As with every fan that was waiting anxiously to see their teams’ first preseason game I’m still going over the 49ers game in my head to pick out every detail that tells me something about how my team is going to do next season. As with everyone, I saw some encouraging parts, and some that we will just call less than encouraging, but, like most fans, I think I’m going to try and focus on the positive.

Some of the encouraging parts of the game came on offense, which is a pleasant change for Niner fans. As expected (by myself at least) Shaun Hill looked good, although he only attempted a couple of passes, he was comfortable in the pocket and got the ball out of his hands on time and accurately. He got sacked a couple times, but they were both because of the play breaking down on at least one level. Hill’s performance mixed with how much Alex Smith played by comparison reinforced that the job is Hill’s to lose and Smith is the one that needs to prove himself. But when given the chance Smith did not step up, in fact he stepped back and took a sack holding on to the ball too long as Niner fans are used to seeing him do. He did make some good throws on the day, and was 5-of-7 but averaged only 4.7 yards per attempt. Smith may have the arm for the deep ball, but if he isn’t going to throw it then the team might as well have Hill in the game.

Some of the team’s young offensive weapons looked good as well. Josh Morgan looked like he has worked hard on his routes, he even caught a pass on a comeback route that Champ Bailey seemed to have read, but Morgan was able to take the inside position quickly enough that he made the reception. Vernon Davis also looked good on the first drive catching a pass while crossing from the left to right side of the field with three defenders in the vicinity.The Niners young runners looked even better though, Glen Coffee and Kory Sheets had a combined 118 yards on 24 carries for a 4.9 yard per rush average. This is quite possibly the part of the game the 49er coaches were most pleased to see because of how often they plan on running the ball this year and if they can get that kind of production even when Frank Gore is on the sidelines then they definitely have the running backs they need to make that kind of offense work. The blocking backs, however, did not look as good as the runners. The sack that Elvis Dumerville had on Hill was embarrassing to Zak Keasey who got absolutely run over on the play. I know he is not someone that sees many meaningful minutes but it highlighted one reason teams have found it so easy to sack 49er QBs these past few years.

There were a couple of good sights on the defensive side of the ball as well, namely the play of Dre’ Bly and Scott McKillop. Bly, an offseason acquisition to replace the injured Walt Harris, had one of the picks the secondary got against Kyle Orton and the Broncos first team offense showing the ball hawking skills that he used to make a name for himself. Outside of that one play Bly looked as comfortable as an eleven-year NFL veteran with 40 career interceptions should look roaming the secondary, and seemed to have good chemistry and a friendly relationship with the 49ers other starting corner Nate Clements. Scott McKillop, the first 5^th round selection the 49ers made in this year’s draft, led the team in tackles in the game and showed the nose for the ball that helped McKillop earn Big-Ten defensive player of the year honors in college. He looks like the kind of player that could learn a lot from Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes and eventually replace Spikes and line up next to Willis for a long time to come.

It would have been nice to have seen the defense get more pressure on the opposing quarterback, but if they can find a way to scheme up a pass rush and get consistent production out of their starting quarterback (whoever it ends up being) then the 49ers look like a team on the rise that could challenge the Cardinals for the division.