Troy Smith gets the start

The 49ers will start Troy Smith at quarterback Sunday against the Rams, two team sources told The Chronicle.

This is the second time this year coach Mike Singletary has benched Alex Smith, who went 1-1 after getting his job back from Troy after five games hurt and then benched.

Troy Smith won three of five games but was benched after a loss in Green Bay. Alex Smith has now been benched after a loss in San Diego.

It's not likely the 49ers would have won either game no matter who the quarterback was, yet in both cases, it's the quarterback who lost his job.

Now, Singletary hopes Troy Smith's hand can get hot again just in time to save the season.

And if his hand isn't hot, then he'll get benched before it's too late. Offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said both quarterbacks are getting reps this week ... but then, Johnson said they haven't decided on a starter yet ... one day after Singletary said he informed both quarterbacks who will start but didn't want to announce it ... and just moments before news broke that Troy Smith is indeed the starter.

That makes Johnson one incredibly out-of-the-loop offensive coordinator, or someone who needs to get his story straight with Singletary before he fields questions about his starting quarterback.

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Dec 22 at 12:03 PM

Who will the 49ers start at quarterback?

Will be Troy or Alex Smith for this critical penultimate game against the Rams on Sunday? How about both!

Coach Mike Singletary didn't declare a starter at quarterback for this contest in St. Louis. Singletary did say that Troy Smith would need to get plenty of reps this week, which could be a huge hint. Singletary didn't rule out playing both, but said they he wouldn't rotate them in and out of the game. Singletary also said he has told both quarterbacks of his plans. Here's are some other news developments:

-Singletary said Thaddeus Gibson could get some reps, but maybe just from special teams. He also said he would go with a three-man rotation of Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson and Ahmad Brooks at outside linebacker.

-He there are no lingering injuries from the Thursday night game, meaning both Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes should be fine.

-In typical fashion, Singletary said he didn't want to play a "cat-and-mouse game" with the Rams at quarterback. Yet he won't declare a starter until later in the week. What?

-Singletary called still being eligible for the playoffs, "a blessing."

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 21 at 10:41 AM

Sad sackers

The placing of pass rusher Travis LaBoy on season-ending injured reserve with a knee problem focuses attention on the team's lack of pass rush this season. Last year, for the first time in several seasons, the 49ers had more sacks (44) than they yielded (40). That won't happen this year.

With two games to go, the 49ers defense has 29 sacks, while the offense has given up 38, tied for fourth most in the league. Their inability to apply pressure might be more disappointing than their protection problems. After all, this was supposed to be a team that won on defense.

LaBoy ends his season with 5 sacks, a half sack behind leader Justin Smith. It also means the 49ers will go another season without a player notching double-digit sack totals.

Not surprisingly, the last time they had a player with more than 10 sacks (Andre Carter 12.5 in 2002) the team went to the playoffs. Outside pressure is what animates an effective 3-4 defense. They thought they had a sack master in Manny Lawson when they took him with the 18th choice in the 2006 draft. Lawson notched a career-high 6.5 sacks last year. Now he has two.

Lawson stayed away from off-season workouts last spring to protest the team's refusal to meet demands for a new contract. But for any outside linebacker to score a big contract, he has to have sacks. Lawson does everything else well at outside linebacker - he's good in coverage, sets the edge, is good against the run. But without sacks, Lawson may just be taking up space for someone with more pressure potential.

Read More 'Sad sackers' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 20 at 09:36 PM

Playoff talk: This time, it's for real

Down goes Seattle. Down goes St. Louis.

Just like that, they 49ers found themselves thrust back into the thick of the NFC West race by no doing of their own.

They were destroyed by San Diego on Thursday, and faced elimination if the co-leaders both won Sunday. Instead, they are still one game back with two to go -- starring the Official Game of All Games at St. Louis on Sunday.

This isn't to say the 49ers are sure to beat the Rams on the road, seeing it took all they had plus overtime to beat the Rams at home. But, they have a chance.

Suddenly, their playoff talk is no longer a mere mathematically-correct theory. If they beat the Rams, they will be in the driver's seat to win this thing in spite of everything that's gone wrong all year.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but this makes Sunday's game at St. Louis their most pivotal game in years.

Here are the scenarios the 49ers face if they are to be the first team with a losing record to reach the playoffs outside the strike-shortened 1982 season (put that slogan on a shirt). And we won't mess with the complicated scenarios that involve tie games. Read More 'Playoff talk: This time, it's for real' »

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Dec 19 at 04:49 PM

Mike Singletary - He has no answers

In 23 years of covering the 49ers, I've never seen a team so sour. Head coach Mike Singletary provides as little information as possible and that attitude has filtered down to his players. On Friday, the few players who were available in the locker room mostly declined to talk. One reporter said they asked five players for a comment and each one said no.

The continuing purgatory of playoff eligibility might be weighing on the team, because the 49ers are clearly not worthy of playoff consideration, in fact, this team is getting worse not better. On some level, Singletary, the coaching staff and the players must know this. As David White pointed out in his game story, the 49ers were close to upsetting playoff-caliber teams like Atlanta and New Orleans early in the season. Now they are getting blown out by good teams. Tampa Bay, Green Bay and San Diego have laid bad beatings on them.

And it's obvious the team has no answer for why this is happening.

"Well, there are a number of reasons why it happened," Singletary said of the latest flattening, a 34-7 humbling to the Chargers. "But (I'm) really not going to get into those things."

The tight-lipped Singletary dispensed little news. He did say that the broken hands of linebackers Takeo Spikes and Patrick Willis fared no worse after Thursday night. Also, Singletary declined to name a starter at quarterback for the game in St. Louis a week from Sunday. Troy Smith had the most prolific afternoon experienced by a 49ers quarterback since the days of Tim Rattay when the 49ers beat the Rams 23-20 in overtime on Nov. 14.

Read More 'Mike Singletary - He has no answers' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 17 at 04:17 PM

Postgame

The 49ers are still alive. Few expected them to beat the Chargers, but I didn't think they'd get blown out. I thought they had found something last week by thumping Seattle. Not the case.

The 49ers could be out of the playoff picture if St. Louis beats

Kansas City and Seattle beats Atlanta. Without Matt Cassell, St. Louis really has a chance. It would be a big upset for Seattle to beat Atlanta, however Seattle has wide variance in their play. The beat San Diego and Chicago this year.

-Justin Smith pulled a class move. He stayed in the hallway outside the locker room and waited for the media. He said that rules were the rules and that he didn't know it was an official who pushed him in the back. Smith was tossed in the first half for shoving an official. Takeo Spikes said it was a bad call, and I agree. Smith meant no malice and pushing and shoving does go on at times.

-Mike Singletary said he didn't put Troy Smith back in the game because it wouldn't have been fair to him. He said it's much easier to go back to Alex Smith from Troy because of Alex's knowledge of the offense. That's a plausible explanation. Read More 'Postgame' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 16 at 08:33 PM

49ers lose 34-7

Chargers in victory formation.

All night on NFL network, they've said Mike Singletary should keep his job. Millen and Mariucci said it before the game Joe Theismann just said it again.

Chargers drive: Hey look at Keaton Kristick making plays on defense. The Chargers punt.

49ers drive: Touchdown Brian Westbrook. No shutout. Good connection between Smith and Morgan.

With this loss, the 49ers have assured themselves their eighth straight losing season. You wonder if history is just catching up to them. They had a string of fine coaches with Bill Walsh, George Seifert and even Steve Mariucci. Then they went with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks with Montana and Young, and then they got some excellent seasons out of Jeff Garcia.

49ers drive: Smith throws an interception on fourth down. He got blasted on the play.

No sign of Troy Smith. I think it's Alex's game still

Chargers drive: Touchdown Vincent Jackson, 21-yard pass. Now there's a challenge flag.

Chargers drive: Mis-communication gets the ball down to the 22 on a pass to tight end McMichael. Both Spikes and Willis went to cover the back, which left McMichael wide open.

Third quarter over: The only drama left in this game is whether Troy Smith relieves the other Smith.

49ers drive: Three and out once again with a sack on second down. Anthony Davis is struggling. He's given up two sacks after coming three straight good games in a row. The Chargers are double- triple covering Vernon Davis and nobody else is getting open.

OK, maybe the 49ers aren't giving up. Anybody who watched this tired defense fight on the goal line could see some heart. At least their heart on defense. I don't know about offense.

Chargers drive cont: Chargers have a 3rd-and-1 at the 49ers 3. The 49ers can't stop the run.

Chargers drive: Manny Lawson got hit by Spikes and had to come out. Goldson is back and just got run over by Tolbert.

49ers drive: Another three and out. The 49ers offense just looks futile.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 16 at 08:26 PM

New stream for second half

halftime analysis: More of the same for the 49ers. Mediocre play at quarterback, and an inability to overcome adversity. Mike Singletary keeps saying his team has character. They don't tonight. They've been unable to overcome bad breaks, and they probably don't have the quarterback to bring them back. They might want to bring Troy Smith. At least he can make the big play.

49ers drive: Chargers call time out with 66 seconds left, a slap against the 49ers offense.

49ers drive: Travis LaBoy went to the locker room with a knee injury his return is questionable.

Chargers drive cont: Vincent Jackson wide open for a touchdown. Maybe the 49ers should sign Jackson; he'll be a free agent.

Chargers drive: Two minute warning. The 49ers have a lot to overcome. The failure to score on 4th-and-six inches, the Justin Smith ejection. All of this against a good team. They might get blow out here. Haven't heard any more on Goldson. He came off the field on his own power.

Chargers drive: Big play to Kelly Washington, then gets a 15-yard personal foul on Tarell Brown for a hit out of bounds. Horrible call. This crew, which I've near seen before, is calling an excessively tight game. The 49ers are losing their grip on the game.

49ers drive: Antonio Garay with the weird hair cut sacked Smith on third down. Smith was forced to step up because of pressure off the right side. For some reason, Anthony Davis stepped inside which allowed the pass rusher to get into the backfield quickly. Smith lucky he didn't get hurt because he got body slammed by Garay.

Chargers drive cont: Chargers get 10-point turnaround by stopping the 49ers on 4th and goal and then driving down the field for a field goal. That's a killer. What's worse is losing Justin Smith. KNBR reported that Smith said that he was pushed first by the ref, but you can't push back. Without him, the 49ers defense could wear out fast.

Chargers drive cont: Two wide open receivers on consecutive plays got the Chargers in scoring position. Parys Haralson got sucked up by the blitz and then didn't get the proper depth on the first play. Vincent Jackson turnaround Nate Clements on 14-yard receptions. That shouldn't happen. A 6-5 guy, should not be more nimble than the 6-foot Clements.

Chargers drive: Justin Smith blew out Chris Wilson when Wilson pulled, and then he pushed the referee. He just got tossed. The 49ers might have just lost the game.

49ers drive cont: Dixon stopped on fourth down. He lost 2 yards. Iupati tried to cut Brandon Siler and he missed him. Wow. Actually,, Siler just filled quickly from his linebacker spot. The play developed too slowly.

49ers drive cont: Touchdown 49ers, Alex Smith scores on an 8-yard run. It's tied. But it will be reviewed. It looks like Smith scored on the replay.

49ers drive cont: Smith misfires into the end zone. But the Chargers get called for personal foul. Chargers tried to boost up a player to try to block a kick.

First quarter over: The 49ers are driving. Good pitch play to Dixon for 17 yards and great block by David Baas who pulled from his center position. The 49ers will face a 3 and 6 when the second quarter starts. This might be four down territory.

49ers drive: Finally Ted Ginn tried to run over somebody. It was the punter, but it counts.

Chargers drive: The 49ers are blitzing somebody on nearly every play. Sack Sopoaga on second down. He has played well this year. Clements made a great tackle on third down and long.

49ers drive: Why do some many receivers drop balls from Alex Smith? Do they not have confidence in him? Delanie Walker dropped a pass that would have gone for 20 yards plus on first down. The ball was right there. Smith then misfired on second down and threw short of the first down on third down. He doesn't look sharp despite the drop.

Ginn drives me crazy. I hate the way he reverses field constantly on returns. Just go straight ahead.

First penalty of the game. An illegal block in the back by rookie Phillip Adams on a punt return. The 49ers will start around the 20.

Chargers drive: Patrick Willis does not look comfortable. He's blitzing on nearly every play whether it's run or pass.Although he wrapped up Hester on a 9-yard loss on second down.

49ers drive cont: Crabtree had his finger popped back into place and went back on the field. 49ers had to punt. Alex Smith for some reason threw high on a bubble screen to Delanie Walker, who would have gotten the first down. Sometimes Smith does things that are just inexplicable. 49ers punt.

Chargers win toss and will start on offense.

Touchdown Chargers. Vincent Jackson on only his third catch of the year, out-muscled Nate Clements for the 58-yard touchdown. Clements was left alone on the 6-5 Jackson. Philip Rivers then had a little trash talk for Clements after the score. It's on. Can the 49ers respond.

49ers drive: Crabtree is hurt and is on the sidelines. Anthony Davis pushed one of the Chargers safeties and he flopped. But no call. The 49ers are chippy. They just called timeout, probably because of the Crabtree injury.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 16 at 06:59 PM

Willis has hand surgery but will play

No surprise that Chargers tight end Antonio Gates will not play because of a foot injury. He was listed as doubtful all week. But NFL network is reporting that wide receiver Malcolm Floyd is also out. Floyd has been dealing with a hamstring injury the last few weeks. The Chargers have played sparingly in games, but when he has played, he's been explosive with two touchdowns against the Chiefs.

Patrick Willis has surgery to insert a pin into his broken hand on Monday. But and Takeo Spikes, who also has a broken hand will play. Willis played with a broken hand his rookie season.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 16 at 03:55 PM

49ers-Chargers - could it come down to film study

-Cornerback Nate Clements said that this game will be about film study. Because the 49ers and the Chargers essentially had one practice this week, the team that studies the other more intensely might gain an edge. That team is likely to be the 49ers. Since the Chargers are the more talented squad, they might not take the 49ers as seriously.

-The final injury report named NaVorro Bowman (hamsting), Patrick Willis (hand) and Takeo Spikes (hand) all as questionable. They will probably all play, but will they finish? The team might regret not signing another linebacker this week.

-They put a microphone on Mike Singletary during the last game. While he no longer makes a spectacle of himself on the sideline, he continues to treat players like a perfectionist parent - constantly admonishing, rarely praising. He did have one humorous moment when he took out his defensive starters. "You're done," he kept telling them. Then he muttered under his breath, "Knuckleheads."

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Dec 16 at 12:27 AM