| How does the San Francisco 49ers look in 2008? For | | | | Oklahoma, center Cody Wallace from Texas |
| their 62nd season the 49ers will be trying to improve | | | | A&M, wide receiver Josh Morgan from Virginia |
| on a disappointing record of 5-11, scored in 2007. | | | | Tech and linebacker Larry Grant from Ohio State. |
| 2007's was a disappointing year for a number of | | | | How did 49ers fans and experts react to the draft |
| reasons, in particular because of how promising the | | | | picks and for the 49ers overall chances in 2008? |
| season began. Defensive player Nate Clements signed | | | | The team was looking to fill key positions in the |
| a record setting 80 million dollars for an eight-year | | | | defensive line, wide receiver and offensive line, as |
| contract, as did quarterback Shaun Hill. The 49ers | | | | many of their players were retiring or were traded to |
| began the season admirably, winning their first two | | | | other teams. Their draft choices were somewhat |
| games but ended up losing eight games in a row for | | | | controversial, if debatable, at least to the extent that |
| the rest of the season, finally defeating Arizona in the | | | | the team filled their empty positions. The team |
| final contest. | | | | shocked a few fans by avoiding offensive tackles and |
| Despite the disappointing season, head coach Mike | | | | by choosing a few players who were mismatched or |
| Nolan was retained while offensive coordinator Jim | | | | not ready for starting positions. |
| Hostler was fired. Hostler was replaced with Mike | | | | The receivers chosen were generally accepted, |
| Martz and Scot McCloughan was promoted from vice | | | | though they were hardly rated as the highest possible |
| president of player personnel to general manager. Will | | | | selections. What seemed to be the consensus among |
| new personnel in management help improve the 49ers | | | | experts is that the team was building a better |
| success in season 62? | | | | foundation for future seasons rather than sign any |
| The team has lost some of its power, notably in the | | | | standout playmakers right away. Does the team know |
| talents of quarterback Trent Dilfer, who was released, | | | | something the rest of us don't? Or did they simply drop |
| linebacker Derek Smith, also released, and Bryant | | | | the ball like in 2007? Some fans believe that it's not |
| Young, who retired. The team also saw the loss of | | | | necessarily that the selected team members are |
| many players to free agency with other teams | | | | mistakes or were reaches, but that what could have |
| including defensive end Marques Douglas, offensive | | | | been would have made for a greater season. The |
| tackle Kwame Harris, running back Maurice Hicks and | | | | team's first game will be played against the Arizona |
| guard Justin Smiley. | | | | Cardinals at Candlestick Park. For now, 49ers fans get |
| For the draft pick, the team settled on six players that | | | | ready to support the team, confident that the status |
| it hopes will improve its roster lineup. The first round | | | | quo and a few smart picks will suffice for the new |
| pick was defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer from | | | | season. You know Mike Nolan and Mike Martz have |
| North Carolina, guard Chilo Rachal from the University | | | | to have a strategy to redeem the team from their |
| of Southern California, cornerback Reggie Smith from | | | | 2007 disaster. |