2006 NFL Season Preview: San Francisco 49ers
The 2006 San Francisco 49ers are not your father’s 49ers. They aren’t even Head Coach Mike Nolan’s 49ers, former 49ers Coach Dick Nolan. The franchise is 11 years removed from their last Super Bowl triumph, a 49-26 drubbing of the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. Gone are the names of the past (save one) and in are names like Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, and Manny Lawson. What we can expect is that this team, through the workings of Coach Nolan and his staff, are going to work and play hard under the proud red and gold. The question remains whether or not that will be enough to improve upon a terrible 4-12 record in 2005.
Offense
The biggest addition to the offense isn’t on the field, but on the staff. The 49ers wasted little time in plucking Norv Turner out of the unemployment line after he was released as Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders across the Bay. What Turner brings to the 49ers is a release from the West Coast offense that has been the staple of the franchise since Bill Walsh brought it into the NFL more than 20 years ago. In comes an offense which is more basic, a power running game that will lead to more downfield passing. It worked for Turner in his previous stops as a coordinator, so the 49ers are banking on that past success to lead them once more. Turner, for his inability to lead a team as a Head Coach, is a brilliant offensive mind. Now that he doesn’t have to be responsible for an entire 53-man roster, Turner can focus his attention on the development of quarterback Alex Smith and the offense. What you will notice right away is that the 49ers will run north-south a lot more through the tackles and less trying to make the corners. Turner was a pro with this in both Dallas and Miami with Emmitt Smith and Ricky Williams. Though he may not have a single running back with that kind of pedigree, he can work with the talent he’s got in San Francisco and produce solid results. He is amazing at picking apart defensive weaknesses and exploiting them with play calling and adjustments that most coaches will never think of. I don’t believe he’ll turn this offense into Indianapolis efficient, but significant improvement can and should be expected.
QB: Alex Smith would like to forget his 2005 season, along with most 49er fans, players, coaches, and personnel. He completed 84 out of 165 passes and only threw for one touchdown while throwing 11 interceptions. There are small bright spots to consider, as Smith was the victor in his final two games of last season. All the news out of the Santa Clara, CA training facility is that Smith has spent a vigorous amount of camp and the team’s organized activities in learning the nuances of Turner’s offense. He is often seen standing alongside Turner and backup veteran QB Trent Dilfer, acquired in the offseason from Cleveland. Reports are that he is gaining confidence in the offense on a daily basis and looks to be gaining the trust of his teammates as well. HIs recent performance in the opening game of the preseason against the Bears hsould be considered. He went 16 for 21 and threw for 137 yards while leading a second quarter scoring drive against the Bears defense, ranked 1st overall last season. Smith is going to benefit from the rebuilt offensive line and the system that Turner has installed, which will feature quicker handoffs and moving the pocket as Smith rolls out. You saw it against the Bears, Smith is very comfortable and may even be more accurate with his passing on the move than he is in the pocket. He’s got more time to read defenses and is making crisp throws. The key to consider is that the offense is predicated more on good throws than it is on timing, unlike the West Coast offense where timing is integral. Smith should see some improvement. I’m not saying he’ll be Pro-Bowl caliber, but don’t expect just 1 touchdown pass this season.
RB/FB: The battle is on. With Kevan Barlow and Frank Gore, the stage is set for this dual. Of course, it really isn’t that big of a deal who wins the job because both figure to see plenty of action once the season begins. These two runners provide the offense with different abilities. Barlow is punishing and strong and can run inside very well. He does have a tendency to be too disciplined to his holes and less likely to read a shift in the defense, but he can give you strong carries. Gore, on the other hand, is slippery and elusive and can turn the corner quickly. He will get outside and break around your fast defenders, often making them miss with amazing displays of agility and speed. Don’t sleep on draft choice Michael Robinson, the former Penn State quarterback who has been converted to running back. He was the Big Ten player of the year last season and can run the ball with purpose and surprising elusiveness. Chris Heatherington, a late season addition last year, will return as the blocking fullback. Look for him to have some role as a receiver, although not too much responsbility in the offense.
WR/TE: What many considered to be the weakest link in the 2005 season was the receiving corp. This will change in 2006. The 49ers believe in addition by subtraction, in this case sending much maligned receiver Brandon Lloyd to the Redskins during the offseason. They replace his with free agent Antonio Bryant, who led the Cleveland Browns in receiving last season and who has already developed a connection with starting QB Alex Smith. He is a big target who can make athletic plays and make a catch down the middle, something that Lloyd was berated in San Francisco as not willing to do. Arnaz Battle returns healthy on the opposite side, and he’s a threat as a bigger guy who is strong and runs crisp routes. The tird receiver will most likely be Bryan Gilmore, who saw limited time in the NFl thus far with Arizona and Miami but factors to use his speed as a slot receiver for the 49ers. Former first round pick Taylor Jacobs was recently acquired from the Redskins as added competition and depth. The tight end position might be the strongest in the division, with Eric Johnson returning from injury to hopefully match his 2003 season where he led the team in receptions. You also add to that first round pick Vernon Davis from Maryland, a big physical TE who has 4.38 speed and the ability to shred defenses. He provides the 49ers with a matchup problem for most defenses right away, because most defensive coordinators will hate to commit a cornerback to covering Davis, but might be forced to because he will no doubt overpower or speed by opposing safeties and linebackers.
OL: The offensive line is improved and made stronger (literally) by the addition of free agent and future Hall of Famer Larry Allen and his 340 lb. frame to the left side of the line. Adding Allen to Jonas Jennings (325 lbs.) gives them over 650 pounds of girth on the left side of the line. They add strong run-blocking skills and the ability to go one-on-one with most defensive lineman. This will leave the other 3 members of the offensive line the ability to deal with 2 base rushers plus a blitzer if necessary. At center will be Eric Heitmann, a former 7th round pick from Stanford who is making a nice career for himself in the NFL as a versatile lineman. He takes over permanently for former All-Pro Jeremy Newberry, who will miss the season with knee problems and could be finished for his career. The right side is a battle, as four players fight for two starting spots. 2005 draft picks David Baas and Adam Snyder battle with Justin Smiley and former first rounder Kwame Harris for the guard and tackle positions. What was once a weakness has quickly become a strength through some key free agent signings over the past two seasons as well as timely draft picks. Look for this line to be the strength of the offense in 2006.
Overall Grade: C+/C
Defense
With such strong defensive personalities on the 49ers coaching staff, such as Head Coach Mike Nolan and Associate Head Coach and Linebackers Coach Mike Singletary, you would expect them to be unhappy with the 49ers defensive performance in 2005. You have to take into account the injuries and the youth that the 49ers had to deal with, however, and look at the 2006 season as a way to integrate the veterans back into the mix and the young players to continue to assert themselves. Some of them stood out last season and will be better this season because of it.
DL: The defensive line stays mostly the same. Marques Douglas, a pickup from Baltimore before last season, and former All-Pro Bryant Young bookend incumbent NT Anthony Adams. Don’t expect Adams to not face stiff competition, as both Issac Sopoaga and Ronnie Fields are nipping at his heels. Sopoaga has a never ending motor and is incredibly strong, able to push bigger offensive lineman off their marks. Fields, meanwhile, is the kind of size (330 lbs.) that you look for in a nose tackle and is adjusting himself to the NFL game after his rookie season. Meanwhile, expect Corey Smith to see some time in the end rotation, as well as either 2006 draft picks Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson during passing downs.
LB: What was once considered the overwhelming strong point of this team will now be a bit of question mark. They see their two best athletes leaving for different teams, two-time Pro-Bowler Julian Peterson (Seattle) and Andre Carter (Washington). In to replace those two players is first round pick Manny Lawson from NC State and Brandon Moore, who has been a fixture off the bench and a special teamer for the 49ers. Lawson comes in with high pedigree. He was a starting defensive end at NC State and it was he, not first overall selection Mario Williams, who was named the defensive MVP for the Wolfpack in 2005. Lawson brings amazing speed and anticipation to the OLB position and will be a force once he learns the defensive schemes and zone coverages that comes with the position. Moore, meanwhile, is an exceptionally strong tackler who can also give you fits with his positioning. Very smart on the field and knows where to be at most times. The middle will be familiar to most 49er fans, as Derek Smith returns with a brand new 3 year extension and Jeff Ulbrich comes back from a forearm injury. Smith is the unquestioned defensive leader, having led the 49ers in tackles in each of his 5 seasons with the team. He is a hard working LB who has a nose for the ball and is one of the lesser known guys in the league. Ulbrich, meanwhile, is a throwback to the position. A strong guy who just plays hard and chases the play down from everywhere on the field. Look for this unit to be successful should they be able to gel and learn each other’s tendencies quickly. It will be imperative for Smith and Ulbrich to keep the flow of the corp.
CB/S: THe corner position has been one of injury and underachieving for years in the 49er system. This was evident again in 2005 as rookies Bruce Thornton and Derrick Johnson saw significant time due to injuries. This year, in order to avoid that while bringing in more competition, the 49ers signed free agent Walt Harris and acquired former first rounder Sammy Davis from the San Diego Chargers. They will battle, along with incumbent starter Shawntae Spencer, for the top 2 CB positions. Spencer is coming off a injury-plagued 2005 but looks solid for them when he is healthy, the hope for his 2006 campaign. Derrick Johnson and rookie Marcus Hudson look to factor in as well at CB. Safety starts with the 49ers in the form of strong safety Tony Parrish. He too is returning from a serious injury, but started 121 consecutive games prior and is durable for the most part. He runs the secondary and makes the calls for adjustments and coverages. Meanwhile, free safety is wide open with the competition between Mike Adams, who led the team with 4 interceptions last season, and free agents Chad Williams and Mark Roman. It will come down to who’s playing better as Coach Nolan has expressed his desire in finding the perfect partner for Parrish.
Overall Grade: C
Special Teams
K: Joe Nedney, a free agent signing before last season, was considered a question mark because of an injury he had suffered in Tennessee which resulted in him losing his starting job. Those questions were quickly answered as Nedney was the team MVP, scoring on 26 of his 28 field goal attempts. Nedney was remarkably solid for them last season and looks to be ready for another go. He was definitely needed as the few times the 49ers were in scoring range they usually failed to punch it into the end zone. He was perfect on PATs as well and is a solid kicker considering the problems the 49ers hand in the past (Jeff Chandler, anyone?)
P: Andy Lee had a good season in 2005. Overworked, having to punt over 200 times, didn’t drop his average below 41 yards a kick. He will see increased competition from free agent Tom Rouen, a veteran who has never had a punt blocked in 14 seasons, a total of 818 punts. Either way, the 49ers will have a good punter once the season begins.
Overall Grade: B+
Coaching Staff
Looking back at the coaching search in 2005, you have to believe that Nolan was the right guy fo rthe job. He’s made some waves and moves that may be considered unpopular in the fan circle, but overall he’s changed the attitude of the team that was lackluster and showed little fight with former Coach Dennis Erickson. He’s got good coaches under him, like Hall-of-Fame linebacker Mike Singletary and offensive guru Norv Turner. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis also is fiery and can inspire effort. It remains to be seen how they will work with an improving talent base, but needless to say they have all the pieces in place. Look for receivers coach Jerry Sullivan, a renowned coach, to have further impact on the young corp.
Overall Grade: B
Position Battles to Watch
RB: Frank Gore and Kevan Barlow. These two will duke it out for most of the preseason as to who will garner the highest number of touches for the 49ers offense this season. It appears as though Gore might be the favorite, but don’t count out a 50/50 split with Barlow, at least for this season. They are both decent runners and while not of the caliber of some of the top backs in teh NFL, could provide a healthy two-back attack.
CB: Shawntae Spencer is most likely solid at one side, leaving Walt Harris, Sammy Davis, and Derrick Johnson as the principle contenders on the other side. Right now the nod seems to be favoring Harris, although Johnson showed some maturity late last season and seems to have a nose for the ball. If he can get better in one-on-one situations, look for Johnson as the long-term solution.
FS: I like Mike Adams here, although you can’t blame them for giving vets Mark Roman and Chad Williams the opportunity to make noise at the position. The difference here is Adams’ ability to line up with a receiver and cover, having spend significant time last season at CB.
Player to Watch
Delanie Walker, TE/FB: Look for Delanie to play a similiar role to that of former Titans TE/FB Frank Wycheck. With Vernon Davis and Eric Johnson at TE, he may not see many reps as a tight end, but his strength and deceptive speed will make him a candidate for more playing time. He was a receiver in college and can make great catches, so they will use him to some extent on the field.
Bold Predictions
Record: 7-9
Offensive MVP: Antonio Bryant
Defensive MVP: Derek Smith
