NFL Preview: San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers


Key Additions:
DE Aldon Smith (draft)
QB Colin Kaepernick (draft)
C Jonathan Goodwin (FA)
CB Carlos Rodgers (FA)
DB Madieu Williams (FA)
WR Braylon Edwards (FA)
S Donte Whitner (FA)


Key Departures:
LB Takeo Spikes
LB Travis LaBoy 
DT Aubrayo Franklin
C David Baas
CB Nate Clements 
LB Manny Lawson
RB Brian Westbrook
S Dashon Goldson


Report:

Quarterback genius Jim Harbaugh is the new captain of this once successful franchise. After coaching football sinkhole, Stanford, to a 12-1 season topped off with an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech he has decided to take his talents to the city by the bay. Leaving a quarterback who an outstanding college career he drafted one in the second round with Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick may have to wait his turn because the 49ers re-signed former #1 draft pick Alex Smith. Alex Smith and the 49ers hope Harbaugh rubs his quarterback magic onto Smith. Throwing isn't there best option though when they have RB Frank Gore back from injury. The heart and soul of the offense is back after fracturing his hip against Arizona. Just in case Gore gets hurt again San Fran draft RB Kendall Hunter and has RB Anthony Dixon on the bench for back-up. The offensive line looks sturdy which is good for a quarterback learning a new system. They lost C Baas to the New York Giants but, they grabbed C Jonathan Goodwin to solidify the line. The O-line may need to be good because the quarterback may not find any of their receivers open. WR Michael Crabtree is hurt and has never gelled with the offense and San Francisco seems annoyed with him. Braylon Edwards has signed with the 49ers which gives them another possible threat, but Edwards has been known to have shaky hands and I don't think he will do good. The other receivers aren't much threat so they will have to rely on TE Vernon Davis who had a good year last year and again will be the main target.  


If you watched the San Francisco 49ers a lot last year the defense will look much different this year. 6 of the 11 starters are gone and have been replaced. Linebackers Takeo Spikes, Travis LaBoy, and Manny Lawson have left for greener pastures and will be tough to replace all them. Navarro Bowman will have to step up and rookie Aldon Smith may be forced into a linebacker role instead of a more natural defensive line position. Luckily, the 49ers have All-Pro LB Patrick Willis to teach the new linebackers. On the defensive line Justin Smith will be asked to give most of the pass rush and run stop. DT Aubrayo Franklin surprisingly left for New Orleans and leaves San Fran with a hole up the middle. Safety is a weird position for the 49ers. They signed Donte Whitner and have put out an email to the league that Taylor Mays is up for trade. At corner San Francisco signed Carlos Rodgers and Madieu Williams to complement Shawntae Spencer. Draft pick CB Chris Culliver is expected to be a contributing member of this defense. They have also parted ways with Nate Clements after giving him the largest contract ever given to a defensive back at the time.


San Francisco has signed K David Akers from Philadelphia, which gives them a reliable kicker. P Andy Lee is in the top half of punter in the league. KR Ted Ginn, Jr. has explosive speed, but doesn't seem to put it to use. 


Review: 
49ers fans hope that Harbaugh can do to San Francisco what he did to Stanford. He has made an impact by signing HIS players and drafting the needs for this team. The success of this team depends whether Frank Gore can stay healthy and if Alex Smith can manage the game well enough for them to run the ball and play defense. I don't like this teams chances for the playoffs with a new coach and limited time to learn the system with a below average quarterback, but anything can be done in this division. 


Division Finish: TBA