Before you criticize another groups’ point of view(s), how about you understand what it is they’re trying to say and FIRST counter those points. You’re basically looking at other people’s VERY VALID concerns and basically saying “well you’re wrong.”

First of all, HTS put in a VERY good post on how bringing in a ringer doesn’t necessarily translate to success, EVEN IF you are looking for success immediately. The QB has to learn a new system, new teammates, and all the while adjust to a new “home.” And you suppose this quarterback is supposed to do this with three preseason games left before the regular season? The odds are REALLY stacked against him there.

This is not to mention the fact there there ISN’T a game breaking QB that’s available (either through a trade OR free agency). This isn’t Madden, you can’t just call up a team and say, I’ll give you my future #1 and #2 for Phillip Rivers. It takes two to tango, and not very surprisingly, teams hold onto the QBs that have talent. Heck, teams will sometimes carry two QBs that can start on other teams (i.e. San Diego two years ago). So WHO do you suppose the 49ers get now?

I guess your counter-point for the following point was implied, but it’d be nice to actually see you say it. Do you really think this team is ONE PLAYER, a QB nevertheless, away from being a Super Bowl team? I sure as heck don’t, and I know there are plenty of people around here who feel the exact same way. There are quite a few very valid reasons for why people feel this way.

As I mentioned in another comment above, the offensive line has shown to be nothing other than fragile and full of holes. They’re young, yes. They’re full of potential, yes. However, this unit lacks experienced depth, which a playoff team NEEDS. If Staley goes down, you either have a cast-off (Sims) or another player made of glass (Jennings) taking over for him. Beyond that, if Baas doesn’t play, you have a career backup (Wragge) or a rookie (Rachal) stepping in. It’s not that there is a shortage of bodies, but there is a shortage of knowledge in what those bodies can actually provide.

The next question mark is the WR group. While it is DEFINITELY improved over last season, the bottom line is still very similar. You have a player that may be washed up (Bruce), a project that has tons of potential (Johnson), and the steady #2/#3 (Battle). Even on paper, this group probably doesn’t instill much fear in anyones eyes, so it’s a very valid concern that the group may (still) not measure up.

The defense still lacks a serious pass rush. The team signed Justin Smith, yes. He’s never been known to be a pass rusher, who’s skill-set may actually be better suited to playing a 3-4 DE (even if he may be a little undersized). The team is still playing with Haralson and Banta-Cain, who have each shown flashes but neither have shown any kind of consistency. Who else is there to pressure the QB? Manny Lawson? The team seems VERY intent on making him a Julian Peterson-like (during his later 49ers years) OLB. They like his athleticism in coverage, so even before he got hurt last year, he was dropping back A LOT. So there you have it, a pass rush that’s dependent on two players who haven’t proven they’re pass rushers, a guy who is learning a new position, and a guy who the team hasn’t used as a pass-rusher.

As we saw in the first preseason game, the defensive line is not a pretty sight either. This is especially true at the nose, where Aubrayo Franklin apparently wanted to leave the door open for the Raiders. Even if they switched to a 4-3, the defensive line would be a serious concern because not only are they borderline against the run, the pass rush then becomes dependent on them.

I know that a few of these question marks may answer themselves this season. I also know we’re all 49ers fans and of course we’d all LIKE for this team to succeed. However, just because we would like that and wish with all our might, it does not change the fact that this team has some VERY valid question marks. This team is NOT one player away from being a competing team, even if that one player is a Brett Favre in his prime. Even in his prime, he struggled if his OL struggled and the Packers struggle when their defense struggled.