The San Francisco 49ers would like to return to their glory decade of the 1980s. As they head into the 2008 NFL season, the club welcomes its fourth offensive coordinator in as many years. Mike Martz, former head coach of the St. Louis Rams, is the man that the 49ers have chosen to help them rack up some numbers.
In the old days it was QB Joe Montana and receiver Jerry Rice connecting time and time again and again, winning three Super Bowls. This season it will be quarterback Alex Smith and wide out Isaac Bruce.
Smith, who enters his fourth NFL season (all with the 49ers), played in seven games last season, tossing two touchdowns and four interceptions. The season before, the only year that he played in all 16 regular season games, Smith threw 442 passes, completing 257 of them. He connected on 48.7-percent of his throws, hitting for 16 touchdowns. He also gave up 16 interceptions. His quarterback rating over three seasons is 63.5.
Receiver Isaac Bruce enters his 15th NFL season. The 35 year-old veteran played with the St. Louis Rams for 14 seasons. This is his first with San Francisco. Bruce has played in 197 games, averaging 15.0 yards per catch and picking up 84 touchdowns.
The 49ers have some big questions. The first one is who will be their starting QB? Will it be Smith? They haven’t announced their starter yet. The team has invested a lot of time in developing the signal caller and he’s at the point when top talented quarterbacks go for it. Smith was the number one draft choice overall in 2005. Since 1967, every first pick QB has started by their fourth season. Smith is still rehabbing his shoulder, which was separated last season.
Quarterback Shaun Hill, who has played in a total of four games since 2005, is clearly a backup. The 28 year-old doesn’t have the experience to start over Smith. Another backup, J.T. O’Sullivan, who is also 28, has played in five games since 2004. Both quarterbacks have spent entire seasons unsigned by teams.
At receiver, the new guy on the block, Bruce, looks to have replaced returning starter Arnaz Battle. At least, that’s what the depth chart says. Battle enters his sixth season in the league and with the 49ers. Last season he made 50 catches for 600 yards, averaging 12.0 yards per catch. He made five touchdowns. The receiver missed the first week of camp for personal reasons but did not inform the team that he would be absent. It was a voluntary camp.
Finally, there are major questions regarding the all-important offensive line. Last season, they were weak. If they don’t show improvement, then point production will sputter again.
Mike Martz knows how to turn offenses around. He has his work cut out for him in 2008.
