Unless you’re a fan of the Cardinals, Seahawks or Rams, chances are, you’re pulling for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West this year. Why? Simple—you love their head coach. Mike Singletary is a consummate throwback; an old-school purist who played the game at a Hall of Fame level and teaches football with a passion and fire that would make even John Madden blush.

Singletary’s brutal honesty and steadfast commitment to his beliefs give him the type of noble character that is usually associated with small town patriarchs and men with firm handshakes.

And Singletary’s elocution is second to none. Remember his Vernon Davis rant last season? Barely established as the team’s interim head coach, Singletary booted the young first-round tight end off the field in a Week 8 loss and afterwards vented fervidly about his intolerance for selfish players. It was the type of cutting honesty and public finger-pointing that shows up once every other generation in the closed-lip world of professional football. And it just so happened that the tactic worked. Not only did Davis respect his head coach and become less of an underachiever for the remainder of the season, but the 49ers started to show a semblance of identity. They wound up winning four of their final five games, convincing next-generation owner Jed York to lock up his charismatic coach in a four-year contract.

Because Singletary has oratory skills that could inspire PETA to throw a barbeque, the temptation is to believe in his team in 2009. But, true to form, Singletary has, at times, sprinkled harsh caution on any bubbling excitement. He’s acknowledged concern about the leadership of his offense. Because Kurt Warner turned down their two-year, $30 million offer, the Niners are a team plagued with an unsightly quarterback competition. In one corner is Alex Smith, who has been slightly less successful than General Motors the past few years. Shoulder injuries have hounded the former No. 1 overall pick, though even when healthy, Smith has been uninspiring at best. He had to agree to a cheaper two-year, $6.5 million deal in order to return in 2009. In the other corner is Smith’s close friend, Shaun Hill. The former seventh-round pick is 7-3 as a starter, though his decision-making can be iffy, and he doesn’t offer premium measurables.

Whoever wins the job––likely Hill––will be operating behind a makeshift offensive line that has surrendered a franchise-worst 55 sacks in each of the past two seasons. On the plus side, the quarterback will be throwing to what should be an improved group of receivers, headlined by first-round stallion Michael Crabtree (assuming he can fully recover from the stress fracture in his left foot that sidelined him the entire offseason).

Of course, per Singletary’s M.O., the passing game will take a backseat to a hardnosed, nail-spitting ground attack. The grossly overrated Mike Martz was fired from his offensive coordinator position almost immediately after last season. After reportedly being rejected by his first three targets, Singletary finally found Martz’s replacement in Jimmy Raye, a 33-year assistant making his sixth stop as a coordinator. In a stunning symbol of instability, Raye is the seventh different offensive coordinator employed by this franchise in the last seven years.

The optimism surrounding the Niners pertains primarily to a defense that gave up 10 fewer points per game last season after Mike Nolan and his complicated hybrid scheme were shown the door. New defensive coordinator Greg Manusky is employing a traditional 3-4 base, which is likely only to flourish if San Francisco can get a 10-sack season from one of its pass-rushers (something that hasn’t happened since 2002). With a superstar inside linebacker in Patrick Willis, a decent front line headlined by high-motor end Justin Smith and a secondary that’s pretty good when pricey corner Nate Clements plays up to par, a viable pass-rush could be all that’s needed to push this defense into the upper echelons in football.

So maybe there is reason beyond Singletary to be excited about this team. It’s not like the NFC West is the tallest mountain to climb. And it’s not like bigger NFL miracles haven’t happened before. Heck, this is why future Hall of Fame receiver Isaac Bruce delayed retirement for one more year. Asked why he returned, Bruce said, “To play in the playoffs again and win a Super Bowl.” Go ahead and snicker, but as the former Ram added, “I was 4-12 one year (’98) and the following year (’99) I won a Super Bowl.”

Offense

Isaac Bruce’s quote would be a lot snazzier if his old St. Louis teammate, Kurt Warner, had wound up signing with San Francisco. The 49ers don’t need ’99 Warner-type magic at quarterback in order to succeed––they just need someone who can manage the game and not give away possessions. Most likely, that man will be Shaun Hill. Turnovers can actually be a problem for the 29-year-old, but only when he tries to do too much. Hill has calmer, wiser pocket presence than Alex Smith, and teammates seem more willing to respect him. Of course, Niners GM Scott McCloughan––why like Singletary, is a sultan of honesty––has said that the 25-year-old Smith, fully healthy after ’08 surgery on a small shoulder fracture, looked the best he’s ever looked this past offseason.

Whoever the quarterback is, he’ll play second fiddle to Frank Gore. The fifth-year running back is the only player in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Gore’s NFL success is nothing short of remarkable considering the learning disability and slew of knee problems he had to overcome at University of Miami. His unique gift to identify cutback lanes and fight for extra yardage makes him a perfect horse to hitch a wagon to. Still, San Francisco is cautious about overworking Gore. That’s why they plan to frequently use 210-pound rock Glen Coffee, a third-round rookie, ahead of utility back Michael Robinson. Fullback Moran Norris––a former Niner and close friend of Gore’s who was with Detroit most of last season––offers the consistent lead-blocking that last year’s goal-line specialist Zak Keasey couldn’t regularly provide.

Running won’t be easy considering this offensive line has, in recent years, personified Britney Spears: fat and unstable. Though in fairness, this line has a chance to make marked improvements in 2009. Left tackle Joe Staley is entering his third season and could become more polished in pass protection. Staley lacks the lower-body power to be a road-grader––which is why he’ll never be elite––but he’s not a bad athlete.

Opposite Staley, a healthy Marvel Smith will be better than anyone who rotated at right tackle last season. But if the 31-year-old’s back problems persist, either slow-footed veteran Barry Sims or two-dollars utility option Adam Snyder will once again see action. Both struggle mightily on an island. The 49ers desperately need consistency at right tackle. Otherwise, intriguing second-year guard Rachal Chilo––a frighteningly-powerful downhill blocker who is still too wide-eyed to thrive––will never develop.

Center Eric Heitmann is a savvy veteran who plays with consistency, but the problem is, he consistently gets controlled by opponents. This is not an insignificant problem. Starting left guard David Baas––an okay run-blocker––can play center, but if he were to replace Heitmann, the Niners’ interior deficiencies would simply shift to guard, given the limited mobility of Tony Wragge and the lack of experience in Joe Toledo.

Unshackling from Martz’s ludicrously complex system should help the front five improve in 2009. In fact, the whole offense will be better for it. Jim Raye’s new system, in the very least, means über-athletic fourth-year tight end Vernon Davis actually gets a chance to catch passes. Davis was imprisoned to blocking assignments throughout most of last year and finished the season with a paltry 31 receptions. To become the big-time weapon he’s capable of becoming, the former No. 6 overall pick must mature and show better concentration in traffic.

Isaac Bruce is no longer a dangerous first option, but his perfect route-running and reliable hands still make him effective. The Niners would love for Bruce to be the No. 2 behind Michael Crabtree, though it’s doubtful the prolific Texas Tech star will be near full capacity after sitting out the entire offseason. Remember, rookie receivers often struggle in transitioning to the NFL. Thus, diligent possession-type option Josh Morgan, or newcomer Brandon Jones, could start ahead of Crabtree. Jones is an ex-Titan when the Niners signed for $16.5 million over five years before knowing Bruce would return and Crabtree would fall in their lap. Dark horse receiving options include Arnaz Battle, who has always been dependable, and third-year pro Jason Hill, who has shown some encouraging flashes.

Defense

The success of this unit hinges on two fourth-year outside linebackers: Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson. They must be able to pressure the passer in 2009. Haralson, a fifth-round pick, has adequate quickness, having led the team with eight sacks last season. And he’s thick enough to play the run. Lawson, a first-rounder, has unique athleticism that makes him viable in space. However, he has only 5.5 sacks in what’s amounted to two career seasons (he missed 14 games in ’07 with a torn ACL). Lawson has bulked up to 250 pounds in order to embolden his strength against edge-blockers, but if he can’t turn the corner, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky may have to reluctantly call on inconsistent 4-3 backup outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks.

Any pity felt for Manusky about the dicey outside linebacker situation is nullified by jealousy of his riches at the linebacker spots inside. Third-year sensation Patrick Willis is as good a tackler as pro football has to offer, and his unyielding dedication to his craft will continue to translate into sharper instincts and better coverage skills. Willis has benefitted greatly from the tutelage of 12^th-year veteran Takeo Spikes, a formidable tackler in his own right. Also, behind Spikes is longtime starter Jeff Ulbrich.

Defensive end Justin Smith can occasionally get to the quarterback, though with this being a more traditional 3-4 scheme, Smith’s boundless energy will be applied primarily towards stopping the run. It remains to be seen whether he has the strength to anchor on the playside. If he doesn’t, San Francisco could relocate him in order to capitalize on his chase speed. In that case, they’d turn to last year’s first-round pick, Kentwan Balmer, a 315-pounder who basically redshirted in 2009.

The other starting end, Isaac Sopoaga, exerts convincing force from time to time, though more often he plays too tall and gets neutralized by opponents. With newcomer Demetric Evans being somewhat quick but ultimately too small for this scheme, and rising third-year pro Ray McDonald injuring his knee early in the offseason, the 49ers may have to give some of Sopoaga’s snaps to talented but polarizing seventh-round rookie Ricky Jean-Francois. The nose tackle position will be a strength with immovable Aubrayo Franklin on first and second down, but with no depth behind him, the outlook on third down is cloudy.

The secondary can either triumph or fail, depending on how new starters Dashon Goldson (free safety) and Dre’ Bly (cornerback) perform. Goldson shows a proclivity for hard hits, and he’s almost guaranteed to have better ball skills than previous starter Mark Roman (who had of zero interceptions over the past two-plus seasons). Bly did not play well in Denver and agreed to a one-year $845,000 deal here because it gives him the best chance to reclaim his good name. With Walt Harris already on injured reserve (ACL), Bly, who covers fine but is a dastardly tackler, will be competing for a starting job with ascending third-year pro Tarell Brown and finesse former starter Shawntae Spencer.

The returning starters are Nate Clements, a top-dollar corner who surrenders little buffer zone but also gets picked on a times, and Michael Lewis, a forceful run-stopping strong safety who has been the team’s second most prolific tackler the past two years.

Special Teams

Joe Nedney is as reliable a kicker as you’ll find in pro football. The 49ers just locked him up through 2011. Andy Lee is one of the best in the business, thanks to a big leg that has produced a 47-plus average each of the past two seasons. In the return game, 33-year-old Allen Rossum is still dangerous. His speed has abated slightly, but his vision has not. Also worth mentioning is long-snapper Brian Jennings, who has been with the organization since 2000.

Bottom Line

The two most important elements to offensive success are the quarterback and front line. The Niners are hurting in both areas. But on the positive side, they should be better in these spots than they were a year ago. The defense is just one pass-rush away from being elite, which, given the feebleness of the NFC West, could be enough to eke this team into the postseason (though it’s a long shot).

Predicted Finish: 3^rd NFC West

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