2006 San Francisco 49ers Season Preview

The garbage truck picked Turner up outside Oakland Raiders headquarters in Alameda, hopped on I-880 South, and dumped him about 35 miles away at the doorstep of the 49ers in Santa Clara. Niners head coach Mike Nolan dusted Turner off, polished him up, and promptly put him in charge of an offense that ranked last in the league in passing and 30th in scoring a year ago.

The 54-year-old Turner was never much of a head coach (58-82-1 in nine seasons with the Redskins and Raiders), but there are few that can boast his credentials as an offensive coordinator. He won two Super Bowls in that role with the Cowboys in the early '90's, and more recently turned LaDainian Tomlinson and Ricky Williams into instant success stories in San Diego and Miami, respectively.

But the 49ers don't have Tomlinson and Williams, nor do they have Aikman, Emmitt, and Irvin, which makes Turner's newest job perhaps the most challenging of his career. He'll have to figure out a way to mould Alex Smith into a competent NFL quarterback, determine whether Frank Gore can be an every-down ball-carrier in the league, and find out if raw rookie tight end Vernon Davis can become the next Gonzales or Gates.

If Turner pulls this one off, his legacy as one of the game's brightest offensive minds will be secure. And all that talk about the 49ers being the laughingstock of the NFL can officially be trashed.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2006 edition of the San Francisco 49ers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2004 RECORD: 4-12 (4th, NFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2002, lost to Tampa Bay, 31-6, in NFC Divisional Playoff

COACH (RECORD): Mike Nolan (4-12 in one season with 49ers, 4-12 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Norv Turner

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Billy Davis

OFFENSIVE STAR: Alex Smith, QB (875 passing yards, 1 TD, 11 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Bryant Young, DL (36 tackles, 8 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 17th rushing, 32nd passing, 30th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 18th rushing, 32nd passing, 30th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: St. Louis (9/17), Oakland (10/8), Minnesota (11/5), Green Bay (12/10), Arizona (12/24)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Trent Dilfer (from Browns), QB Shaun Hill (free agent), WR Antonio Bryant (from Browns), WR Bryan Gilmore (from Dolphins), WR Brandon Williams (3rd Round, Wisconsin), WR Michael Robinson (4th Round, Penn State), TE Vernon Davis (1st Round, Maryland), G Larry Allen (from Cowboys), DT Lance Legree (from Jets), DE/OLB Manny Lawson (1st Round, North Carolina State), LB T.J. Slaughter (from Saints), CB Sammy Davis (from Chargers), CB Walt Harris (from Redskins), S Chad Williams (from Ravens), S Mark Roman (from Packers)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Ken Dorsey (to Browns), FB Fred Beasley (to Dolphins), WR Brandon Lloyd (to Redskins), WR Rashaun Woods (to Chargers), WR Johnnie Morton (released), DE Chris Cooper (released), LB Julian Peterson (to Seahawks), LB Andre Carter (to Redskins), CB Ahmed Plummer (released), CB Bruce Thornton (to Jets), DB Mike Rumph (to Redskins)

QB: Alex Smith (875 passing yards, 1 TD, 11 INT) didn't give 49ers fans a whole lot of hope for the future last season, when the 2005 No. 1 overall pick out of Utah went 2-5 as a starter and posted a miniscule 40.8 passer rating in his first action as a pro. Smith looked overwhelmed while working behind a makeshift offensive line and with an ever-changing group of backs and receivers, but the 22-year-old was much sharper and self-assured during '06 training camp. If he gets hurt or has another meltdown, the next man in will likely be veteran Trent Dilfer (2321 passing yards, 11 TD, 12 INT with Cleveland), who is 34 but showed that he had a little something left in 11 starts with the Browns last season. The battle to hold the clipboard came down to Shaun Hill, who backed up Brad Johnson for half-a-season in Minnesota last year but has never thrown a regular season NFL pass, and Gibran Hamdan, the NFL Europe Offensive Player of the Year in 2006.

RB: One of the major bright spots in an otherwise brutal 2005 season in San Francisco was the play of rookie running back Frank Gore (608 rushing yards, 3 TD, 15 receptions), the second-round draft pick out of Miami (FL) who immediately made Kevan Barlow (581 rushing yards, 3 TD, 31 receptions) expendable. Barlow was dealt to the Jets during the '06 preseason, meaning Gore, who endured questions about his durability in college, will now be handling the bulk of the rushing load. Maurice Hicks (308 rushing yards, 3 TD, 12 receptions) figured to be Gore's backup heading into camp, but fourth-round draft pick and converted quarterback Michael Robinson (Penn State) played well enough in the preseason to call that status into question. Both Hicks and Robinson will make the team, with Terry Jackson (11 rushing yards, 10 receptions) likely to be kept on for an eighth season in San Francisco due to his skill on special teams. At fullback, holdover Chris Hetherington (5 receptions) and ex-Texan Moran Norris (1 reception, 1 TD with Houston) were believed to be competing for one job as preseason neared its conclusion.

WR/TE: There are major changes to this area, and the 49ers will need the alterations to take hold quickly in order for Smith and the offense to be successful. Gone are 2005 principles such as Brandon Lloyd (48 receptions, 5 TD) and Johnnie Morton (21 receptions), and in are former Browns No. 1 Antonio Bryant (69 receptions, 4 TD with Cleveland) and tight end Vernon Davis (Maryland), who the team used its No. 6 overall selection on in the April draft. The 25-year-old Bryant comes off his first career 1,000-yard season, while Davis, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound physical freak who runs a sub-4.4-40-yard dash, is expected to give the Niners an Antonio Gates-like presence over the middle. The No. 2 receiver opposite Bryant will likely be Arnaz Battle (32 receptions, 3 TD), the converted college quarterback who played well when healthy last season, while ex-Dolphin Bryan Gilmore (5 receptions, 1 TD with Miami) projects as the No. 3. Third-round draft choice Brandon Williams (Wisconsin) is likely to serve as a return man, and ex-Redskin Taylor Jacobs (11 receptions with Washington) should also hang around, meaning holdovers Rasheed Marshall (1 reception), Jason McAddley (7 receptions), Marcus Maxwell, and Otis Amey are battling for one job along with rookie Delanie Walker (Central Missouri). The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Walker could be moved to tight end, where he can spell either Davis or the oft-injured Eric Johnson. Johnson, who caught 82 passes in 2004, has missed two of the last three seasons due to injury, and holdovers Terry Jones (9 receptions) and Billy Bajema (5 receptions) were seeking to take his spot for that reason.

OL: The Niners' offensive line crumbled early last season, as two projected starters up front - left tackle Jonas Jennings and second-round draft pick and guard David Baas - started a combined eight games due to injuries. Jennings appears back after missing most of the year with a shoulder injury, and will line up alongside new left guard Larry Allen, obtained via free agency in the offseason after 12 years as a fixture in Dallas. Making way for Allen is Justin Smiley, who will move to right guard after starting all 16 games on the left side a year ago. Taking over full-time at center is Eric Heitmann, who started six games in the middle a year ago in place of former Pro Bowler Jeremy Newberry. Newberry will spend 2006 on injured reserve due to recurrent knee problems, and his career is likely over. The starting line will be rounded out by right tackle Kwame Harris, the former first-round draft pick who enjoyed his first full season as a first-teamer a year ago. Baas can back up either the center or guard positions, and fellow second-year man Adam Snyder also projects as a backup after opening seven games at tackle and one at guard last season. Converted tight end Patrick Estes, who appeared in seven games last season, and '05 practice squad member Ben Sobieski worked with the second-team during training camp.

DL: Though a scant 28 sacks would suggest differently, the 49ers three-man line actually played pretty well in 2006. Veteran Bryant Young (36 tackles, 8 sacks) thrived in his new position at end in the 3-4, leading the team in sacks despite losing three games to a sprained right MCL. Fellow end Marques Douglas (58 tackles, 1 sack) and nose tackle Anthony Adams (40 tackles, 2.5 sacks) were also active up front, and the entire three-man starting group returns for 2006. Backups Isaac Sopoaga (22 tackles) and Ron Fields (7 tackles) are back as well, while rookie Melvin Oliver (6th round, LSU) will be trying to crack the rotation and learn from the veterans. Ex-Jet and Giant Lance Legree (29 tackles, 3 sacks with the Jets) has starting experience in the NFL, but looked like a long shot to make the team as the regular season drew nearer.

LB: Part of the problem with the Niners pass rush (and overall defense) last season is that outside linebackers Julian Peterson (82 tackles, 3 sacks) and Andre Carter (44 tackles, 4.5 sacks), while talented, did not fit the 3-4 scheme. No one knew this better than Peterson and Carter themselves, and both defected via free agency. Enter first-round draft choice Manny Lawson (N.C. State), who immediately becomes the team's primary pass rusher at the age of 22. Lawson, who had 10 sacks as a senior with the Wolfpack, will have to dispel the myth that his collegiate success was due to the presence of Mario Williams on the other side of the field. Starting at the other outside linebacker spot will be Brandon Moore (71 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT), who played part-time on the inside a year ago but is better suited to a pass-rushing role. Inside linebacker will again be the domain of Derek Smith (116 tackles, 1 sack) and Jeff Ulbrich (41 tackles), who have the potential to be a dominant tackling duo. Smith led the Niners in stops last season, and Ulbrich was on his way to good year before losing his final 11 games to a torn biceps. San Francisco has little depth behind Smith and Ulbrich, as holdover Jim Maxwell (17 tackles) and ex-Saint T.J. Slaughter (22 tackles, 1 INT) are better noted for their work on special teams. On the outside, rookie Parys Harelson (5th Round, Tennessee) and second-year man Corey Smith (12 tackles) will probably be the next players in.

DB: It went from the ridiculous to the sublime for the San Francisco secondary last season, as projected 2005 starters Tony Parrish, Mike Rumph, and Ahmed Plummer ended up playing in a combined 15 of 48 possible games due to major injuries. Cornerback Shawntae Spencer (83 tackles, 4 INT) would be the only constant in the team's secondary during the season, with previous unknowns like safeties Mike Adams (74 tackles, 4 INT, 1 sack), Ben Emanuel (39 tackles, 1 INT, 0.5 sacks), and Keith Lewis (31 tackles, 1 INT) called upon to play key roles along with cornerbacks Bruce Thornton (40 tackles, 2 INT) and Derrick Johnson (41 tackles, 1 sack). In light of those circumstances, the fact that the Niners were 32nd with an anchor in NFL passing defense came as no great surprise. Things look better in that area heading into '06, as Spencer and the strong safety Parrish are both back, Adams benefited from his experience last season to retain the free safety job, and veteran Walt Harris (57 tackles, 1 INT) has been brought in to lock down one of the corners. San Francisco also has the veteran depth it lacked last year, as newcomers Sammy Davis (28 tackles, 1 sack with San Diego), Chad Williams (46 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT with Baltimore), and Mark Roman (90 tackles, 2 INT with Green Bay) all have starting experience in the NFL. In light of the increased depth, holdovers Johnson and Lewis could be victims of the final cut, and rookie safeties Marcus Hudson (6th Round, North Carolina State) and Vickiel Vaughn (7th Round, Arkansas) look like practice squad material.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Joe Nedney (26-28 FG) shook off his injury problems of the previous two years to post a terrific 2005 campaign, and probably would have made the Pro Bowl had it not been for the record-setting exploits of the Cardinals' Neil Rackers. At punter, Andy Lee (41.6 avg.) is the incumbent, but veteran Tom Rouen (41.6 avg. with the Seahawks) out-kicked Lee in the preseason and had a strong shot to unseat him. Rookie Brandon Williams has explosive speed and could serve as either a punt or kickoff returner, and holdover Maurice Hicks (20.3 avg.) has had his moments on kickoffs as well. Otis Amey (11.4 punt return avg., 1 TD, 17.2 kickoff return avg.) set 49ers nation alight with a punt return for a touchdown in Week 1 of the 2005 season, but the team's increased depth at receiver could be his undoing. Brian Jennings, who made the Pro Bowl in 2004, is back for his seventh season as the team's long snapper.

PROGNOSIS: Name an area of this team that struggled a year ago, and it's been upgraded. The backfield? Alex Smith will undoubtedly be better in year two, and Gore looks set to become a 1,000-yard rusher. The o-line? Jennings is healthy, Allen is now in the fold, and the young players are a year better. Pass-catching? Bryant and Davis will help immensely. Defense? All the players now fit the scheme, and far less youth will be relied upon in the secondary. How many more wins will that translate into? Probably not many. Because while the 49ers don't figure to be as punchless as they were in year one of the Nolan era, this team is still very much a work in progress. Smith should be more consistent, but he isn't going to channel Montana or Young anytime soon. The group protecting him is still on the thin side, and a major injury or two could again prove devastating. The potential top receiver (Davis) and pass- rusher (Lawson) are both rookies, which never bodes well. A .500 finish is not outside the realm of possibility if the Niners get some luck, but a realistic chance at the playoffs won't come before 2007.

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