San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh looks on as his team plays the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game in San Francisco, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011.
Even San Francisco's most experienced offensive linemen got beat time and again by the Texans' attacking, smothering defense.
First-year 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has concerns about his offense as a whole and the shaky line play two weeks ahead of the team's Sept. 11 season opener against the defending NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks.
San Francisco gave up three sacks in a 30-7 exhibition loss to Houston on Saturday night, prompting Harbaugh to say Sunday the Niners got "violated at times." Left tackle Joe Staley struggled in one-on-one matchups with Connor Barwin. Antonio Smith made the Niners pay several times, too.
There was little opportunity for the quarterbacks to succeed without reliable protection. Starter Alex Smith wound up with a dismal 2.8 QB rating, while backup rookie Colin Kaepernick finished at 20.8.
Harbaugh observed problems with technique and fundamentals on the line. He said Houston's uncomplicated pass rush should not have wreaked such havoc for San Francisco.
"It wasn't what the defense was presenting us. It should not have been complex for us. Yet we were violated at times," Harbaugh said. "When that's happening, you have to look at all three phases of what you're doing — what you're doing schematically, how you're doing it and who's doing it. Those are the only three things you can focus on and that's what we'll do."
The Niners wrap up the exhibition season Thursday night at San Diego. There are some positive signs on the defensive side of the ball, such as the emergence of linebacker Ahmad Brooks as a starter.
Brooks intercepted a pass by Matt Schaub on the first play of the game Saturday and ran it back 13 yards for San Francisco's lone points.
"I'm not as discouraged with the defense," Harbaugh said.
Still, Harbaugh knows he faces a daunting task: turning around a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs or had a winning record since 2002. But Niners management hired him away from Stanford on a $25 million, five-year deal to be the guy to make it happen.
"There's nothing easy when you're in a process getting ready for a season, in training camp, and that's for everybody," Harbaugh said. "There's nothing easy about training camp, there's nothing easy about the work these guys are doing. Nobody's fresh, not just our team but all teams. It's not going to be easy for anybody, coaches or players. That's where you have to be mentally tough, stay hard and forge on."
The 49ers managed only six first downs to 28 by the Texans, and were outgained 417-105 in total yards.
Smith insists he hasn't lost faith in the linemen he so depends upon to make plays.
"It's not something I'm worried about to be totally honest with you," he said. "We've got a great group up front. Those guys work as hard as anybody. They're talented."
Harbaugh said the first three exhibition games — two lopsided losses to the Texans and Saints and a 17-3 win over Oakland — have given him a glimpse of the volume of work still to be done to transform this franchise back into a regular contender.
It also has helped prepare the coaches for the first round of cuts coming in the next couple of days.
"I put a lot of stock into it. I put a lot of stock into being able to learn, as we go through this process, from the games," Harbaugh said. "There are good snaps and snaps we'd like back, mentally and physically."
Harbaugh isn't ready to name a starting center in the competition between Jonathan Goodwin and Adam Snyder and indicated Sunday there could even be a platoon situation at some positions during the season.
Improvements by the front five are paramount. Harbaugh said communication isn't the problem.
"Some of it is technique, some is fundamentals, some we got beat to the punch and weren't playing with a lower pad level and they were beating us off at the snap of the ball," Harbaugh said. "All those things were contributing and we need to do a better job coaching and understanding as players."
Harbaugh said "it's possible" wideout Michael Crabtree (foot) will return to the field this week after missing a third straight training camp. What will the coach be looking for from the team's 10th overall draft pick in 2009?
"Everything as it relates to his position," Harbaugh said. "Hopefully he can get back to full speed and get caught up with the rest of the unit."
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