The Sports Xchange

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In the wake of a terrible offensive showing against the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers focused on being more aggressive and timely in their passing game this week.

Just in time for their matchup with arguably the most vulnerable pass defenses in the league, the New York Giants.

After having had time to fully digest Sunday’s 3-point showing in a loss to the Packers, 49ers coach Jim Tomsula admitted his utter disappointment in two aspects of the passing game.

First and foremost, four weeks into the season, the coach find himself scratching his head over the lack of timing between quarterback Colin Kaepernick and a generally veteran group of receivers.

“There’s no secrets to where the problems are,” Tomsula said. “In our passing game, the timing of our passing game and where we’re going. This is the issue that has been the predominant issue that we’ve been talking through.

“There was extra time spent this week than you would normally do. Going back through that and just taking a look at the timing aspects of it and where we’re at. How we’re aligning, splits, spacing … all those kinds of things to get thing corrected that way.”

And then there’s the more troubling aspect of the league’s least productive passing attack: The quarterback’s mental approach.

Tomsula clearly did not like hearing that Kaepernick took an overly cautious approach to the Green Bay game in the wake of a four-interception fiasco against Arizona.

“That was something we hit head-on,” Tomsula said. “Look, if you are (being cautious), are you? If you are, stop. Can’t have it. Can’t play that way.

“To me, again, it goes to the weight of the world on your shoulders. Just play. Play to make the play. Don’t play not to make a mistake.”

It was the first time this season that Tomsula admitted going face-to-face with Kaepernick over issues in his approach to the passing game. And the first time the new coach was critical of his quarterback.

Does that mean Tomsula might be considering a quarterback change?

“There’s not a competition,” he insisted. “I believe in the quarterback. I believe in him. I believe in Colin Kaepernick.”

SERIES HISTORY: 31st regular-season meeting. Series tied, 15-15. Talk about your even rivalries. Not only have the teams split their 30 regular-season meetings, but each has won four times in eight postseason head-to-heads as well. The visiting team has had the upper hand in recent years, winning the last three. The 49ers intercepted Giants quarterback Eli Manning five times in a 16-10 win at Giants Stadium last November in the most recent matchup.

GAME PLAN:

The 49ers intercepted five passes the last time they saw New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. So a defense that sacked Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers three times last week has a target Sunday night in an effort to aid a struggling 49ers offense.

Offensively, the 49ers must throw the ball better than they did the last two times they went on the road to face defenses that were strong against the run. The Giants have far and away the weakest pass defense the 49ers have seen yet this season.