SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A look at the highs and lows the first half of the season for the San Francisco 49ers and what to expect the second half:
It was during training camp, after San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke insisted the team was "reloading" rather than "rebuilding," when the picture started to crystallize.
Having lost so many key players to retirement and free agency, as well as a force of nature coach in Jim Harbaugh, it did feel as though a cloud had lifted from Santa Clara and a new era was indeed upon the 49ers faithful.
The presumptive feeling in this corner was this: The season under new coach Jim Tomsula would either be a heartwarming tale of those gutty-little 49ers underdogs succeeding despite all of the road blocks, or it would simply be a dumpster fire.
At the midway point, and on pace for a 4-12 record, what's that smell? Yes, where there's smoke ...
Colin Kaepernick has been benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert. The running back corps is down four players from the season opener. A longtime piece was traded away in Vernon Davis.
Indeed, the roster, as many critics would charge, is more befitting an NFL Europe outfit, which would only seem fitting considering Tomsula's only previous professional head coaching experience came across the pond.
Consider: After Kaepernick's benching, the 49ers had only three position players still starting at the same positions they were at in Super Bowl XLVII -- left tackle Joe Staley, outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks and inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, and Alex Boone moved from right guard to left guard.
The 49ers, who played in three straight NFC title games, went from elite to participants in the race for the No. 1 overall pick in less than two years, a stunning development for one of the NFL's iconic franchises.
Beyond the dearth of talent and turnover at the skill positions, the epicenter of this meltdown can be found on the offensive line, which returned only one starter at his regular position from the previous season's opener -- Staley. Pro Football Focus ranked the O-line the 29th-best in the 32-team NFL eight games into the season.
Maybe that's why offensive coordinator Geep Chryst, who was running the NFL's No. 32-ranked offense and lowest-scoring team in the league, was making repeated points about "the hand" the coaching staff has been dealt.
What was that Baalke was saying about reloading rather than rebuilding, again?
Midseason MVP: Having missed all of last season recovering from a devastating left-knee injury, Bowman has hardly missed a step, save for in pass coverage. He's still a tackling machine, as his 82 tackles ranked second in the NFL through eight weeks and, even with only one sack, he is still a rock for the youngsters learning what life in the league is all about. Still, with the 49ers' woes, you have to wonder if he is wondering why he returned.
Best moment: Carlos Hyde went all video game on national television in the Monday Night Football season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, seemingly hitting the 'B' button with an epic spin move in traffic that left Everson Griffen grasping at the air. Hyde danced in for a 10-yard touchdown -- the 49ers' first score of the season -- in their 20-3 victory. He finished with 168 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. The future seemed bright. And who knows what, if anything, the Niners' unexpected and feel-good 17-16 victory over the Falcons this past weekend with Gabbert at the helm means, especially since Tomsula would not commit to Gabbert as his quarterback.
Worst moment: Let's go with Kaepernick's second pick-six at the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, this one by Tyrann Mathieu, even as Kaepernick would throw two more interceptions in that 47-7 loss. Reason being is the second interception gave the swarming Cardinals a 14-0 lead less than six minutes into the game and seemingly took the fight, and trust, out of the 49ers' offense. After the game, Mathieu threw salt in the wound, saying the 49ers' passing game was "simplified."
One reason to feel pessimistic: Sure, Kaepernick was in need of a benching but is Gabbert the answer? Can Gabbert provide a spark to the No. 32-ranked offense in the league? ESPN's Football Power Index does not think so. In fact, FPI expects the 49ers to lose every game that Gabbert, who has the lowest total QBR (22.6) out of 52 players with at least 500 action plays since 2011, starts. That would mean a 2-14 record and, according to the metric, the No. 1 overall draft pick. Wait, maybe that's something about which to actually get excited. Then again, Gabbert blew that scenario away by helping lead the Niners to victory over the Falcons.
Key to second half: Health and translating good practice habits onto the game-day field. The 49ers already have two key veterans on injured reserve in running back Reggie Bush and strong safety Antoine Bethea, last year's team MVP. Plus, they need Hyde's left foot (stress fracture) and Anquan Boldin's balky hamstring to cooperate so they can all find a rhythm with Gabbert. At least, until Kaepernick reclaims the gig. Then they start all over again with rekindling chemistry.