It’s week 7 of the NFL season and the 49ers are on a bye week, or Improvement Week as head coach Jim Harbaugh calls is. Time to reflect on San Francisco’s season to this point and pinpoint how the 49ers turned from one of the worst teams into one of the best.

After three games the 49ers had a 2-1 record, beating the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals and losing against the Dallas Cowboys in overtime, and were merely on par with preseason predictions. The Dallas Cowboys and the Bengals painfully put one of San Francisco’s weaknesses on display, the offensive line. The 49ers were outsacked 11-2 in those two games and rushed for 62 yards per game. Jim Harbaugh had to respond and one little change made all the difference.

I am a firm believer in the battle in the trenches. The offense stands and falls with the offensive line. If you can block rushing lanes you can establish a running game. With an established running game your pass plays aren’t so predictable. If you can protect the quarterback you can establish a passing game as well. If you fail to block or to protect you will fail to move the chain.

From week 4 on Adam Snyder replaced Chilo Rachal as the starting right guard and the results speak for themselves. In their next three games the 49ers rushed for 193.3 yards per game and outsacked their opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, 10-5. RB Frank Gore rushed for at least 125 yards and 1 touchdown in each of his last 3 games. Coincidence? I think not.

But there is a lot more to San Francisco’s transformation. Take QB Alex Smith for example. His passer rating of 95.2 is the eighth best in the league and he has thrown just 2 interceptions. His overall numbers may not look spectacular but he is very solid this season. He doesn’t always look like a top quarterback but he doesn’t get frustrated and discouraged anymore. He sticks to the game plan and focuses on the next play. And how many times did he successfully drive the offense downfield for a score?

San Francisco’s passing offense is unpredictable. Often a team would have one top receiver and target him as often as possible. The 49ers have injury issues at this position but who is San Francisco’s top receiver? Braylon Edwards? Michael Crabtree? Josh Morgan? Vernon Davis? Fact is, in 6 games the 49ers had 4 different team leading receivers. Opposing defenses cannot focus on a particular player because any of San Francisco’s receivers can take over the game.

Then there is the emergence of LILB NaVorro Bowman. San Francisco’s rushing defense ranked 6^th last season but DT Aubrayo Franklin and ILB Takeo Spikes departed. The 49ers currently rank 2^nd in rushing defense and NaVorro Bowman is on pace for 114 tackles, compared to Spikes’ 82 tackles last season. RILB Patrick Willis’ numbers may be slightly down this season but what does it matter with Bowman putting up these numbers? Is there a better ILB-tandem in the league?

It is no secret that the 49ers devote a lot of time to special teams in practice and it translates onto the field. San Francisco ranks 6^th in punt return average (13.7 yards), 1^st in kick return average (30.9 yards) and 3^rd in punting average (50.5 yards). Every week Ted Ginn Jr. and P Andy Lee put the 49ers in a position where they can succeed. Do you remember TE Delanie Walker’s go-ahead touchdown on 4^th and goal in the fourth quarter of last week’s game? It was preceded by a 40-yard punt return by Ginn Jr. to Detroit’s 35-yard line. K David Akers made 13 of 15 field goal attempts and is a perfect 3-of-3 from 50+ yards.

Let’s not forget the mastermind who is in charge of the team, head coach Jim Harbaugh. The players are totally buying into his philosophy and believe in him. Harbaugh is always well prepared and fits the system around the players he has, not the other way round. He knows what he is doing and whatever he touches turns into gold. He coaches with the same intensity the players are playing the game. He turned the franchise around in less than half a season, though it will be interesting to see how he responds when wins are expected from this point onwards. Until now the 49ers were a surprise team, now they are for real.

This leaves the secondary as the only weak link. If I had the answer on how to fix it defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would have come up with it weeks ago. The personnel is better than last year’s but the defense gives up 261 yards per game and ranks 21^st. Nonetheless, the pass defense is more aware. Last season the 49ers had 15 interceptions, this season they already have 8 and are on pace for 21. The pass rush is producing better results, too. Last season the Niners recorded 36 sacks and this season they have 17 sacks in 6 games. In a pass-happy league that favors receivers it’s getting increasingly difficult to defend against the pass. But regardless of the yardage the opponents are racking up, once they get into the red zone things become tricky. San Francisco’s opponent red zone scoring percentage is at league low of 31.58%, compared to 47.27% last season. More often than not opponents have to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.

Jim Harbaugh is building something very special in the Bay Area. The city is excited and the 49ers are relevant again after years of anonymity. The playoffs are only a matter of time, but they are fast approaching.