The San Francisco 49ers have looked to be a team on the verge of making the playoffs for several seasons now, but the club has been unable to get over the hump and make it happen as of yet. They’ve got a coach they trust and a front office that is willing to make big moves, two things that are crucial to success in the National Football League. With hopes running higher than ever, 2010 could be the year that the Niners reach the postseason.

The Niners played .500 ball last season, going 8-8 on the year, and it might not take a much more than that to claim the NFC West title in 2010. Arizona, 2009’s division champ, lost starting quarterback Kurt Warner to Brand Cialis retirement and will turn to the inexperienced Matt Leinart, so a step back from the Cardinals is expected. With the Seahawks and Rams retooling, it looks like prime time for the Niners to take control of the division.

San Francisco was solid on the defensive side of the ball in 2009, thanks largely to the tutelage of head coach Mike Singletary. Singletary brings a smash-mouth attitude to the table and is a fantastic motivator. Heck, he turned tight end Vernon Davis from potential bust to Pro Bowler in one season. Singletary’s hard work mentality seems to resonate throughout the organization and has this team thinking victory week in and week out. It all starts with Singletary and works its way on down the line.

Patrick Willis is, in my opinion, the best linebacker in the league. The former Ole Miss Rebel is a tackling machine, playing in the old-school, sideline-to-sideline mold at middle linebacker. It’s not often that a team finds a defensive player that fans love to see this much, but Willis is probably the 49er that sells the most San Francisco 49ers tickets at this point. Willis leads a solid defense that is composed of a mix of youngsters and vets that should only improve in 2010.

While it’s their defense that keeps thing stable in the Bay, it’s the Niners’ offense that can truly take the team to the next level this season. The Niners made sure to beef up their offensive line this offseason, spending a pair of first-round draft selections on offensive lineman. With tackle Anthony Davis and guard Mike Iupati on board, running back Frank Gore should find some more holes to run. Gore has the potential to be one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he could make the leap to that elite level in 2010 with a solidified line in front of him. Singletary’s desire to establish the run will ensure Gore is fed the rock early and often.

As for the passing game, that’s where this offense can really take off this season. The team is committed to Alex Smith at quarterback for the time being, and the former number one overall pick played fairly well last season. The offense incorporated some aspects of the spread scheme that Smith ran under Urban Meyer at Utah last season, which seemed to help him find his game a bit. Smith has also found a reliable target in tight end Vernon Davis. Davis has always had nearly unparalleled talent for the position, but his production didn’t match his ability until last season. Davis hauled in 78 passes for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2009 – fantastic numbers for a tight end.

Smith will also have a full training camp and preseason to develop a rapport with talented receiver Michael Crabtree. Crabtree went through a lengthy rookie holdout before joining the team around midseason in 2009, but he played very well considering the circumstances. He has the makings of a very good possession receiver. Josh Morgan is a relatively unknown talent at wideout, but I expect him to win a few fans this season as the passing game becomes more potent. Also, looks for Ted Ginn Jr. to get in the mix a bit on offense, and a lot on special teams.

With all of these weapons at Alex Smith’s disposal in 2010, San Fran could conceivably be considered the favorite in the NFC West heading into 2010. Backed by a solid defense, this team could be a surprise contender in the NFC if things go well. It looks as though 2010 could finally be the year that this group breaks through and reaches the postseason. If not, I wouldn’t want to be in Mike Singletary’s locker room at the end of the season.

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