NFL Outsider Season Preview 2009: San Francisco 49ers

NFL Outsider is hosting a season preview of all 32 teams. The NFL regular season begins on September 10; in the meantime follow the best NFL bloggers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview.

Samuel Lam from Mining the Gold Rush gives insight into what to expect from this year’s San Francisco 49ers. Check in on other teams here.

The 49ers are hoping to make it back to the playoffs after their 2008 finish. With Mike Singletary’s promotion as full-time head coach, the team will have a discipline, no nonsense approach to the new campaign.

The biggest discussion this off-season has been the quarterback position. Shaun Hill’s finish last year should have given him an automatic nod for the starting job. But the 49ers are still hoping that 2005’s #1 draft pick Alex Smith can come back from shoulder surgery. At this point, both of them have been splitting time and it might take until the preseason to figure out who starts. My bet is on Hill, but it’s way too early to tell.

This off-season, the 49ers wanted to make sure both their offensive and defensive lines get stronger. The 49ers signed veteran defensive end Demetric Evans to help balance out last year’s free agent defensive end Justin Smith. A strong force from both sides could possibly allow linebackers Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson the opportunity to apply more pressure on blitzes.

The 49ers were in desperate need of a right tackle and they signed veteran Marvel Smith to help a very weak offensive line. With the new tackle, we can expect running back Frank Gore and rookie Glen Coffee to get a nice dosage of open holes. Especially for a team that gave up 55 sacks last year, the offensive line will also be watched very closely.

The biggest rookie to watch will obviously be Michael Crabtree. Drafted at #10, expectations are high for the rookie. But the wide receiving group has a lot of depth. Expect veteran Isaac Bruce and second year Josh Morgan (who might end up as the #2 receiver) to get the majority of the throws. Jason Hill could be used as the third down receiver. Newly signed Brandon Jones might get pushed down on the depth chart if the aforementioned receivers live up to their expected play.

The 49ers lost cornerback Walt Harris to an ACL injury and veteran Dre Bly was signed to take over his spot. Expect Bly and Tarell Brown to battle for that starting spot opposite Nate Clements. In the secondary, Mark Roman’s value had dropped significantly and he more than likely will be sitting on the bench as Dashon Goldson takes over the free safety position. Goldson has a great nose for the ball and he has shown flashes of great plays over the past couple seasons.

With the new offense of Jimmy Raye, tight end Vernon Davis should get the ball as a receiver. Last year, he was used mainly as a blocker. But this year, the signing of tight end Bear Pascoe means that Davis should be able to have more balls thrown his way. The talent and strength of Davis should allow the offense to open up the field.

Judging from the team’s play last year and the potential they have this year, the 49ers could finish at 9-7 and possibly win the West.