Where was I? Right. 5 bold predictions.

I’ve read the news, digested it, shit it out, examined it for clues, and come up with 5 things I see in the cards for the 49ers 2009 season. Write them down. Take a picture. Make fun of me in December if I’m way off.

1) Frank Gore will rush for 1700 yards

Of course Chad Johnson beat me to this, but I promise I was thinking this before his workout. Gore sure looks like a pile of bricks in a tornado right about now. It’s very clear that this offense is going to be a run-first, run-second, 60% of the time run-third operation, and with the expected improvements up front from young guys like Chilo Rachal, David Baas, and Joe Staley, the running game should be a force. If Marvel Smith can revert to healthy form, the offensive line could be a real strength, and Gore will be there to soak up the yards.

2) Michael Crabtree will not make a significant impact

Crabtree brings high expectations with him, and there is no reason to doubt he can fulfill them. In the long term. In the short term, he will be competing in a crowded WR corps with a future Hall of Famer (Isaac Bruce), the team’s top free agent signing (Brandon Jones), two young players who showed tremendous potential last season (Josh Morgan and Jason Hill), and a guy with skills and hunger (whoever makes the team out of Dominique Ziegler and Arnaz Battle). I expect Bruce to have similar production as last season, where he served as the security blanket, and I expect a big leap forward from Morgan. Add in the rest of the depth AND the strong TE group, and it spells limited output for the rookie.

3) The 49ers will finish in the top 5 in total defense

Patrick Willis made the prediction. How can I risk the safety of my family and friends and go against that? Also, the performance of the defense down the stretch last season spells success this season. With the simplification of the system and the return of every key piece with the exception of Walt Harris, it stands to reason that the unit will be a fearsome test for opponents. If Manny Lawson can return to the form he showed in 2007 before his injury, the LB corps will be the league’s best, without question. The addition of Dre Bly will help offset the injury to Harris, but so will the emergence of Tarell Brown. And with the playmaking ability of Dashon Goldson at safety, the turnovers should increase. Consistent pressure on the QB will remain the main issue, but everything else stacks up to become one of the league’s very best units.

4) Alex Smith will win the QB competition

Perhaps I have been buying into the faint praise that seems to be circling around Alex Smith of late, but I expect Smith to win the QB competition with Shaun Hill. Mike Singletary had every opportunity in the world to put his full confidence in Hill based on his performance last season, and it never came. It still hasn’t come. I will never discount Hill’s performances, in spite of his obvious shortcomings…he is a good football player who definitely has some intangibles. But if his conclusion to 2008 isn’t enough to secure the job against a guy who is perceived to be a complete flameout, then the coaching staff has clear reservations. I anticipate Smith will outperform Hill in practice, as per usual, and show the arm strength that Singletary and Jimmy Raye have said they’re searching for. As for Smith’s performance? I’m not that bold.

5) The 49ers will win the NFC West

The 49ers will be division champions, due in no small part to the struggles around them. St. Louis is still miles away from being competitive. Seattle is coached by Jim Mora Jr. and has gotten old on offense in a hurry. Arizona simply cannot expect the same year out of Kurt Warner as they got in 2008, and they had significant turnover on the coaching staff. Even with a “new” permanent head coach and the 7th offensive coordinator in 7 seasons, the 49ers are the only team with enough young talent to survive the 16-game foray. The schedule appears to be reasonable, and having the final two games be against Detroit and St. Louis helps if a late push is needed. As with the Cardinals last season, it very well may only take a 9-7 record to take the division title, and I believe the 49ers will be in that territory.

Bonus Prediction: Andy Lee will have one punt this season that hits Jesus in his nuts

Hangtime, bitch.

Just finished training with Frank Gore at South Florida gym, can we say 1,700 hundred yards!!!! Niner fans get ready

Miller, from Illinois, is 6 feet and 243 pounds. He was a team captain at Illinois. Pro Football Weekly’s 2009 Draft Preview book called him “tough and instinctive” with good intangibles. They liked his strength, said he played hard and reacted quickly.

On the down side, Miller appeared “not very agile or quick-footed” to the point where he “could be restricted to playing on run downs” only. PFW described Miller as a “tough plugger” who “made his senior year his best and should warrant a chance to compete” in an NFL training camp.

Don't confuse this Brit Miller with this Britt Miller

Receivers:
M. Crabtree 84
I. Bruce 79
V. Davis 78
J. Morgan 74
A. Battle 72
B. Jones 70
D. Walker 66
J. Hill 66
B. Pascoe 63
D. Zeigler 62

Runningbacks:

F. Gore 91
M. Norris 77
G. Coffee 69
M. Robinson 65
Z. Keasey 62

Quarterbacks:

S. Hill 69
A. Smith 67
N. Davis 64
D. Huard 58

Offensive Linemen:

J. Staley 85
M. Smith 82
C. Rachal 80
E. Heitmann 77
D. Baas 77
B. Sims 76
A. Snyder 74
T. Wragge 71
C. Wallace 70
J. Bender 66

Defensive Linemen:

J. Smith 83
I. Sopoaga 80
K. Balmer 68
A. Franklin 67
R. McDonald 67
R. Jean-Francois 62
D. Evans 61

Linebackers:

P. Willis 98
T. Spikes 78
P. Haralson 76
M. Lawson 72
J. Ulbrich 70
S. McKillop 67
J. Moore 61

Defensive Backs:

N. Clements 84
M. Lewis 80
W. Harris 76
S. Spencer 67
R. Smith 64
D. Goldson 62
T. Brown 59
M. Roman 55
M. Hudson 48

Special Teams:

A. Lee 92
J. Nedney 83

Bly is pleased with this, because he still has passes to defend, a reputation to restore. And now, there is a new coach’s confidence to validate.

Yep, walking up to another NFL training camp, Bly is blunt about it. He doesn’t need football. But he wants football.

“I’m just so hungry right now,” Bly, from Chesapeake’s Western Branch High, said last week at his formative training center on Baker Road, where he helped stage a two-day youth camp.

“If I wouldn’t have signed, I’d have been OK with it. I mean, I would have been frustrated, but I know how the game is. I know the way things ended last year in Denver had something to do with why I didn’t sign (until May).

“But that’s all in the past. I’ve got a good situation in San Fran.”

Full Story: NFL cornerback Bly relishes the same role with new team

Odds:
Superbowl – 49ers are at 35-1
NFC West – 18-1
Win toal – 7 wins

Smith wishes he knew how to quit Hill

Next up is bass fishing, which also favors Hill. After all, it’s happening on his home water. Alex Smith and his wife plan to fly to Hill’s Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. home later this week and spend a few days at Hill’s pad. Do these guys hate each other or what?

Smith, who grew up outside of San Diego, openly admits that Hill has the advantage in the more outdoorsy pursuits. However, No. 11 feels he’ll have Hill’s number in several indoor sports – such as bowling – and he’s certain he’s the better golfer. Hill, a former high school basketball start, is confident he’ll handle Smith on the hard wood.

There are also reports that Smith is quoted as saying to Hill. ‘I wish I knew how to quit you.’

Source: Sacramento Bee, 49ers.com

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(Illustration courtesy of the 49ers and HNTB Architecture.)

06.12.09 — Sorry I’m a little late on reporting this. But just came across this info that Matt Maiocco is reporting that the 49ers might be interested in unrestricted free-agent LB Greg Ellis (Cowboys) if he drops his asking price.

The 12 year vet was recently let go by the Cowboys. Last season Ellis had 8 sacks. Over the past two years he has a total of 20.5 sacks. The 49ers have not had a legit pass rusher in God knows how long. Might be worth a shot to pick up the seasoned vet.

Brown ran stride for stride with Josh Morgan on a deep pass from Shaun Hill on the first play of the 11-on-11 session. Because of the tight coverage, Morgan had no chance to make the catch.

A little while later, Bly had Dominique Zeigler blanketed on a deep ball down the middle. Bly made a lunging, finger-tip interception of Hill’s pass before both he and Zeigler tumbled to the ground. They both got up slowly. “Helluva play,” said one 49ers assistant, “but stay up.” Players are repeatedly cautioned during these “non-contact” drills to avoid injury by staying on their feet.

Our view is Bly will most likely get the start, main reason he is a seasoned vet. But the way Singletary is don’t be surprised to see him give Tarell Brown every shot to take Walt’s job. One thing is for sure this battle is thousand times better than Willie Middlebrooks vs. Donald Strickland.