SAN FRANCISCO FORTY NINERS
Welcome to the Harbaugh era

Jim Harbaugh is a gunslinger. A coming-to-your-town, risk-taking, look-you-in-the-eye, who-cares-what-you-say gunslinger. A man whose first 49ers draft may have us saying years from now, "He WAS the second coming of Bill Walsh." Let's hope that Mike Nolan doesn't sneak into that comment.

With the seventh pick in the draft, and no quarterback under contract but David Carr, the Niners picked Missouri outside linebacker Aldon Smith. That's Aldon, not Alex (more on him later). The draft prognosticators picked Aldon as no better than the 12th choice, but Coach Harbaugh thought different, and he had the chips to play. Don't worry that Aldon is a tad small for his position, or that his college career consisted of two seasons at defensive end. Aldon plans to be the next Julius Peppers and if he succeeds, we will forget all about Travis LaBoy and Parys Haralson.

Back to Alex Smith, a personal favorite who has broken my heart for the last six years — the last four actually, he was doing fine at the end of his second season. Harbaugh wants him back and apparently believes he can work some of that Andrew Luck magic on him. And if not, he drafted Nevada's Colin Kaepernick in the second round. Kaepernick had a great career with the Reno Wolf Pack, but he's a skinny 6 foot 5, has an awkward throwing motion, and played in the WAC, which is not exactly a BCS Conference. Colin's reputation is that he is a winner, and that's good enough for Coach. And for Plan C, Luck will enter the draft a year from now.

Many "experts" predicted that the 49ers would use their top pick on a cornerback to replace the declining Nate Clements. But the Cardinals took favorite Patrick Peterson with the fifth pick and the Giants lucked out when Prince Amukamara was still around when they picked 19th. The Niners hope that between third-round pick Chris Culliver from South Carolina and seventh-rounder Curtis Holcomb of Florida A&M they have drafted a much needed keeper at CB.

So where does this leave us, the desperate fans of the team still known as the San Francisco 49ers? Hopeful, of course.

On offense, the all important O-line looks tough. Sophomore guard Mike Iupati and tackle Anthony Davis came on strong in the second half of 2010. Tackle Joe Staley and center Eric Heitmann should return to top form after injury-plagued seasons. Chilo Rachal and David Baas will compete for the second guard position. Rookies Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person will push Adam Snyder and Tony Wragge for playing time.

The receivers will be strong as well, especially if we get a full season from WR Michael Crabtree. Vernon Davis is the best tight end in football, and Delanie Walker is the fastest. Josh Morgan is the new Dwight Clark. Ten Ginn Jr. and Dominique Zeigler bring some speed. Just throw them the ball.

It's hard to improve on running back Frank Gore. If he returns, Brian Westbrook adds a different look. Second-year player Anthony Dixon runs with power. Rookie Kendall Hunter from Oklahoma State was a First Team All American at just 5 foot 7.

Bottom line: The success of the offense depends on what QB guru Harbaugh can do to revive Alex Smith's career or turn young Colin Kaepernick into a rookie starter.

Last season's defense looked better on paper than on the field. The D-line, with Justin Smith, Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, Ray McDonald and Ricky Jean Francois, should be a strong unit, especially if Franklin decides to make a commitment to the 49ers. The linebackers include the great Patrick Willis and the apparently ageless Takeo Spikes. Second-year player NaVorro Bowman should be ready to help on the inside. Outside linebackers Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson and Ahmad Brooks have played well, sometimes better. If Aldon Smith can provide the advertised pass rush, this unit will be terrific.

Last and unfortunately least is the 49ers secondary, near the bottom in 2010 statistics. The safeties — especially Dashon Goldson, but also Reggie Smith and second-year player Taylor Mays — should be strong. But "veteran cornerback" is a bit of an oxymoron, and the Niners are somewhat long in the tooth with Clements (31), Will James (31) and Shawtae Spencer (29). Improvement is needed. Tarell Brown, Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock or one of the rookies will have to step up, or the team must sign a blue-chip free agent. If not, it will be another season of high scoring games … for the opposition.