SAN FRANCISCO FORTY NINERS
Random Thoughts From a Bay Area Sports Fan

I'm excited about the 49ers' prospects this year. ("Big deal," you say. "You're always excited about the 49ers.") The team's draft strategy of picking the "best player available" in each round demonstrates confidence in a roster that no longer contains glaring weaknesses at key positions.

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree looks like the real deal, the Niners' most impressive-looking pass catcher since Jerry Rice. The No. 10 draft pick out of Texas Tech, Crabtree was college football's most productive receiver for the past two years and already has a room full of trophies.

The second pick, running back Glen Coffee, will join Thomas Clayton and Michael Robinson in the competition to back up Frank Gore, who is looking forward to his most productive year yet behind a rejuvenated offensive line. Much will depend on the team's major off-season acquisition, tackle Marvel Smith of Oakland and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right tackle was the glaring weakness on an otherwise effective line last season. When now departed Jonas Jennings went down injured (again), neither versatile sub Adam Snyder nor Raiders castoff Barry Sims (who replaced 49ers castoff Kwame Harris, who was signed by the Raiders) could stem the tide of opposing pass rushers. If Smith can do the job, the 49ers should be able to both run and pass on almost every down (Imagine!).

The team's other notable picks include tight end McKenna "Bear" Pascoe, a bruiser from Fresno State who may force Vernon Davis to finally live up to his potential. The team also picked quarterback Nate Davis, designated a "project," who is not expected to be part of this season's quarterback competition between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith.

Speaking of the quarterback competition, I disagree with the harsh assessment of Smith and think it's far too early to judge him a bust. His last two years were ruined by a shoulder injury and the team's apparent mismanagement of it. In 2006, Smith's sophomore year, he demonstrated the arm strength, mobility and football smarts that justified his selection as the first pick in the 2005 draft. Hill, as competent and underappreciated as Jeff Garcia, may again wind up as the starter, but either way the QB position should not be a Niners weakness in 2009.

Final 49ers note: Mike Singletary, please get rid of the cross. I respect your religious commitment, but you don't need to advertise it. In a nation that is over 80 percent Christian, the prominent display of religious symbols by public figures tends to marginalize those who do not subscribe to the dominant faith. I don't know if there are any Muslims, Jews, Buddhists or nonbelievers on the team, but there are a bunch of us watching.

Switching to basketball, I like the Warriors' 2009 prospects, although drafting a true point guard would be helpful. Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright are young players who can be a strong nucleus for years to come. Stephen Jackson is a great leader for the young team, and Corey Maggette adds instant offense as the first guy off the bench — unless he is traded and Anthony Morrow takes that role.

But it may be time for Don Nelson to relocate permanently to Maui. He is a great coach, but he seems to have lost some of his passion, and his public putdowns of the rookie Randolph and Al Harrington early last season were unnecessary embarrassments for the players and their fans. When the Warriors traded Harrington for the classy Jamal Crawford, he became the new focus of Nelson's disdain. The drama is unnecessary and a reminder of Nelson's feud with Chris Weber and the destruction of the Warriors' last competitive team.