talent waiting to emerge.. now i may be wrong and somehow this qb black hole in sf may dissapate and stop sucking the life out of the 49ers but why sit still and watch a train wreck waiting to happen?? if the 49ers pick up brett favre they get a hall of famer in his twilight, he throws interceptions half the time, but at least they get completions and yards.. and an air attack that can stretch the field and open up the running attack for the frank gore.. last year the defense was strong, but with no points or first downs from the offense was forced to try and win games by themselves.. it also features one of the best Lbs in the nfl in patrick willis.. so even if for only one year, if for only to give all the talent on the 49ers a chance to compete.. sign brett favre.. i wont be mad at that..