San Francisco 49ers' 2011 Polls: What Do Fans Think? (Results)

Well 49er fans, I hope you read and were able to participate in the polls published on the 25th.

I wrote an article titled San Francisco 49ers' 2011 Polls: What Do Fans Think? In the article, I dropped a couple quick notes on the subjects and asked 49er fans what they thought about some of the biggest unknowns going into the 2011 season. 

I was surprised with a few of the results. Let’s take a look at what the fans thought about the five biggest unknowns in San Francisco headed into the 2011 season.

Happy Fourth of July 49er fans!

Thanks for reading!

Please join me on Twitter  @ryanthebroker.

Will Jim Harbaugh Experience the Same Success in the NFL as He Had in College?

As of July 4th, 685 people voted. The results are as follows:

52.0 percent: Yes, but it will take a couple years to get going.

36.2 percent: Yes, right away!

9.9 percent:   Who Knows?

1.3 percent:   I doubt it.

0.6 percent:   No way.

The clear result I got from this question, most 49er fans are confident in Jim Harbaugh. 88.2 percent of them to be exact. Doing it all again though, I would have worded better potential answers.

This is kind of a trick question because, I asked, “Will Jim Harbaugh experience the same success in the NFL as he had in college?” Then, the answers I gave had the choices of “yes, immediately” or “yes, but it will take a couple years.”

The truth is, even if Jim Harbaugh is just as successful in the NFL as he was in college, it will take a couple years just like it did in college. 

The 49ers aren’t any different from San Diego State or Stanford, in the fact that it will take at least a year or two before you see drastic results. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I am not saying that Harbaugh won’t be an improvement for San Francisco immediately, but it will most likely take at least a year or so before you can clearly notice any major change in San Francisco.

Either way, the jury is in and 49er fans are excited about Jim Harbaugh.

What Can We Expect from Alex Smith This Year?

As of July 4th, 681 people voted. The results are as follows:

54.9 percent:   Decent Play 

26.0 percent:   A Phenomenal break-out season!

15.0 percent:   Same thing we have seen for the last 6 years. 

4.1 percent:     Put CK in now, we have no time to wait! 

It appears 26 percent of 49er fans think he will have a phenomenal season and 54.9 percent of 49er fans think Alex will do okay under Harbaugh. I will admit it, I am with the 15 percent who expect nothing new from Alex, and I voted accordingly. 

Frankly, I am in awe of the change of heart that has taken place in San Francisco. It wasn’t a year ago when fans were booing Alex Smith, begging for David Carr or Troy Smith to come in. What has really changed since then? Yes, we have a new coach who I think is awesome too, but I don’t see how that is going to make Alex a winner all of a sudden. 

The people have spoken though. We will find out in a couple short months if they were right.

What Kind of Season Can We Expect from Michael Crabtree?

As of July 4th, 654 people voted. The results are as follows:

44.6 percent: Break-out season! 1,000 yards, 10 TD's.

43.0 percent: Slight improvement, decent year.

11.0 percent: Same old crab cake.

1.4 percent:   Huge fall-off. Harbaugh + Crabtree = No Bueno.

87.6% of 49er fans think Michael Crabtree will improve this year (to some degree). A lot of football players have broke out in their third season. By their third year, they are usually more comfortable with there surroundings, and that confidence has translated to better play in the past.

It appears Niner fans think that will be the case for Crabtree this year. 

Can he move forward and live up to the expectations in San Francisco? We shall see.

Will the 49ers Finally Put Together a Solid Defensive Back Unit?

As of July 4th, 636 people voted. The results are as follows:

54.6 percent: I am hopeful.

27.4 percent: Not looking good.

14.2 percent: Yes, for sure they will.

3.9 percent:   I could catch a pass on those guys.

About half of 49er fans are undecided, (although hopeful) about San Francisco’s defensive backfield. 

The second largest group is actually pessimistic though. This was a surprise.

Again, it could have been in the wording of my potential answers, but I thought 49er fans would be more optimistic about Baalke and Harbaugh finding the missing pieces. I have a strong feeling that the 49ers will pick up a tier-one DB once free agency opens.

Unlike a lot of pundits, I think the 49ers are actually content at QB with Alex and Colin. I think they will be spending their big money at DB this year. I can’t wait to find out. 

Have faith Niner fans.

Will Frank Gore Be Back 100 Percent and Break All the Records in SF?

As of July 4th, 641 people voted. The results are as follows:

59.8 percent: For sure, he will. 

36.7 percent: Not sure, kind of sketchy. 

3.6 percent:   No way, Frank Gore is done.

59.8 percent of 49er fans are confident Gore will be back to punishing and wearing out defenses come September. 

Although his injury is pretty scary, this guy is one of the toughest players in the NFL. The reason the 49ers were lucky enough to draft Gore is because everyone counted him out due to injury. Looks like they were wrong then, and I believe the doubters will be wrong now.

Frank Gore has the chance to pass Roger Craig and Joe Perry as the leading rusher in 49ers' history. I have faith he will do just that. 

Happy Fourth of July 49er fans!

This week will be full of lockout news. Get ready guys. We may get our full season after all.

Thanks for reading!

Please join me on Twitter  @ryanthebroker.