Football: 49ers' success comes despite offensive struggles

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The San Francisco 49ers have taken early command of first place in the NFC West despite an offense that ranks among the worst in the NFL.

It's no secret where the team needs to improve entering Sunday's key NFC matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, a game that will take the 49ers to their bye week.

"We have to take a step as an offense, and we need for it to happen pretty soon," quarterback Shaun Hill said Monday. "We're obviously not to the point we need to be. But it's nice to come in after a win and have a film to look at where you can learn a lot."

Despite being shut out offensively in the first half and finishing the game with just 228 total yards, the 49ers rolled to a 35-0 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, San Francisco's most lopsided victory in 87 games.

The 49ers scored two touchdowns on defense and another on special teams to improve to 3-1 and sweep through the first round of divisional play at 3-0.

San Francisco beat defending NFC West champion Arizona in Week 1 and Seattle in Week 2.

But the power rushing attack San Francisco expected to carry its offense has not quite materialized through the first quarter of the season. The 49ers have averaged just 77 yards rushing and 237 total yards per game since star running back Frank Gore was injured on his first carry against Minnesota on Sept. 27.

Gore, who was third among the NFL's leading rushers when he was hurt, won't return until after the bye week. The 49ers are striving for better balance in his absence.

Coach Mike Singletary has often stated his intention to run the ball first and foremost. Now he's looking for more from his passing game as Hill continues to settle in as the team's starter.

"I've said from the beginning that we want to be able to run the ball when we have to run the ball," Singletary said. "So far, we haven't been able to do that. But I think people interpret what I said previously, thinking I want to be three yards and a cloud of dust. That's not me and that's not what I want. I want to have a balanced offense, and the goal is to have a balance and do both."

The 49ers have stuck with their running game even when it had minimal success the past two weeks. Rookie Glen Coffee had 54 yards rushing on 25 carries after replacing Gore at Minnesota and was contained for 74 yards on 24 carries against St. Louis. San Francisco hasn't had a rushing touchdown since Week 2.

But Hill has passed for four touchdowns the past two weeks and continues to produce when given an opportunity to throw. He ranks sixth among NFC quarterbacks with a passer rating of 93.3.

Hill has been at his best in the clutch. He ranks third among the NFL's leading quarterbacks in both third-down passing and fourth-quarter passing.

Hill has attempted more than 26 passes in a game just once so far this season.

"Each game plays out differently, and my job is just to be effective any time my number is called," Hill said. "I need to be effective no matter what we're doing."

Hill has thrown three touchdown passes the past two weeks to tight end Vernon Davis, who has emerged as the top target in San Francisco's passing game.

Davis leads the 49ers with 17 catches for 211 yards, but no San Francisco wide receiver ranks among the league's top 50 in receptions. Starting wideouts Isaac Bruce and Josh Morgan have combined for 22 catches.

"We're still growing as an offense," Davis said. "I'd love for us to throw a lot and I love running routes and catching the ball, but you can't argue with what (offensive coordinator) Jimmy Raye has been coming up with. We're winning."

Despite ranking 28th in the league in total yards, the 49ers rank ninth with 105 points scored. They have outscored opponents 55-24 in the second half and 31-10 in the fourth quarter.

"We're making the plays when we need to, and that's when it counts," Davis said. "When we need some points, we have to put them up and that's what we've been doing. We still have things to work on and sort out on offense, but when we get down those little things, we're going to be that much better."