Hit List: We're Screwed

This week in Hit List, we try to break down just what is wrong with the 2-5 San Francisco 49ers after their 31-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

GOOD DAY, faithful readers. Nick here again with your weekly 49ers Observer Hit List. As you probably know by now, the Niners pretty much rolled out the red carpet last Sunday for the New Orleans Saints and threw a gigantic welcome back party for Drew Brees, Marques Colston and fifty-one of their closest friends. I guess Mike Nolan's boys figured that with the rest of the NFL pretty much manhandling the Saints in 2007, it would be a good idea to just do what the Niners did last year against New Orleans and get their collective red and gold asses kicked in truly glorious fashion.

(RANDOM OBSERVATION - the 49ers lost to the Saints 34-10 last year playing in New Orleans, while they lost 31-10 to the Saints this year playing in San Francisco. Maybe the 49ers are just three points better defensively in 2007 — taking in account the absence of Manny "Man-Law" Lawson due to injury — than they were in 2006? Ugh.)

So what went wrong against the Saints? Just about everything on both sides of the ball. It's as if all the tiny things that personally worry me about the Mike Nolan San Francisco 49ers got together at a Starbucks, collectively reared their evil heads while drinking various caffeinated beverages, and said, "Hey Nick! Remember us? All those little aspects of the post-Mariucci 49ers that completely sucked ass? No? Well, let's figuratively take you back to 2005 and show you what it was like."

I'm not going to go into the Saints game any more than that. It's just too depressing. I'd probably just be writing about how I was right about Walt Harris and Shawntae Spencer, and I don't feel like wasting my time again. Instead, this edition of Hit List is going to end quickly and painlessly with a short and concise list of why I think the 49ers' offense is pretty much screwed in 2007. Enjoy.

Nick's Opinion On Why The 49ers' Offense Is Broken

• 1. THE O-LINE - The 49ers' O-line cannot protect the quarterback in 2007 (whether it's Smitty or The Dilf) or open holes for the running game because each member of the line has an issue. Left tackle Jonas Jennings has a personal problem disrupting his game, but only Ronnie Lott knows what that could possibly be (word is that Jennings is not drinking Nolan's Kool-Aid this year, but really it could all be BS). Left guard Larry Allen is old and slow. Center Eric Heitmann is probably not fully recovered from a broken leg. Right guard Justin Smiley isn't playing his heart out because he didn't get a big contract extension and less talented NFL guards are making way more money than he is (feel free to disagree with me if you want; you could be right, and I could be 100 percent wrong). Right tackle Joe Staley is young and inexperienced.

• 2. THE QB - Quarterback Alex Smith is not only still (yes, STILL) developing, but also currently injured. So not only is he liable to throw with less poise and accuracy than most other, more seasoned NFL quarterbacks due to his level of experience, but having his shoulder kind of just hanging off his arm probably doesn't help either. And because of reason No. 1, most of the time Smitty has to either throw to his check-down guy or run for his life on a good number of passing plays, which leads to Smitty getting hit by large, angry defensive linemen ... which doesn't move the ball downfield or help his detached shoulder much.

• 3. THE WIDE RECEIVERS - If you look at any of the 49ers wide receivers, there are issues. Darrell Jackson is a lazy, unfocused hippie with bad hands and a busted knee. Arnaz Battle has great hands, but lacks breakaway speed (and there's always the long-standing argument that Battle would be the third option at receiver for any other NFL team). Ashley Lelie has the legs, but not the necessary work ethic or the focus to contribute consistently. Bryan Gilmore is sub-par in almost every category. Jason Hill has great upside as a rookie, but has been out with a hamstring injury and needs more experience. Taylor Jacobs was waived by the Niners earlier this season, but he couldn't catch the ball OR run his routes correctly when he was given the chance. In short, the 49ers receiving core still kind of sucks.

• 4. THE PLAY-CALLING - All you need to read about the 49ers offensive play-calling you can read right here. Offensive coordinator Master Jim Hostler tells it much better than I can. And since Mike Nolan knows almost nothing about offense (he doesn't even carry a play chart with him during games, and at times he takes his headset off completely when the 49ers have the ball on offense), he can't fire Jim Hostler. If Hostler is shown the door, there will be absolutely no one to call the plays. Nolan knows this, and thus has no solution to any of the problems on offense.

Thus, as far as I can see it, the 49ers are probably screwed this season. Can they win in Atlanta this weekend? I honestly have no clue whatsoever, and that's the sad truth I have come to terms with regarding this year's team. Keep a look out next week for the next installment HIT LIST. I'm out of here. Here is who I liked and didn't like last Sunday against the Saints:

San Jose Mercury News columnist Ann Killion will pen an article trying to protect you from the evil coaching demon that is Mike Nolan: Alex Smith, Patrick Willis, Michael Robinson, Vernon Davis, Marques Douglas and Andy Lee.

Joe Nedney is giving you the finger because you really suck lately: Shawntae Spencer, Walt Harris, Maurice Hicks and Isaac Sopoaga.