Success Doesn’t Silence 49er Doubts : Raiders: Young is the NFL’s best passer, but critics question team’s ability to salvage victories.

It makes a nice story line: Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig, cut loose by the San Francisco 49ers after years of dedicated service, join up with a band of marauding Raiders and stalk their former teammates at the Coliseum.

Yet the reality is that today’s game between the Raiders and 49ers, once you get past the emotions, is a matchup of 2-2 teams trying to find themselves before a season slips away.

There is almost a sense of panic in the Bay Area about the 49ers, who sat atop football’s throne in the 1980s. From that cast of superstars, however, only receiver Jerry Rice remains. Quarterback Joe Montana is on injured-reserve because of an elbow problem. Lott and Craig are Raiders. Randy Cross is retired.

The 49ers have lost as many games this season as they did during the 1990 regular season. They are two games behind in the NFC West, a division they have won eight times in 10 seasons.

It’s so bad that quarterback Steve Young can lead the NFL in passing, with a rating of 112.5, and still hear whispers about how Montana would have pulled out that two-point loss against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands.

Four Super Bowl titles in a decade can make spoiled sports. Last week’s 17-point victory over the Rams saved the 49ers from dipping to an unthinkable 1-3, but still there were complaints.

One writer opened his Monday-morning column by asking, “What’s wrong with the 49ers?”

Young could be the first top-rated quarterback ever benched when Montana returns in a few weeks.

Poor Steve?

“‘No,” 49er Coach George Seifert said. “I think it’s a very exciting time for him. I don’t feel for him from the standpoint of ‘You poor guy.’ I’m excited for him. I know how much he’s enjoyed playing, and how much he’s looking forward to this opportunity.”

Still, tension fills the air. Even Montana, perhaps feeling his greatness slipping away, took some shots at Young in a recent interview in the Washington Post, saying, “Steve is on a big push for himself.”

What’s wrong with the 49ers? Why don’t they let Young scramble more? How can they sit there without a running game while the possible answer to their prayers, Bobby Humphrey, continues his bitter holdout with the Denver Broncos?

The 49ers held back the wolves last week. Their beleaguered backfield--Dexter Carter, Harry Sydney and Keith Henderson--gained 149 rushing yards against the Rams, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. But that was the Rams.

Lott, who knows the 49ers better than anyone not in their huddle, thinks reports of their demise are exaggerated.

“I don’t care if Steve Bono or George Seifert is quarterbacking that team,” Lott said this week. “The system is going to stay the same. It’s an effective system you have to combat by creating some havoc in it.”

So much for the 49ers. What’s wrong with the Raiders? Apparently not confident in their passing game, they have vowed to win on the ground. Yet they are running backs on and off injured-reserve in record numbers. Their offensive line is leaking. Reggie McElroy, a backup tackle, will start at right guard for the injured Max Montoya today.

Quarterback Jay Schroeder, who had his best season in 1990 because he didn’t have to worry about blitzing linebackers, has been sacked 11 times in four games. His completion percentage has shot down to .457.

Opposing defenses are swarming the Raiders, stacking eight-man fronts on the line of scrimmage, or sitting back in a deep zone and daring Schroeder to beat them deep.

“People are playing us a bit differently,” Coach Art Shell acknowledged. “Atlanta plays 95% man coverage. We go into the game against them and they play zone. . . . We’ve got to hurt people with the pass.”

Easier said.

Raider Notes

As expected, the Raiders on Saturday activated rookie tailback Nick Bell for today’s game. Bell was on injured reserve because of a hamstring pull suffered in an Aug. 3 exhibition game in Tokyo. To make room on the roster, the Raiders released tailback Marcus Wilson, who was called off the development squad last week and rushed for 21 yards in six carries against the Falcons.

Four games into his seventh season, 49er Jerry Rice might be the greatest receiver in NFL history. He has 85 touchdown receptions in 96 games, which ties him for fourth on the all-time list with Lance Alworth. He trails only Steve Largent (100), Don Hutson (99) and Don Maynard (88). Largent played 14 seasons, Hutson 11 and Maynard 15. And it doesn’t seem to matter who is passing to Rice. He has caught six touchdown passes this season from Steve Young.

San Francisco Coach George Seifert on former 49ers Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig: “I think they’re both playing well. Roger is still hard-working and slashing. And Ronnie, you can tell is really into the game, as I remember when he was here.” . . . The Raiders are 15-2 at the Coliseum since Art Shell took over as coach. The 49ers are 17-2 on the road under Seifert. . . . Joe Montana was eligible to come off of injured reserve this week, but the 49ers are cautiously monitoring his return. Seifert said Montana would not resume throwing until a week after doctors said it was safe.