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Slowed by a broken hand and nagging ankle injury, Frank Gore still had 1,538 total yards in '07.

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The 49ers finished third in the NFC West last season with a 5-11 record. For 49ers and NFC West coverage, visit Mike Sando's NFC West blog. | Discuss 49ers | MAG preview

ANALYST	PREDICTION
Jeffri Chadiha ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 4  Coach Mike Nolan is lucky to have a job after winning 16 games in his first three seasons with the Niners. He won't be so fortunate after another losing campaign this fall.
John Clayton ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 3  Mike Nolan apparently is staking his job security and the franchise's credibility on J.T. O'Sullivan being a better quarterback option than Alex Smith. If O'Sullivan can't get this offense to 17 points a game, the 49ers might be looking for more than just a quarterback after the season.
Tim Graham ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 4  New coordinator Mike Martz will go straight into the Hall of Fame if he can turn around the NFL's worst offense in scoring, total yards and passing yards.
Jeremy Green Scouts Inc.	DIVISION FINISH: 4  Although I love the addition of offensive coordinator Mike Martz, he won't take this offense to new heights overnight. Another concern is the defensive line, which is still a little young and raw.
Paul Kuharsky ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 3  While the defense will keep the Niners in some games, how does the offensive talent jive with the complex system of Mike Martz? Mike Nolan surely can't survive a fourth consecutive losing season.
Matt Mosley ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 4  This is one of the saddest quarterback battles in recent memory. Mike Nolan's job is hanging in the balance, but I don't see a winning season on the horizon. I do know that offensive line coach George Warhop is going to turn his group around.
Mike Sando ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 3  The 49ers have improved on both sides of the ball. A messy quarterback situation threatens to drag them down. Mike Nolan needs to win a few games early.
Kevin Seifert ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 4  You know what they say about quarterbacks: If you have three, you have none. The 49ers' protracted competition this summer doesn't bode well for a team adjusting to Mike Martz's new offense.
James Walker ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 4  Former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith may be the third-best quarterback on San Francisco's roster. Smith is the perfect example of how taking the wrong quarterback high in the draft can hold back a franchise for many years.
Seth Wickersham ESPN The Magazine	DIVISION FINISH: 3  Don't count out J.T. O'Sullivan. Mike Martz has turned previous also-rans into stars (Trent Green, Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger).
Bill Williamson ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 3  The 49ers are quietly confident this year. Looking at the roster, they have reason to be. But until the quarterback situation is fixed, it will be difficult to expect this team to be competitive.
Matt Williamson Scouts Inc.	DIVISION FINISH: 4  There are still too many questions surrounding the Niners and in the end, it will lead to Mike Nolan's demise. Mike Martz's offense will surely make it interesting and don't be surprised if Alex Smith makes strides, but there isn't enough here to get excited about.
Pat Yasinskas ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 3  Coach Mike Nolan made the quarterback job a three-way competition in training camp, but there's no good choice. Frank Gore is a great running back, but there's nothing around him.
	CONSENSUS DIVISION FINISH: 4 | NFL standings

BEST OF THE 49ERS

Best catch: Sixth-round draft choice Josh Morgan looks like a potential opening-day starter. The 49ers have struggled to find quality receivers in recent drafts, but Morgan could be an exception.

Best recovery: Frank Gore overcame two career-threatening knee injuries in college to become a Pro Bowl-caliber running back. As bad as the 49ers' offense was last season, Gore rushed for 1,102 yards with a 4.2-yard average.

Best No. 7: No member of the team wears No. 7 on his jersey, but center Eric Heitmann qualifies as the best seventh-round draft choice on the roster -- and in the division. He has 82 starts over the past six seasons and there isn't a better center in the NFC West.

Best workout routine: Defensive end Isaac Sopoaga developed leg strength as a kid by climbing coconut trees in American Samoa. He sticks to more conventional routines these days.

-- Mike Sando, ESPN.com

SCOUTS INC.'S FAB FIVE

Scouts Inc. has evaluated and graded more than 2,400 NFL players heading into the 2008 season, giving Insiders a leg up on the competition with exclusive grades, alerts and scouting reports.
Top five players	ANALYSIS
1. Patrick Willis Linebacker 6-1 | 240	(Grade 90) He is a very smart linebacker who learned the system and became a leader on and off the field. Willis has a tremendous work ethic and plays from snap to whistle every down.
2. Nate Clements Cornerback 6-0 | 205	(81) He has rare size to go with top-end speed, agility and strength. Clements forces teams to try to go the other direction because he can shut down a receiver on his own. He shows excellent route awareness.
3. Frank Gore Running back 5-9 | 217	(78) He is not a threat to take each handoff to the end zone, but he gets the tough yards and moves the chains. Gore runs with power and authority, lowering his pads to deliver blows with a good, short burst.
4. Joe Staley Offensive tackle 6-5 | 315	(76) He is very athletic and has an innate sense for angles and leverage. Staley is very quick out of his stance and gets a good fit with his hands to control and steer opponents. He recovers easily and is quick to redirect.
5. Justin Smith Defensive end 6-4 | 285	(75) He is tough and durable. He works hard, has an excellent motor and hustles to the ball every play. He has a strong, well-built frame. He has become one of the league's bigger 4-3 defensive ends.
Player grading scale: Elite (90-100), outstanding (80-89), solid starter (75-79), good starter (70-74)

SCOUTS INC.'S ANALYSIS

Best play option The 49ers have a new offense. Expect to see them spread the field with plays like this more this season. More best plays

Strengths

Running back: The combination of Frank Gore and DeShaun Foster could give San Francisco one of the NFL's better 1-2 punches. Both have very good instincts and vision (particularly Gore), and both excel at catching the ball out of the backfield (especially Foster). The backs' receiving skills aren't just a luxury. They're a necessity in new coordinator Mike Martz's scheme.

Improved D-line: Though he needs to get bigger, first-round pick Kentwan Balmer should give the defense more flexibility up front. The addition of free-agent DE Justin Smith and the return of DT Isaac Sopoaga give the team two solid starting ends in the 3-4 scheme. Both have good strength and use their hands effectively to take on blocks. To keep NT Aubrayo Franklin fresh, Balmer will spell him inside -- and possibly take reps at end.

Special teams: The 49ers have excellent specialists. Last year K Joe Nedney was consistent and accurate. He has a strong leg and a tough mentality that allows him to block out distractions and focus on big kicks. With his ability to drive the ball deep and consistently place punts inside the 20, P Andy Lee made the Pro Bowl last season. CB Allen Rossum will provide a spark on kick returns.

Weaknesses

Offensive scheme changes: It's almost unprecedented in today's NFL, but the 49ers are on their fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons. From the players' perspective, learning another scheme and getting comfortable with a playbook takes time. The constant turnover combined with the roster adjustments necessary to make each system work destroys consistency and prevents the offense from developing an identity.

Offensive line: Moving OT Joe Staley from the right side to the left should stabilize an important position that had been a glaring weakness. But even an upgrade represents a threat to continuity, and continuity is everything on the offensive line. Occasional starting left tackle Adam Snyder slides inside to replace LG Larry Allen. David Baas has experience and might start at right guard, but only if he has recovered from a torn pectoral muscle. Former LT Jonas Jennings, who has missed 27 regular-season games in three seasons with San Francisco, is being counted on at right tackle. No NFL team allowed more sacks than the 49ers last season. They'll have to come a long way in a short time to avoid another bad year.

Wide receiver questions: Can Bryant Johnson be a solid producer as a starter in Martz's offense? It's probably Johnson or bust, because free agent Isaac Bruce is 35 and the 49ers are sorely lacking in depth at the position. Arnaz Battle is inconsistent and operates best in the slot. Jason Hill delivered only one catch in an injury-marred 2007 rookie season.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles.