| This series of analysis on the 32 NFL teams takes a look at where teams have been over the last three years for each position - where they have ranked in the most notable categories and the hard statistics produced. This is to give a view of each team heading into training camp and what they most likely need to improve on this season and where their strengths lie that likely won't need any changes. Ending each team review is a brief summation of what to watch in training camp in August to uncover those developing situations that you can take advantage. Combining where teams have come from and what they have done in free agency and the NFL draft gives you the very same thing that NFL coaches are looking at as they attempt to improve their team for 2009. |
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Training Camp Opens: July 28 (Rookie), July 30 (Veteran)
Head Coach: Mike Singletary (2nd year)
Stadium: Qwest Field Surface: FieldTurf
2009 Schedule 2009 Roster 2008 Statistics 2008 Record: 7-9
| QB |
Carries |
Rush YD |
Rush TD |
Pass |
Comp |
Comp % |
Pass YD |
YPP |
Pass TD |
Int |
Rank YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
41 |
151 |
2 |
442 |
257 |
58% |
2890 |
11.2 |
16 |
16 |
29 |
26 |
| 2007 |
35 |
128 |
1 |
513 |
274 |
53% |
2685 |
9.8 |
15 |
17 |
32 |
27 |
| 2008 |
29 |
177 |
0 |
474 |
262 |
55% |
2831 |
10.8 |
18 |
15 |
29 |
20 |
Quarterback - Camp will feature the conclusion of San Francisco’s open quarterback competition between Shaun Hill—the only 49ers’ QB with a winning record as a starter since Jeff Garcia left town—and former first-overall pick Alex Smith. This is no longer a Mike Martz offense—in fact, Mike Singletary wants to turn the Niners into a power running team—so there’s little prospect of gaudy stats for the winner of this battle. But between the emerging receivers and the prospect of some garbage time stats as San Francisco plays catch-up, it’s certainly on the radar of fantasy owners looking for depth at the position.
| RB |
Carries |
Rush YD |
YPC |
Rush TD |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
Rcv TD |
Rank YD |
Rank TY |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
381 |
1901 |
5 |
10 |
118 |
88 |
75% |
705 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
16 |
| 2007 |
316 |
1361 |
4.3 |
6 |
108 |
84 |
78% |
633 |
1 |
28 |
25 |
28 |
| 2008 |
387 |
1595 |
4.1 |
10 |
93 |
59 |
63% |
453 |
4 |
16 |
23 |
20 |
Running Backs - Singletary wants this to be an old-school run-first offense, and fantasy owners would certainly have no issue with Frank Gore being a workhorse. After a 300-carry season in 2006, he’s seen his workload decline a little each of the past two seasons; he’s also missed three games in that span. The Niners drafted Glen Coffee and signed Kory Sheets as backup candidates with the hope that someone can take a dozen or so touches off of their starter’s plate, but this offense will still run through #21.
| WR |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
YPR |
Rcv TD |
Ranks YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
226 |
111 |
49% |
1598 |
14.4 |
7 |
31 |
30 |
| 2007 |
255 |
114 |
45% |
1329 |
11.7 |
8 |
32 |
29 |
| 2008 |
285 |
144 |
51% |
1722 |
12.0 |
9 |
28 |
28 |
Wide Receivers - Michael Crabtree fell into the 49ers’ laps on draft day, but he has yet to sign so it’s tough to expect any immediate results. Isaac Bruce is back as a mentor to both Crabtree and Josh Morgan, so it’s not as if San Francisco won’t be able to field decent wideouts without their first-round pick in camp. Free agent signee Brandon Jones will compete with Jason Hill and Arnaz Battle for spots in the rotation, and the longer Crabtree waits to sign the more bodies he’ll have to leapfrog to get onto the field. Questions at quarterback and the 49ers’ new run-first philosophy won’t help a group that hasn’t ranked outside the bottom five of the league in either wide receiver yards or touchdowns since 2004.
| TE |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
YPR |
Rcv TD |
Ranks YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
95 |
56 |
59% |
587 |
10.5 |
5 |
16 |
15 |
| 2007 |
128 |
73 |
57% |
683 |
9.4 |
5 |
14 |
17 |
| 2008 |
90 |
59 |
66% |
656 |
11.1 |
5 |
19 |
12 |
Tight Ends -
Wasn’t Vernon Davis supposed to reinvent the tight end position? Guess we’re still waiting on that one, though Singletary does seem to be developing a relationship with the volatile Davis so there’s still hope. The numbers have been nothing special, and a renewed emphasis on running the football doesn’t suggest that will change any time soon.
Training Camp Fantasy Angle - While the focus will be on the quarterback battle, Singletary’s emphasis on the run and what it might mean for Gore should not fly under the fantasy radar. Seeing as Crabtree is a popular dynasty pick and even showing up in some redrafts, his contract situation also bears watching. It’s already tough enough for a rookie receiver to make an impact in Year One, and every day he isn’t signed will make it that much more difficult for Crabtree to buck that trend.
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