What started as a nightmare of an offseason for the San Francisco 49ers with the firing of head coach Jim Harbaugh, has now gone from bad to worse with the news of not one but two of the team's star linebackers announcing their early retirement from the game of football less than a week between one another. After learning just days ago that the 49ers would be without All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis who has been the heartbeat of the San Francisco defense since being drafted eight years ago, news broke that the team's brightest young star on defense -- Chris Borland, is also walking away from the sport just one year into his professional career. While Willis, 30, admitted it was past injuries that led to his decision, most notably those to his feet which he explained have bothered him for years during his press conference, the 24-year old Borland cited the dangers of what could happen rather than what did as his reason to hang 'em up.
It's no secret that the game of football is as dangerous as any with what we know today regarding the studies of repeated head trauma that occur during tackles and after doing his research, Borland is among those well aware of the safety concerns and long-term effects it could have on ones life. But it does come as a shocker with Borland announcing his decision so early on in his career. Selected out of the University of Wisconsin in the third round of last year's NFL Draft, Borland shined and was a tackling-machine for the 49er defense after getting the starting nod in Week 7 when asked to fill in for the injured Patrick Willis. From his Week 7 start until Week 15 when he suffered an injury of his own, the rookie linebacker led the league in tackles with 98, eight more than the next closest player during that span and was awarded Defensive Rookie of the Month for the month of November. Borland led the 49ers with 108 total tackles while averaging a tackle per every 4.5 snaps played which was the best in the league. In the wake of Willis announcing his retirement plans, the expectations for Borland next season were sure to skyrocket following his impressive rookie campaign. Instead, the team will now be left searching for an alternative replacement who's unlikely to step up in the way Borland was capable of while also holding their fingers crossed that Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman can return to full strength after missing all of last season with ACL and MCL tears in his left knee.
As if the 49ers weren't already expected to showcase a completely different team defensively in 2015 under a new regime with former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio departing for the Chicago Bears, the franchise will virtually feature an entirely new roster with both Willis and Borland gone as well as fellow linebacker Dan Skuta, cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox all signing elsewhere for bigger paydays. The defense isn't the only area that was dealt a blow in the early goings of the offseason, however, as the Niners' o-line saw their 3-time Pro-Bowl guard Mike Iupati sign with the rival Arizona Cardinals. Another name that will soon follow is Michael Crabtree who's a free-agent and isn't expected to return with the team that drafted him in 2009. And then there's the franchise's all-time leading rusher in Frank Gore who inked a contract with the Indianapolis Colts over the weekend after 10 memorable seasons in San Francisco. The busy free-agent frenzy wasn't all about losing players, though, as the 49ers also made a number of acquisitions by signing 3-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle/defensive end Darnell Dockett who the team is quite familiar with having played his entire 11-year career in Arizona. Other signings include cornerback Shareece Wright formerly of the San Diego Chargers, running back Reggie Bush who gives the Niners another dimension in the running game after spending the last two seasons with Detroit and former Ravens wide-out Torrey Smith who provides the 49er offense with a deep threat they've so desperately needed.
As for the linebacker position, the unexpected retirement of two of their top three players at the position has to throw off the team's initial plans heading into next month's NFL Draft, but it's better to have happened now rather than after the draft. It would be hard not to see the Niners address the position come Draft day, however, unless they plan to hang onto Michael Wilhoite who was recently placed on the trading block or decide to possibly kick the tires on LB Nick Moody who saw limited action on the field a season ago.
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Coming off only their second defeat of the season against the Ravens and their first since their week 2 loss in overtime to the Cowboys, the 49ers played host to a St. Louis Rams team many thought would pose the biggest threat in the NFC West. But at 2-10 mainly due to an injury sustained coupled with a sub-par season from last year's Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford, the Rams have been anything but. And with a trip to San Francisco's Candlestick Park where the 49ers were hoping to put a seal on the NFC West and make their first trip to the Playoffs since 2002, the Rams' woes would continue.
Coming into the game, 49ers running back Frank Gore was within striking distance of the franchise's all-time rushing record held by the great Joe 'The Jet' Perry who passed away in April at the age of 84. Needing only 1 yard in the second quarter, Gore eclipsed Perry's mark of 7,344 career rushing yards with a 2-yard run up the middle, giving him sole possession of the record before finishing the day with 73-yards. Though it's been San Francisco's running game that has shined and carried the team on offense this year, it was QB Alex Smith who dazzled during the second half much like he did several weeks ago against the New York Giants. After a number of trips to the red zone and only three field goals to show for, the 49ers went into the half with a 9-0 lead. In need of an adjustment on offense, the 49ers were able to capitalize after a Dashon Goldson interception as Smith found WR Michael Crabtree 52-yards out for a 49er touchdown.
Up 16-0 following their first trip to the endzone, the 49ers would add to their lead on their next drive with David Akers splitting the uprights from 34-yards out for his fourth field goal of the day. After a series of punts, Alex Smith and co. would put the game away for good as he connected with wide-out Kyle Williams for a season-long 56-yard touchdown as San Francisco completed their first shutout of the season and the team's first since 2009 which also came at the expense of the Rams. Alex Smith finished the game with a total of 274 passing yards to go along with a pair of touchdowns. With the 26-0 blowout, the 49ers were able to clinch their first division title in nine years, something the 49er faithful have been anticipating for quite some time.
Normally a team that clinches the division as early as week 13 will take a step back and ease off the gas by relaxing and resting it's starters in preparation for the playoffs, but head coach Jim Harbaugh appears to have his mind set on keeping his foot on the gas in hopes of keeping pace with the NFC leading Green Bay Packers who are yet to be beaten. One player who can definitely use the rest however, is Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis who left Sunday's game during the first quarter with a pulled hamstring. Willis was seen on the ground grabbing at his right hamstring after a rare missed tackle. Willis' absence would be detrimental to the team, but according to team trainers the All-Pro LB could be back within 2-4 weeks and should be ready come playoff time.
49er greats Joe Montana and Dwight Clark were also on hand to witness their former team capture the west and become division champs, something they became a fixture at back in the 80's. With the NFC West title already under his belt in only his first season at the helm, coach Harbaugh joined George Seifert and Steve Mariucci as the only rookie head coaches in 49ers history to win the division.
Week 14 Preview & Prediction: Other than Willis' injury, the day was filled with nothing but positives. San Francisco plans to keep the good vibes flowing as they get set to pay a visit to the desert where the division-rival Arizona Cardinals who currently sit at 5-7 are coming off their biggest win yet, an overtime thriller against the Dallas Cowboys. With an already clinched division, many are crying out upset and have the Cardinals coming out victorious this Sunday. I on the other hand think the 49ers will continue to roll with their dominant defense and have San Francisco coming out on top, 20-10.
