preseason game - Texans vs. 49ers

Another massacre!

Today's entry might as well be the same one I typed up after the big loss to the Saints a couple of weeks ago. And now, just as then: no worries. In the short term, sure... there might be worries, but that's only if I don't want to give the new coaching staff any time to implement their changes. It will take time, to be sure. We're only three weeks into the preseason, for all those sourpusses out there.

Now, I happen to think that the 49ers are working with more talent and a better situation than Bill Walsh inherited when he took over the team back in the 1970's. Even so, this year the Harbaugh regime missed out on an important off-season of activity due to the situation with the CBA.

As the regular season gets going though, what's important is how do the Niners compete with the rest of the league in general? Clearly, they don't measure up with a team as good as the Houston Texans, but to have shown improvement, the Niners should at least be in the middle of the league - that's what I hope anyway. But if not, as long as they're putting something great together, I'll be fine. No one should expect them to win the Super Bowl this year or next year. Going with the Bill Walsh comparison, it'd be nice if they won it all in three years, but those are lofty expectations. Will they be contenders - that will be a more realistic hope.

What came to my mind as I watched the game last night are the Jimmy Johnson-era Dallas Cowboys with a young Troy Aikman being installed at quarterback. As I recall that first year, they went 1 - 15. It took a few seasons for them to become champions. So as long as the Jim Harbaugh-era shows the same potential of building a champion, let's all be patient.

That's not to say that all coaching regimes should be given at least three years to win the Super Bowl. Looking back, I have to agree that recent 49ers coaches had to go. But I continue to be VERY excited to have Harbaugh as head coach. Even Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. had some missteps when he first ran the team. And he stuck with Bill Walsh even after his team went 2 - 14 his first year as head coach. As long as we know that the right system is being put in place and that things will jell eventually, well, however much we can 'know' something like that, it should be an ultimately satisfying ride for 49ers fans!