It’s hard to think the 49ers scored over thirty points in back to back games. One would have to go back to the 2002 season to find something like that. Granted these back to back games were in preseason but, when you’re a 49er fan struggling to find hope in a trouble franchise you take what you can get. Chicago played a good game last week and proved that the 49ers will continue to have troubles containing the run this season. Bears QB Kyle Orton was able to get enough passes through to keep the Bears moving and scoring. Seemingly the 49ers had a lot more success last week against the Packers when the team was able to put pressure on the quarterback. This season will be about two things for the 49ers. First the team must rally around newly promoted QB J.T. O’Sullivan. And second the team must put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. O’Sullivan the journeyman, has had his moments and could have stretches of big plays thought out the season. At the same time O’Sullivan can have moments of bad decision making, usually when under pressure. O’Sullivan’s strengths are his experience in the NFL and his strong accurate throws. Either way the 49er offence seems ready to at least move the ball with some authority this season and that alone should make for a more exciting season that last years absolute debacle. Last season the N.Y. Giants proved that getting quarterback pressure can lead to a victory against any team. The 49ers have shown flashes of good pressure from the front seven but, flashes won’t get it done. DC Mike Malarkey has a tall order ahead of him this season. The personnel in San Francisco seem like a better fit to play a 3-4 defense than ever before, hopefully the talent has caught up to the schemes.

Quarterbacks. O’Sullivan is the starter and will team will probably allow a certain number of mistakes before his job is in jeopardy. Expect some turnovers and off throws as the timing issues are worked out between O’Sullivan and his receivers but, also some big pass plays that should put a lot of energy into this team. QB Alex Smith is playing the part of the humbled loser in this quarterback battle. Smith lost a close friend to suicide and has lost his starting job so, his psyche must be rattled. The bust label is being tossed around with Smith’s name but don’t count him out as a pro yet. Smith now becomes the underdog without the pressure to succeed. If given a chance to start this season Smith could very well surprise his doubters and pick up where he left off two years ago when then team was on an upswing with OC Norv Turner. QB Jason Hill doesn’t have the arm strength to play effectively in a Martz offence; he is the number three quarterback.

Running backs. RB DeShaun Foster continues to look great this preseason. RB Frank Gore will get the work but expect to see a good amount of Foster this season. FB Zak Keasey has looked expressive this season and may have found a home as the new 49er full back. RB Michael Robinson has been dinged up during camp so his role with the team is in flux but, he will make the 53 man roster.

Wide outs. WR Josh Morgan has been the big story of camp with huge catches during practice and games. Morgan has been amongst the most determined players all preseason for the 49ers. The coaching staff has wisely used his impressive camp to motivate the current starters. WR Isaac Bruce and WR Bryant Johnson are the starters but will have to play well to keep Morgan off the field. Johnson and WR Arnaz Battle have both been injured throughout camp but are getting healthy. Johnson and Battle would be the first players pulled should the team decide to give Morgan his shot. Stay tuned. WR Ashley Lelie is about as close to being cut as a player can get.

Tight ends. TE Vernon Davis should be fairly active early on this season as O’Sullivan settles into this offence. Davis and Gore figure to be the check down receivers most of the season. TE Delanie Walker has impressed Martz so much as a receiver that Martz is considering moving Walker to wide receiver permanently. In a Martz offence fleets of receivers are sent out for almost every play so Walker could find more playing time as a wide out than as a back up to Davis. Should the team make this move Lelie is a guaranteed cut.

Offensive line. RG David Bass is back from a pectoral tear and not a moment too soon. Bass is an above average interior lineman and, his play is needed as the two rookies OG Chilo Rachel and C Cody Wallace learn there trade as pros. LG Adam Snyder has struggled in camp and could and probably should be demoted in favor of G Tony Wragge who has looked strong this pre season. The starting five seem good but if injures take hold this unit and this team could be in big trouble. Nothing is more important in a Mike Martz offence than the ability for the front unit to pass block, allowing the timing patterns to play out with the quarterback and his receivers. Lets hope this unit is up to the task.

Special teams. Nothing is new here. PK Joe Nedney is great, P Andy Lee is the best in the business, KR Alan Rossum is good enough and, LS Brian Jennings is great at what he dose.

Defensive line. Rookie DL Kentwan Balmer has done nothing this preseason and will play for the practice squad all year barring injury. DT Aubrayo Franklin has been adequate but never dominating. With DE Isaac Sopoaga on the out side a lot of pressure is on Franklin to help eat up blockers in the middle. The encouraging news is DE Ray McDonald has played well enough to possibly allow Sopoaga to play in the interior more which could ultimately improve the front three. DE Justin Smith needs to have a ten sack season to make this unit a success of any kind.

Line backers. ILB Patrick Willis is the man, and his job is now easier with the addition of ILB Takeo Spikes. There is little to no doubt that the middle of San Francisco’s defense is the biggest strength on the whole team. OLB Tully Banta Cain continues to look more comfortable. Any pressure from Banta Cain should be seen as a bonus for the team.

Defensive backs. Unfortunately FS DeShaun Goldson didn’t win the staring job. The coaching staff feels more secure with FS Marc Roman. Roman will wear the headset in his helmet that communicates with the sideline, perhaps a reason why Goldson is with the second team for now. CB Walt Harris has looked strong during pre season games and dose not appear ready to relinquish is staring job to the younger players yet.

News and Notes.

-The 49ers waived DT Joe Cohen, TE Cooper Wallace, S Lewis Baker, QB Kyle Wright and, G John Booker.

-RG David Bass and WR Bryant Johnson are back to practice and back into the staring lineup.

-WR Arnaz Battle, WR Ashley Lelie and, RB Michael Robinson are all back to practice.

The final pre season game is a joke around the NFL as most teams basically use it to see who will win the final spot or two on the roster. Don’t look into the game this weekend with the chargers too much. The 49ers play against the Saints, Giants, Patriots, Eagles and Seahawks twice before the bye week. That could put the jobs of Mike Nolan and Mike Martz in danger early in the season. Should Nolan or Martz get fired or come under scrutiny early on the air will be completely let out of the team and the fan base. Should the team suddenly win five or six games before the bye week this team will become a quick media darling and have confidence that could carry the team far this season. The only way to know is to play the games. And it is growing closer.