(Sports Network) - In football as in life, one should always be careful for what he or she wishes for.

The San Francisco 49ers couldn't contain their joy when Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree surprisingly fell right into their laps on draft day 2009. Four months later, that love affair has quickly gone sour due to the exorbitant contract demands the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner and agent Eugene Parker have levied upon Crabtree's potential employers.

That contentious holdout has put a damper on an offseason that began with brimming optimism due to the 49ers' strong finish to the 2008 campaign under replacement head coach Mike Singletary. The Hall of Fame linebacker guided San Francisco to victories in four of the final five games and most importantly, instilled a sense of belief to a once-proud franchise that has endured six consecutive losing seasons.

The 49ers finished 2008 with a 7-9 record and a 5-4 mark after Singletary was tabbed to succeed the fired Mike Nolan midway through last season, a notable achievement for a team that had won a mere 25 games over the previous five years and is still trying to repair the damage caused by the ill-fated selection of quarterback Alex Smith with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 draft.

While Smith, who spent all of last year on injured reserve with a broken bone in his throwing shoulder, still remains on the roster, the disappointing triggerman will be beginning his fifth pro season as the backup to Shaun Hill, an undrafted and seldom-used journeyman who helped spark the Niners' late surge after being inserted into the starting lineup by Singletary in Week 10. San Francisco wound up winning five of Hill's eight starts under center and the steady signal-caller committed nearly half the turnovers that predecessor J.T. O'Sullivan, the hand-picked quarterback of since-departed offensive coordinator Mike Martz, was responsible for in the same amount of time.

Hill will receive a long-awaited chance to be a full-season starter after winning a preseason competition with Smith and will again have one of the league's top all-purpose running backs at his disposal in workhorse Frank Gore, plus the backing of a defense that also displayed notable improvement under Singletary's watch. During the 49ers' successful five-game run at the end of last year, the unit allowed an average of under 300 yards and 14.2 points per contest.

Both the offense and defense will need to continue to make strides for San Francisco to take the next step forward in what could be a make-or-break season for general manager Scot McCloughan, whose four-year legacy as the team's player personnel guru has been tied to his preference of Smith over current Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who delivered over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Packers last year.

It's becoming more and more likely that McCloughan's latest first-round pick won't be making much of a contribution in 2009 either. As the calendar neared September, the 49ers had made next to no headway with Crabtree and his camp on a contract agreement, with rumors of the exceptionally-gifted wideout considering sitting out the entire year and re-entering the draft in 2010 if his requests were not met beginning to swirl. While that idea seems quite risky and far-fetched, the chances of Crabtree suiting up for San Francisco's Week 1 opener at defending NFC champion Arizona appear to be just as slim.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the San Francisco 49ers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 RECORD: 7-9 (2nd, NFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2002, lost to Tampa Bay, 31-6, in NFC Divisional Playoff

COACH (RECORD): Mike Singletary (5-4 in one season with 49ers, 5-4 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jimmy Raye II

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Greg Manusky

OFFENSIVE STAR: Frank Gore, RB (1036 rushing yards, 43 receptions, 8 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Patrick Willis, LB (141 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 27th rushing, 13th passing, 22nd scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: t13th rushing, 20th passing, 23rd scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Damon Huard (from Chiefs), QB Nate Davis (5th Round, Ball State), RB Glen Coffee (3rd Round, Alabama), FB Moran Norris (from Lions), WR Michael Crabtree, (1st Round, Texas Tech), WR Brandon Jones (from Titans), T Marvel Smith (from Steelers), DE Demetric Evans (from Redskins), LB Marques Harris (from Chargers), CB Dre' Bly (from Broncos), CB Eric Green (from Dolphins)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB J.T. O'Sullivan (to Bengals), QB Jamie Martin (not tendered), RB DeShaun Foster (not tendered), FB Zak Keasey (released), WR Bryant Johnson (to Lions), TE Sean Ryan (to Chiefs), TE Billy Bajema (to Rams), T Jonas Jennings (released), T Damane Duckett (to Patriots), DT Ronald Fields (to Broncos), OLB Tully Banta-Cain (to Patriots), OLB Roderick Green (not tendered), S Keith Lewis (to Cardinals), CB Walt Harris (out for season/injured), CB Donald Strickland (to Jets)

QB: Although the 49ers made an attempt to lure Kurt Warner away from the division-rival Cardinals during the free agency period, Singletary seems content with having Hill (2046 passing yards, 13 TD, 8 INT in '08) at the controls of the offense. The 29-year-old has shown himself to be a strong leader and sound decision-maker and sports a 7-3 career record in the games he's started. The front office still hasn't given up on Smith, however, and the star-crossed quarterback's encouraging performance in training camp may put Hill on a short leash when the season gets underway. The team also plucked former Ball State standout Nate Davis in the fifth round of April's draft, but the project player may start out on the practice squad with the signing of grizzled 13-year veteran Damon Huard (477 passing yards, 2 TD, 4 INT with Kansas City) in March.

RB: Gore (1036 rushing yards, 43 receptions, 8 total TD) came through with his third straight 1,000-yard season as the focal point of the San Francisco offense in 2008, but also missed two games with a sprained ankle and has a rather extensive injury history that concerns the front office. The Niners drafted Alabama's Glen Coffee in the third round of this year's draft with plans to ease Gore's workload, and the youngster showed he's ready to take on a significant role with an excellent preseason highlighted by a 129-yard outburst in the second game. The club also brought back fullback Moran Norris for a second tour of duty after a one-year stop in Detroit, which should suit Gore just fine. He led the NFC with a franchise-record 1,695 rushing yards with Norris as his lead blocker in 2006. The versatile Michael Robinson (50 rushing yards, 17 receptions) will again have a spot on the active roster due to the former college quarterback's skills as a blocker, receiver and special teamer. The 49ers toyed with the idea of using the ex-Penn State star in the en vogue Wildcat formation during camp.

WR/TE: San Francisco fielded one of the NFL's weakest receiving corps in 2008, which triggered Crabtree's selection with the 10th overall pick back in April, but it's a group that looks to be improved even if the puzzling rookie doesn't step onto the field this year. Josh Morgan (20 receptions, 3 TD), a sixth- round pick last season, has turned heads with an excellent camp and is expected to open up as the starting split end opposite savvy veteran Isaac Bruce (61 receptions, 7 TD), who was re-signed in the offseason after leading the team in every major receiving category at age 36 a year ago. The club also inked ex-Titan Brandon Jones (41 receptions, 1 TD) to a five-year deal in the spring to serve as the No. 3 wideout, but the projected slot man broke his right shoulder in camp and will miss at least the season's first month. Possession-type Arnaz Battle (24 receptions) will likely man those duties until Jones returns, but he's been pushed for that spot by Dominique Zeigler (5 receptions), a former practice squad member who's also impressed the staff over the summer. The Niners have been waiting on a breakthrough year out of Jason Hill (30 receptions, 2 TD), a third-round choice in 2007 with 4.3 speed, but he's been slow to develop thus far. That term applies as well to starting tight end Vernon Davis (31 tackles, 2 TD), the draft's sixth overall selection who'll be entering his fourth season. The 25-year-old is a premier talent with the physical gifts to create a matchup nightmare for enemy defenses, but the highlight of his 2008 campaign was getting into Singletary's doghouse for drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty in a mid-year contest. Delanie Walker (10 receptions), another athletic specimen who's spent time returning kicks in the past, is back as Davis' main understudy, while rookie Bear Pascoe (6th round, Fresno State) was drafted to fill a need for a blocking tight end.

OL: This has been a suspect area for the 49ers in recent years, especially in pass protection. San Francisco has led or tied for the league lead in sacks allowed in each of the past two seasons, although that unwanted statistic can partly be attributed to shaky quarterback play and the complex nature of Martz's old offense. Right tackle has been a particular problem, as neither veteran Barry Sims nor Adam Snyder was very effective while sharing starts there last year. Marvel Smith, a former Pro Bowl honoree in Pittsburgh, was signed in March to help upgrade that spot, but the Bay Area native was slowed by a lingering back injury and retired after failing to beat out Snyder in camp. Young left tackle Joe Staley has been rock-solid on the opposite side, however, and was rewarded with a six-year contract extension in the offseason, while many insiders thought center Eric Heitmann deserved Pro Bowl recognition for his work at the pivot. The Niners were also thrilled with the play of sophomore Chilo Rachal, who took over as the regular right guard for the final six games of 2008 and more than handled his own. Tony Wragge, displaced by Rachal at that position, seems to have the edge over David Baas, a nine-game starter last year, for the starting nod at left guard. Sims provides seasoned depth at either tackle or guard, having made 127 career starts over a 10-year career.

DL: San Francisco's primary goal heading into last season was to shore up its three-man defensive front, and the team paid big bucks to bring in Justin Smith as its top free-agent target. The ex-Cincinnati Bengal didn't disappoint, racking up an impressive 73 tackles from his right end spot while finishing second among Niners players with seven sacks. Smith is flanked by the beefy tandem of 330-pound end Isaac Sopoaga (41 tackles, 1 sack) and 317- pound nose guard Aubrayo Franklin (46 tackles, 1 sack), whose speciality is tying up blockers to free up playmaking linebacker Patrick Willis. Developing 2008 first-round pick Kentwan Balmer (7 tackles) is expected to see increased time at both of those positions following what was essentially a redshirt rookie year. Free-agent pickup Demetric Evans (33 tackles, 3.5 sacks), an 11- game starter for Washington a year ago, also figures to be part of a heavy rotation that will also include holdover Ray McDonald (27 tackles, 1 sack).

LB: While McCloughan's draft record can best be termed as spotty, his selection of Willis (141 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) with the 11th overall choice in 2007 has been an unquestioned home run. The 24-year-old tackling machine has earned All-Pro honors in each of his first two seasons and drawn comparisons to his Hall of Fame head coach for his aggressive on-field demeanor and an insatiable desire to excel. Willis will again team with veteran Takeo Spikes (96 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack) to form a stout inside presence against the run, and the 49ers also bring back both starters on the outside in Parys Haralson (39 tackles) and former first-round pick Manny Lawson (45 tackles, 3 sacks), who the coaching staff feels may be poised for a breakthrough after a couple of injury-plagued seasons. Haralson had his coming-out party last year, as the converted college end registered a team- best eight sacks coming off the edge. Hard-nosed rookie Scott McKillop was tabbed in the fifth round as the intended future successor for the 32-year-old Spikes, while 10th-year vet Jeff Ulbrich (18 tackles) lends inside experience in addition to being one of the club's top special teamers. Offseason signee Marques Harris (28 tackles, 2.5 sacks with San Diego) adds another outside pass rusher into the mix, and Bengals castoff Ahmad Brooks seems to have a good shot to stick after acquitting himself well upon being claimed off waivers last December.

DB: The 49ers will enter Singletary's first full season at the helm with some concerns at one cornerback position and a depth chart change at free safety, while incumbent Mark Roman (53 tackles) will be pushed to a backup role in favor of the younger and faster Dashon Goldson (21 tackles). The team is set at left corner with the reliable and well-paid Nate Clements (63 tackles, 2 INT) back to man that spot, but right-side starter Walt Harris tore his ACL during offseason training activities and will miss all of 2009. Two-time Pro Bowl honoree Dre' Bly (62 tackles, 2 INT) was signed immediately afterward despite a subpar last season with the Broncos and appears to have a slight edge over third-year man Tarell Brown (30 tackles, 2 INT) to claim that job. The athletic Goldson, who saw plenty of action as a slot cornerback last year, will line up opposite hard-hitting strong safety Michael Lewis (96 tackles, 2 sacks), a skilled run stopper who ranked second on the team in tackles. Shawntae Spencer (2 tackles), coming off a knee injury that limited him to two games last season, is slated to be the fourth cornerback, with Roman and developing sophomore Reggie Smith (3 tackles) the main backups at safety. Eric Green (32 tackles, 1 INT), a one-time starter in Arizona who was released by Miami in training camp, was picked up to compete with valued special teamer Marcus Hudson (7 tackles) for what could be one remaining spot.

SPECIAL TEAMS: San Francisco stood among the league's best in this important area last season. The strong-legged Andy Lee averaged an excellent 47.8 yards per punt one year removed from being named first-team All-Pro, while proven return man Allen Rossum (26.8 avg. on KR's) averaged nearly 15 yards taking them back and owns eight career touchdowns (5 kicks, 3 punts) in his speciality field. Lefty kicker Joe Nedney has converted nearly 88 percent of his field-goal attempts in four years with the team and is almost automatic from within 50 yards. The Niners also have few worries at the long snapper position, where Brian Jennings will be handling those duties for a 10th consecutive season and was rewarded with a five-year extension in June.

PROGNOSIS: Combine the culture change brought on by the ultra-intense Singletary's unconventional leadership methods with the way the team closed out last season, and it's easy to peg the 49ers as being on the rise. San Francisco's late-year success should be taken with a grain of salt, however, considering the Red and Gold did not beat a playoff participant and won only one game against a club that finished with a winning record. The Niners do have a solid defense and an efficient game-manager in Shaun Hill, not to mention a manageable schedule, so they're quite capable of being competitive barring any bad breaks or major personnel losses. Those expecting a major improvement over last year's seven-win total may be a little too optimistic, however, as San Francisco doesn't appear yet to have the weapons to seriously challenge the big boys in the NFC.