49ers Blog and Q&A

Are you ready - finally - for some football? Yeesh, I know I am. Here's what I'll be looking for as the 49ers take the field for the first time since Dec. 28.

• Jimmy Raye. The old adage is that you really can't get an accurate read on a team's offense in the preseason because so many plays are being saved for the regular season. But in 2007, lousy preseason games against Chicago and San Diego served as omens. In practices, Raye's offense has shown a nice mix of short and downfield passes. Will that carry over in games?
• Alex Smith. He was booed on his very first pass of training camp. What will be the fans' reaction if Smith, a notoriously slow starter, struggles early at Candlestick Park? Smith is in the best shape - mentally, physically, emotionally - since joining the NFL. He also has a lot riding on this season, and the season essentially begins tonight.
• Receivers. A solid outing by Josh Morgan, Arnaz Battle, Dominique Zeigler and their cohorts only will solidify the 49ers' stance regarding rookie Michael Crabtree. A weak one will weaken it. Also keep an eye on Jason Hill, who needs a strong preseason to offset what has been a forgettable training camp.
• Right tackle. When the team signed Marvel Smith in the offseason, I expected him to be automatically inserted into the starting lineup. So far that hasn't happened. The 49ers are being very careful with Smith, who has a history of back problems, and he hasn't been cleared for full-time duty in practice. Which means there is a growing chance that Adam Snyder could be the starter when the season begins. Up until now, Snyder has been viewed as back-up, not starter, material. He'll get his chance to prove himself in the preseason.
• Pass Rush. Going into the offseason, it was atop the list of areas the 49ers had to address. And yet their only moves were signing career back-up Marques Harris and moving Ahmad Brooks from inside to outside linebacker. Take a look at Brooks, No. 55, tonight. There is some sentiment on the team that he is a better pass rusher than starter Manny Lawson.
• Turnovers. It's been a major focus of the defense in training camp. The 49ers have been below average in producing them and they feel it's the missing element in launching them from the realm of good defense into one of a great defense. Free safety Dashon Goldson is expected to help in that regard, but in training camp he has been quiet - especially for him - as far as interceptions.
• Mike Nolan. He's the Broncos' defensive coordinator and he likes to call the game from the coach's booth. In Candlestick Park, that means four trips - before and after the game and at halftime -- through the west stands. In other words, expect a President-sized security retinue.

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The following was waiting for me in my e-mail basket when I woke up this morning. Is there anyone on the team or otherwise who can help out Maj. Hogan and his band of 49ers followers?

Matt,

My name is Major Eric Hogan, and our battalion of reservists deployed out of Mare Island, Vallejo in January 09. We are 49er fanatics (2 are season ticket holders), and are REALLY looking forward to this season, especially the QB duel now going on (Go Alex). Only problem is that AFN (the military's television network) will not show any 49er games. I have almost 100 soldiers who would give anything to be able to see the games. I am trying to find someone in the 49ers organization who might be able to send us a DVD/blue-ray of the games so we could watch them. We actually have a large conference room with a huge plasma we could use for this (we even have a Blue-Ray player).

I would be happy to pay for anything that this would cost, but I really need to know who to ask, and I am thinking you probably know the right people to put me in touch with. Anything you could do would be very much appreciated. I know this would be a HUGE morale booster.

Respectfully,

Major Eric Hogan

-- Matt Barrows