2009 NFL Preview: #24 San Francisco 49ers
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Offseason Additions: Dre’ Bly (CB); Demetric Evans (DE); Brandon Jones (WR).
Offseason Losses: Jonas Jennings (OT); Bryant Johnson (WR); Tully Banta-Cain (LB); J.T. O’Sullivan (QB); Donald Strickland (CB).
Player to Watch: Glen Coffee, RB.
No, Coffee isn’t going to unseat Frank Gore as San Fran’s starting running back. But the third round pick out of Alabama has definitely earned some playing time after impressing coaches this preseason. Coffee has showed good burst, speed and blitz-pickup ability. The Niners are expecting to keep the ball mostly on the ground this season, so Coffee will get a fair amount of carries and could even emerge as a sleeper to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Team Strength: The 49ers boast a pair of solid running backs in Gore and Coffee. San Fran expects to use a 60-40 mix when it comes to running and passing, which means Gore and Coffee will get plenty of opportunities to make plays this season. Although Coffee has earned playing time with a terrific preseason, Gore will remain the backbone of the offense. He’ll get a sizeable workload in both the running and passing game and as long as the 49ers’ offensive line doesn’t hold him back, Gore is in store for a big season.





