Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.
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.
Potential Weakness: The quarterback position is a major question mark for the Niners entering the season. Shaun Hill will be the starter and even though he has more pocket presence than former first overall pick Alex Smith, he also tries to do too much at times and winds up making mistakes. Hill is turnover prone, so Smith could still emerge as the starter at some point, although he clearly hasn’t done enough to earn Mike Singletary’s trust yet. Considering the O-line is a bit of a question mark as well, the 49ers could wind up playing musical chairs at QB throughout the season.
Outlook: The staples of a good offense are having a reliable quarterback and a solid line. The 49ers have neither. Even if Hill surprises, who will he throw to? First round pick Michael Crabtree has yet to practice or sign a contract yet and tight end Vernon Davis hasn’t matured into the player the team is dying for him to become. With the retirement of Marvel Smith, the Niners once again have an issue at right tackle, where Adam Snyder is expected to start despite being sidelined for most of the preseason with leg injuries. Left tackle Joe Staley has developed into a solid pro, but the interior of the line has its deficiencies and therefore pass-blocking could be an issue. Defensively, the unit will be bolstered by a linebackers Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson and Takeo Spikes, as well as defensive backs Nate Clements and Michael Lewis. But end Justin Smith isn’t a great fit in a 3-4 defense and for as good as Lawson is against the run, neither he nor fellow OLB Parys Haralson can generate much of a pass rush. Can Dre’ Bly resurrect his career in San Fran after being released by Denver?
Singletary will undoubtedly get this team to play hard. But there are just too many holes on both sides of the ball for the Niners to challenge for a playoff berth, even in a weak NFC West.
2009 Prediction: 3rd, NFC West.
