The Impact of Isaac Bruce

After the end of last season in which the 49ers posted a horrible 5-11 record I looked once again to an off season filled with question marks and wondering what new changes the team would make to improve itself. Would the 49ers finally fix the mistake they made when they traded Terrell Owens and draft a proper replacement in the draft (Rashaun Woods doesn't count) or would they go the same route for years and sign an aging veteran who will do nothing but take up cap space? See Curtis Conway and Johnny Morton.

In March free agency hit like a storm and all of the league's 32 teams were affected. For the 49ers there would be no drafting of a franchise wide receiver. In the earliest days of free agency, with former Rams head coach Mike Martz now in charge of the offense, the 49ers signed another former Ram in Isaac Bruce. Two years and six million dollars later the former hated rival became a piece of the present for the red and gold. Bruce spent 14 years with the Rams both in LA and then St Louis before joining San Francisco. He has been known for some amazing seasons like that 119 catches he had in 1995 or more recently grabbing 89 passes with nearly 1300 yards in 2004. But those seasons, much like the 49ers playoff success, had all come in the past. What was left of a man at age 35 that was just released by a team that had three wins? I was skeptical at first and continued to be through training camp and then the preseason.

Against Arizona the 49ers weren't very good and Bruce posted zero catches. I was thinking Curtis Conway all over again. Flash forward a week later and Bruce exploded for four grabs and 153 receiving yards. He was helped not only by first time starter J.T. O'Sullivan's excellent performance, but also aided by the fact the 49ers played a injury riddled Seahawks team. The 49ers won and are now at 1-1 so far early in the season. Looking back on it I see that $6 million may have been a bargain. Bruce is a very quite player, he has never been very media friendly. Look at any interview or read any transcript a reporter has done with him and you will see many one word responses and little explanations. Perhaps he is what the 49ers have needed since Terrell Owens left town many eons ago. A player that doesn't talk and just plays. Now, at age 35 I'm not predicting Bruce to put up numbers he did during his prime. The 49ers aren't as skilled offensively or as experienced as those Rams teams, but they may be even hungrier. Mike Nolan could be fired by season's end and what better way to go out than the team playing the hardest and the best that they ever have for him? Isaac Bruce is leading by example and the rest of the team should take notice. 

Mike Nolan with the help of Mike Martz and Isaac Bruce could be leading a revolution in San Fran. Still so early to speculate as it is only week three but why not get excited? The 49ers haven't looked this good since beating the Bears in Dennis Erickson's debut. Now that's some impact.