San Francisco starts 2010 Pre-Season against Colts

Many handicappers have made bold NFL picks in regards to the San Francisco 49ers this season. The oddsmakers in Vegas has set the over/ under on wins for the 2010 Niners at 8.5. This is a rather bold football prediction considering how difficult their schedule is this year. San Francisco should get a fairly good barometer of where they stand in their first pre-season game as they take on the perennial powerhouse Indianapolis Colts Sunday.

Defensively, the Niners have shown that they are getting to the Championship level that they will need to be in order to not only make the playoffs, but contend at a high level. Linebacker Patrick Willis leads the way on defense. Willis is going into his 4th season, and is already considered one of the best linebackers in the NFL. He has amassed 467 tackles in his first 3 seasons, and is an absolute nightmare for offensive coordinators to game plan around. The 49ers finished the 2009 season ranked 15th in total defense, but only allowed 17.6 points per game. Their bend but don’t break mentality kept them in many games that they would have otherwise lost.

Against the run the Niners defense was stout as they allowed just 97 yards per game on the ground. The problem has been in their secondary where they gave up almost 230 passing yards per game. The addition of USC free safety Taylor Mays should help them in this department. Mays would have been a solid first round selection if he had come out after his 2008 season, but fell slightly in the draft after a poor 2009 year that included some injuries. If the Niners can improve just slightly this season defensively, this team will have the potential to win 9 or 10 games due to the additions they have received on offense.

The addition of Ted Ginn Jr. will solidify their receiving group as they already have Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis. Frank Gore had a bad year last season and still ended up with 1120 yards rushing and 406 receiving. Alex Smith is still the question mark, but looked very good under center towards the end of last season.

It may only be their first pre-season game, but San Francisco will be playing hard to measure themselves against one of the elite teams in football. Tune in Sunday to watch the up-and-coming 49ers take on the juggernaut Indianapolis Colts.

Related posts:

1. 2010 NFL Predictions: San Francisco 49ers
2. San Francisco Signs Westbrook to 1-Year Deal
3. Monday Night Football: San Francisco vs. New Orleans
4. NFC West Battle: San Francisco vs. Arizona
5. San Francisco vs. Tampa Bay in Battle of Division Leaders

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