The San Francisco 49ers have signed kick and punt returner Allen Rossum to a 1-year deal.  Rossum returned 38 kickoffs for 885 yards (23.3 avg) with 1 TD return (a 98-yarder).  He also returned 36 punts for 232 yards (6.4 avg) and he had s tackles.  Rossum has now played in 140 games in his NFL career and he has 157 tackles, has defensed 14 passes, 2 interceptions and 2 sacks.  Rossum has made his money on returns not his defensive ability over his career.  Rossum has returned 459 kickoffs for 10,520 yards (22.9 avg) with 4 TD returns.  He also has returned 280 punts for 2,749 yards (9.8 avg) with 3 TD returns.  The Niners return games were weak last season and Rossum should improve on that for them in 2008.

With the QBs of the Niners stinking up the joint, teams put extra players in the box to stop the running game and dare the Niners to pass.  Frank Gore had a tough time staying healthy with all of the hits he took in 2007.  Gore played in 15 games (all starts) last season for the 49ers and he carried the ball 260 times for 1,102 yards (4.2 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He also caught 53 passes for 436 yards (8.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Gore has now played in 45 games (32 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 699 times for 3,405 yards (4.9 ypc) with 16 TD runs.  He also has caught 129 passes for 1,052 yards (8.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The 49ers must do a good job of limiting Gore’s carries a little bit and they also must get better play from the QB position or it will be a long season again in 2008.

Michael Robinson is a converted quarterback so he’s not the best player to depend on as a backup running back.  Robinson played in 15 games (1 start) last season for the 49ers and he carried the ball 26 times for 121 yards (4.7 ypc).  He also caught 11 passes for 73 yards (6.6 avg).  Robinson has now played in 31 games (1 start) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 64 times for 237 yards (3.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also has caught 20 passes for 120 yards (6.0 avg).

Maurice Hicks is a decent backup running back but he never gets to show it much.  Hicks played in 15 games (1 start) last season for the 49ers and he carried the ball 21 times for 117 yards (5.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 14 passes for 86 yards (6.1 avg).  Hicks has now played in 55 games (5 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 205 times for 869 yards (4.2 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  Hicks has also caught 55 passes for 424 yards (7.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.

Starting fullback Moran Norris is a solid lead blocker but he does little else.  Norris played in 16 games (5 starts) for the Niners last season and he carried the ball 7 times for 17 yards (2.4 ypc).  Norris also caught 6 passes for 38 yards (6.3 avg).  Norris has now played in 92 games (30 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 10 times for 25 yards (2.5 ypc).  He also has caught 23 passes for 131 yards (5.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs.