25-year old WR Ted Ginn will be taking over as the Niners’ kickoff returner in 2010.  Ginn played in 16 games for the Dolphins last season and he returned 52 kickoffs for 1,296 yards (24.9 avg) with 2 TD returns.  He has now played in 48 games in his NFL career and he has returned 147 kickoffs for 3,386 yards (23.0 avg) with 2 TD returns in his NFL career.  The Niners should get better starting position for the offense with Ginn returning the kickoffs as he has blinding speed.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 49ERS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  A-

The San Francisco 49ers wanted to improve the physicality of the offensive line in 2010 and I think they have achieved their goal.  LT Joe Staley is a solid all-around tackle as he’s very athletic which helps him in hitting moving targets in the running game or dealing with speed rushers.  The starting left guard will be rookie 1st round pick Mike Iupati out of Idaho.  He is a mauler in the running game which is exactly what the Niners were looking for.  Starting center Eric Heitmann is going to miss the next 6-8 weeks due to injury so last year’s starting left guard David Baas will battle Tony Wragge for the right to replace him as the starting center.  Baas is a very physical player and if he starts at center the Niners will be knocking defensive line backwards when running the ball.  LG will be a battle between Chilo Rachal (last year’s starter) and last years starting RT Adam Snyder.  The Niners will be in good hands no matter who wins the LG spot.  The Niners were very happy when OT Anthony Davis slipped to them with the 11th pick of the first round last April.  He is a huge guy at 6′5″, 323 pounds and he will likely be a road grader in the running game while learning the ropes with his pass blocking.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 49ERS O-LINE in 2010:  B

51-year old head coach Mike Singletary seems to be getting more out of the 49ers than a lot of people thought he would.  The 49ers were 8-8 last season and Singletary even coached up Alex Smith (which was thought to be near impossible).  The Niners are 13-12 (52%) in two years with the Niners.  With the NFC West now open due to the retirement of Kurt Warner in Arizona it will be interesting to see if Singletary can get his team to the playoffs in 2010.

37-year old kicker Joe Nedney still appears to have life in his left leg.  He played in 14 games for the Niners last season and he made 17 of 21 field goals (81%) and all 33 of his extra points good for 84 points.  Nedney has now played in 167 games in his NFL career and he has made 245 of 306 field goals (80.1%).  He is also 328 of 331 on extra points as he has 1,063 points in his NFL career.  The Niners are hoping that he can stay healthy in 2010.

29-year old Shane Andrus is also in camp for the Niners and he could wind up being a kickoff specialist to save wear and tear on Nedney’s leg.  Andrus played in 5 games for the Colts, Bucs and 49ers last season and he was 0 for 1 on field goals and 10/10 on extra points.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 49ERS KICKERS in 2010:  B-

It all starts with 22-year old, 2nd year WR Michael Crabtree.  Crabtree played in 11 games (all starts) last season for the 49ers and he caught 48 passes for 625 yards (13.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  I expect Crabtree to break out this season now that he had a full off-season to prepare for 2010.  He held out last season missing the first five games of the year and it hurt his development.  One other thing that Crabtree will need to improve on is that he needs to get rid of the alligator arms going over the middle.

25-year old Josh Morgan will likely start opposite of Crabtree this year.  Morgan played in 16 games (15 starts) last season for the Niners and he caught 52 passes for 527 yards (10.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 61 yards (12.2 ypc) last season.  He has now played in 28 games (16 starts) in his two years in the NFL and he has caught 72 passes for 846 yards (11.8 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  I look for Morgan to have the best year of his career in 2010.

25-year old Ted Ginn Jr. will likely be the #3 WR for the 49ers in 2010.  He has speed to burn but he doesn’t like to go over the middle as he is soft as a roll of Charmin.  Ginn played in 16 games (12 starts) for the Dolphins last season and he caught 38 passes for 454 yards (11.9 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 7 times for 48 yards (6.9 ypc) last season.  Ginn has now played in 48 games (35 starts) in his three years in the NFL and he has caught 128 passes for 1,664 yards (13.0 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 16 times for 124 yards (7.8 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his career. 

25-year old Jason Hill has talent but he needs to step up.  Hill played in 11 games (0 starts) last season for the Niners and he caught 9 passes for 90 yards (10.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 32 games (2 starts) in his three years with the 49ers and he has caught 40 passes for 413 yards (10.3 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Hill will likely be the #4 WR for the Niners in 2010.

27-year old Brandon Jones played in 8 games (0 starts) last season for the Niners and he caught 1 pass for 18 yards.  He has now played in 59 games (27 starts) in his five years in the NFL and he has caught 113 passes for 1,398 yards (12.4 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 6 times for 76 yards (12.7 avg) in his career.  Jones will need to step up if he’s going to win a spot on the roster in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 49ers WRs in 2010:  C