"Looking at the long-term goal? No. But four losses in a row certainly don't help that long-term goal," coach Mike Nolan said Monday, reflecting on his team's 2-4 record a day after a 33-15 road loss to the New York Giants that prompted at least one star player to snipe at the play-calling.

Nolan said the running back Frank Gore's comments, calling into question the credibility of first-year offensive coordinator Jim Hostler, were made out of frustration and do not reflect Nolan's opinion.

"If we were winning games, I don't believe that comment would be made," Nolan said during his weekly news conference. "I also know Frank as well as many other players are frustrated by the lack of offense."

Late Monday, outside the locker room, Gore, who had a season-high 88 rushing yards on 14 carries against the Giants, appeared to tone down his criticism and didn't single out anyone.

"It's frustrating," he said. "We had a lot of high expectations and haven't shown it."

In defending of Hostler, the 49ers' quarterbacks coach before succeeding Norv Turner as offensive coordinator this year, Nolan said the game plan basically was good against a Giants defense that prides itself in getting to the quarterback.

New York did sack Smith's stand-in, 35-year-old Trent Dilfer, six times, but Nolan said the outcome could have been different were it not for four turnovers that led to 24 Giants points and 13 penalties for 82 yards.

A Dilfer fumble on one of the sacks, in the opening minutes of the third quarter, was returned 75 yards for a touchdown by defensive end Osi Umenyiora, boosting the Giants' lead to 26-7 and essentially dictating the 49ers' fate.

As the NFL's lowest-scoring team, only once have the 49ers tallied as many as 20 points, a 20-17 victory over Arizona in the season-opener.

The following week they edged hapless St. Louis 17-16, then were whacked 37-16 by Pittsburgh and, in a showdown with Seattle for undisputed first place in the NFC West, they lost both the game, 23-3, and Smith to a right shoulder separation in the first quarter.

In Smith's absence, the 49ers had no spark in a 9-7 defeat against Baltimore and, despite a bye and an extra week to prepare for the Giants, were perhaps more error-prone than in any game thus far.

Seated in front of his locker Monday, Dilfer also absolved Hostler and instead pointed the finger at himself.

"'Hoss' didn't fumble (a handoff), throw the first interception with two guys open," Dilfer said. "Hoss didn't make me take five steps when I should have taken three (on the sack and scoring return by Umenyiora). ... They were very good play calls at the time."

Whether Dilfer makes his third start Sunday depends on Smith's progress during the week.

Smith said he would throw more today, normally a day off, but it remains to be seen how much he will be a part of regular practice Wednesday.

Could he have played against the Giants? Perhaps, he said, but not to the level that would have made much difference. A big factor, of which Nolan is well aware, is that there is no way of knowing how much contact Smith can take on his mending throwing shoulder until he is in a game.

Does Smith wonder, too, if he gets the call Sunday?

"If you asked me a week ago, I don't know if I would (be as confident)," he said. "But I think I'll be fine."