Some unheralded preseason questions for 49ers

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Thursday, July 24, 2008  |  Comments( 10 )

San Francisco 49ers
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The San Francisco 49ers are like most teams in the NFL in that they have a number of unanswered questions which will not be settled until preseason games begin. For instance, every San Francisco fan is wondering whether Alex Smith or Shaun Hill will be barking out signals under center once the regular season starts.

Niners loyalists also want to know which receivers are going to lead the team. The answers to such burning questions, however, aren’t going to arrive now; instead, fans are going to have to wait.

As the waiting continues, there are some other questions that surround the 49ers that might not be on the tips of fans’ tongues. They are questions that merit consideration, though.

1. How will Mike Martz and head coach Mike Nolan coexist?

Martz, the newly hired offensive coordinator, has been a successful head coach before and probably wants to be one again. He also has the reputation as a man who likes to do things his way. It will be interesting to see how much autonomy Nolan gives Martz.

2. How will the offensive line pan out in 2008?

There are a lot of questions regarding the offensive line as training camp opens. David Baas is still recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and is supposedly on schedule, but what that schedule is remains uncertain. It’s safe to assume that Baas won’t be ready for the start of the season, but when he will return is yet to be determined. Larry Allen is still in limbo and has put his retirement on hold. There is still a chance that Allen may return to the 49ers for one final season.

3. What type of defensive scheme will the 49ers run this season?

Free agent pickup Justin Smith, formerly of the Bengals, will help shore up the D-line, replacing the retired Bryant Young in the process. What remains to be seen is whether the 49ers and coordinator Mike Manusky will implement a 3-4 scheme or a 4-3. With a stable of quality linebackers like Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson, Dontarrious Thomas, Brandon Moore and Parys Haralson, the 49ers will probably utilize them best in the 3-4 set.

4. Is there any chance that free agent linebacker Takeo Spikes ends up in the red and gold of San Francisco this season?

Spikes, who visited San Francisco earlier this year, is still on the free agent market. Because of a torn Achilles he suffered in 2005, Spikes hasn't been the Pro Bowl-caliber player he was in Cincinnati and Buffalo between 1998 and '04. Still, the 31-year-old can be a serviceable player -- evidenced by his 85 tackles in Philadelphia last season -- and it would surely be fun for 49ers fans to watch the fiery Spikes and the dynamic Willis play alongside each other.

Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game!
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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every ...
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CommentsComments: 10  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Jedi		09:21 AM
07/25/2008
Another great article Jeff: Those are pretty deep questions. Being a fan, I have thought about most of those questions, but we ...
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No.2
RedskinFan21ST		09:34 AM
07/25/2008
The 49ers really do have a shot out in the NFC West. Seattle isn't going to be as good as usual and well the Rams and Cardinals ...
No.3
Big Tex		02:57 PM
07/25/2008
The key for the 49ers is Alex Smith, plain and simple. If he can revert back to the decent play he showed under Norv Turner, the ...
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