49ERS Peterson gets ready for second half play

San Francisco faces division-leading St. Louis on Sunday.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Four losses by a combined eight points has the San Francisco 49ers facing "desperate times" at the halfway point of the season, according to strongside linebacker Julian Peterson.
"The good thing about the NFL is that you don't know for sure who's going to win any game," the former two-way player for Michigan State said Thursday in a telephone interview from team headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. "It takes a lot of character to come out of one of these slumps."
The 49ers (3-5) along with the other seven division winners from 2002 are staring up at new first-place teams. Three of the Niners' losses were to division opponents -- three-point overtime defeats at Arizona and St. Louis, and a one-point loss in Seattle.
"It's kind of frustrating," said Peterson who has been named as a member of The Sporting News' NFL first-half team. "To have played almost well enough to win, but then not find a way to pull it out is frustrating. But there's nothing we can do about the first half now.
"Sunday's the start of the second half and we need to get on a roll and put together a winning streak," said fourth-year linebacker who leads the team with 58 tackles.
Play host to Rams
The Niners, which are owned by John and Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield, host the first-place St. Louis Rams (5-2) Sunday at Candlestick Park. A loss would send the Niners into their open week three-and-a-half games back with seven to play.
The Niners will have to do it without quarterback Jeff Garcia, who will miss Sunday's game with a high ankle sprain.
After being taken with the No. 16 overall selection in the 2000 draft, Peterson started seven games as a rookie for the 6-10 team.
Peterson said the Rams game is a "must-win -- that's a no brainer" if the team has any hopes of contending for the playoffs.
"The Rams are loaded with offensive weapons -- [wide receivers] Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, [running back] Marshall Faulk. And [quarterback Marc] Bulger is playing excellent," the four-year veteran said. "It's going to be a big game."
Versaility specialist
Versatility is Peterson's specialty. The 6-foot-3-inch, 235-pound linebacker is the only player to line up at four positions in one game (linebacker, defensive end, cornerback and strong safety) since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Peterson did it last December in Dallas in a game against the Cowboys.
What about offense?
"In [high] school, I used to play receiver and tight end," said Peterson, who added he'd be willing to try to help out on offense if asked. "Right now, that's not something we're exploring."
Peterson said Michigan State considered his offensive and defensive skills before deciding his future lay in defending passes rather than catching them.
Peterson, who grew up in Temple Hills, Md., says he expects his alma mater to earn its first win against Michigan since he played for the 1999 team.
He's considered traveling to Columbus during his open weekend to see the Spartans play Ohio State on Nov. 8.
"But I probably won't go since it's a good chance to go home and spend time with family," Peterson said.
Should the Niners miss the playoffs, Peterson noted that the turnaround time in the NFL has changed.
"Back in the late '80s and early '90s, teams were stacked and could stay strong for years," Peterson said. "With free agency, anyone can turn it around in one year. We're seeing it."
williams@vindy.com