With defense being the focal point for the 49ers since the start of the Harbaugh era, its the offense that created all the buzz over the offseason. And after signing quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a new six-year, $126 Million contract ($61M guaranteed), could you expect anything different? Already with a number of viable targets to throw to for the 26-year old QB, 49ers GM Trent Baalke wasted little time before making sure the guy who he and coach Harbaugh believes to be their franchise quarterback for many years to come, was spoiled with another receiver. On Draft night, the 49ers acquired wide-out Stevie Johnson from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a conditional fourth round pick in next year's Draft. Another pair of receivers will who be joining the team this year is rookie Bruce Ellington who the 49ers took in the 4th round of May's Draft out of South Carolina and the return of former 49er Brandon Lloyd.
Though Kaepernick has already shown an unparalleled talent which makes him equally as dangerous both running and throwing the ball, coach Harbaugh believes he can be even better and that a breakout on top of what he's already accomplished is on the rise. Then again, why wouldn't he, granted Kaepernick was the first offensive player coach Harbaugh ever drafted in the NFL when the 49ers took him in the second round, 36th overall in 2011. There's no doubt, however, that the Niners offense is at its best when their run game is clicking on all cylinders. And with Frank Gore showing no signs of slowing down last year, rushing for over 1,000 yards for the third consecutive season and being named to his fifth Pro-Bowl, we can expect much of the same from San Francisco's ground attack. Gore's workload might not need to be as heavy this season, however, with backup running back Carlos Hyde showing during the preseason that he'll be ready when called upon. The rookie out of Ohio State was selected in the second round, 57th overall and was the top ranked running back on most boards in April's Draft. Marcus Lattimore who sat out his rookie season all of last year is currently on the PUP list and is hoping to make his NFL debut this season as well, leaving LaMichael James' role in question.
As good as San Francisco's defense has been in each of the last three seasons, they'll be without a number of key players when the season kicks off come Sunday. NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith, Glenn Dorsey and Ray McDonald (pending suspension) are just a few of the names Vic Fangio's defense will have to do without for the first half of the 2014 season. Bowman, who's still recovering from tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee during the NFC Championship, isn't expected to be ready until around Week 9. Glenn Dorsey who suffered a torn biceps is expected to miss at least eight games while Aldon Smith faces a nine game suspension for his involvement in an incident at an L.A. airport and a DUI charge dating back to 2013. Meanwhile, Ray McDonald was the first player to be hit with the NFL's newly adopted rules against domestic violence which will cause him to miss six games. But with his suspension still pending, McDonald appears to be in line to start the season-opener. Though it may sound like the 49ers have a depleted lineup defensively, it just means the next group of guys will have to step up. Rookie linebacker Chris Borland who impressed the coaching staff during the 49ers preseason finale victory over the Texans will be called upon to fill in for the injured Bowman, while Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial are next in line to fill the void left by Smith and Dorsey.
There was also some positive news just in time for the regular season as guard Alex Boone who was displeased with his current contract, ended his holdout with a new 2-year deal. Boone is definitely a player coach Harbaugh wanted to have on the field given he's started every game in each of the past two seasons.
With San Francisco's schedule none to easy this season based off of the defenses they'll be facing in their own division alone which includes the always friendly trip to Seattle and road games @ Denver and New Orleans just to name a few, I see the 49ers finishing the season with the same exact record they did a year ago at 12-4. Whether or not that'll be enough to dethrone the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks from the NFC West throne is anyone's guess. But regardless if they have to make the playoffs by way of a division winner or with a wild card berth, I'm sticking to what I predicted immediately following February's Super Bowl by predicting a 49ers-Colts Super Bowl. The Chargers are another team I was strongly considering and could very well represent the AFC in the big game as well.
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