The San Francisco 49ers lost a great leader when 14-year veteran Justin Smith retired, but his farewell is in no way the harbinger of doom.
General manager Trent Baalke has had his eye on this moment for years and has planned accordingly. Looking at the roster he’s assembled, it’s clear the 49ers are in no trouble at all.
That doesn’t fit the national narrative, though.
Pundits will tell you the 49ers will be lucky to win six games in 2015. They’ll point to the devastating losses of Smith, Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. They’ll also tell you Jim Harbaugh’s absence will be too difficult to overcome, but that’s a story for another column.