If the Niners intend to make some movement in the NFC West, the time is now, tonight at home, against a division rival they haven't beaten for the last two seasons. Coach Mike Nolan has improved the club to the point where excuses are diminishing. On the flip side, there is now some pressure to succeed.
The offensive line returns four of five starters, with Joe Staley, a rookie first-round draft pick added to the line. Frank Gore is coming off a 1,695-yard rushing season and is dreaming of 2,000. Newcomer Darrell Jackson is a proven wide receiver and Ashley Lelie is hoping to prove he's back to form. On defense, Nolan brought in four free agents to be starters and used his No. 1 draft pick on a linebacker, Patrick Willis, who will start thanks to a great showing in training camp.
Alex Smith is the biggest unknown. Can he still be considered a developing quarterback with 23 starts to his credit? Is he ready to seize this team as his own and lead it to the playoffs, as is the stated goal of everyone involved with the 49ers? He is only 23, after all. After little more than a half of action in the third preseason game and a quarter in the fourth, the 49ers' starters want to put four quarters together and see what happens, on offense in particular. Gore did not play in the preseason because of his broken hand but he's fine now and, at least at the start of the season, he's the man to watch. New offensive coordinator Jim Hostler will be calling his first NFL regular-season game, without benefit of great vision. He'll be on the sideline, his preferred location, eyeball-to-eyeball with Smith, instead of above it all in the coaches' box.
On defense, new coordinator Greg Manusky also will be calling his first game. He'll be in the box, where he can see his 3-4 front deal with a Cardinals offense that features Matt Leinart throwing to one of the best trios in the league in Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson.
The 49ers were the last team to open training camp. They and the Cardinals are the last teams to start the 2007 season. For the 49ers, it's time to show the results of their changes.
7 pm (PDT) on ESPN
Check back here, after the game for all the stats and postgame analysis. Go Niners!
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