Most of the hand-wringing over the San Francisco 49ers this preseason has been about the feeble showing of the first-team offense, which did not score a touchdown in seven exhibition games.
But now with the nine-game suspension of All-Pro outside linebacker Aldon Smith becoming reality, the Niners’ once-vaunted defense might be more suspect.
Because even while the 49ers knew all along some discipline was going to come Smith’s way, it is hard to replace a player with the talent of Smith, whose 42 sacks in his first three seasons are eclipsed only by Hall of Famers Reggie White (52) and Derrick Thomas (43.5) in that same time frame.
Beyond that, the Niners are breaking in a new nose tackle in Ian Williams after Glenn Dorsey suffered a torn left biceps early in camp.
All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman is out at least six games, more likely half of the season, and on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from his grisly left knee injury suffered in last season's NFC Championship Game.
Plus, three-quarters of the Niners’ starting secondary are now playing elsewhere: strong safety Donte Whitner (Cleveland Browns), and cornerbacks Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers (both with the Oakland Raiders).
There could be some growing pains.
But the 49ers have been planning for the Smith suspension all through camp.
“Actually, because you have a feeling that something may happen at this point in the season, everybody’s getting reps now,” 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said this week. “All the guys that may play for him -- Dan [Skuta], [Corey] Lemonier, Aaron [Lynch], Chase [Thomas] -- all those guys have been getting a lot of reps. They’re all ready to go.
“It’s more of an issue when it happens in the middle of the season, just thrown at you like it happened last year. Then there’s no time to adjust. You just go.”
Smith missed five games after entering a rehabilitation facility following a DUI arrest, after the Niners’ Week 3 home loss to the Indianapolis Colts last season. The Niners went 5-0 during his absence.
“Guys, Skuta and Corey, stepped up big time for us,” inside linebacker Patrick Willis said this week. “It’s going to have to be like that again if we’ve got a situation.
“Regardless whether a player is down with injuries or he’s sick or a family cause, someone else has to step in and play just as well. Aldon has some big shoes to fill, but that’s why we’ve got to play team defense.”
And not just cover for Smith’s absence.