Why San Francisco 49ers Are Perfect Home for Mike Wallace

First, it was Plaxico Burress who left the Steel City after the 2004 season, and with Hines Ward only getting older, the Pittsburgh Steelers have some issues at wide receiver.

And those issues only continue to worsen.

According to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Mike Wallace stated in an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio on Wednesday that he doesn't appear confident about remaining in Pittsburgh:

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"(Pittsburgh is) where I would like to be, but we all know that it is a business and you have certain things you have to handle," Wallace said. "So if I have to go elsewhere, you know Pittsburgh will always be in my heart, but I have to do what I have to do."

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Obviously if you're a Steelers fan, this is definitely not good news. However, if you're a San Francisco 49ers fan, this is great news.

San Francisco needs that speedy No. 1 receiver who can stretch a defense, and no one does it better than Mike Wallace.

Last season Wallace caught a career-high 72 passes, and for a third-straight year averaged over 16 yards per reception. As a rookie, Wallace caught 39 passes for 756 yards and scored six touchdowns. In turn, his average was 19.4 yards per catch and it only increased in 2010.

Wallace caught 60 passes in 2010 for 1,257 yards (career high) and scored 10 touchdowns (another career high) while averaging 21 yards per reception (a career high that will likely never be surpassed).

For a No. 1 receiver, Wallace doesn't have dominating size at 6', 200 pounds, but is so fast and fluid on route running, every defense must at some point play him with two defenders.

As for San Francisco's offense, the 49ers rushing attack is much, much better than Pittsburgh's and will provide Wallace with the luxury of seeing some single-coverage situations. Defenses need to keep at least seven in the box against Frank Gore, therefore leaving fewer true pass defenders available on any given play.

And, even if a defense plays a nickel or dime package, Gore will just bowl over the smaller front seven, which then sets up play-action even better. In addition, the 49ers have a solid complement of receiving targets to accommodate Wallace.

Whether it's Michael Crabtree or Josh Morgan as the No. 2 or slot man, there's also tight end Vernon Davis. Plus, some four-wide sets could include Ted Ginn Jr., who would give quarterback Alex Smith some serious track speed on the outside.

Then there's the 49ers defense that has the ability to shut down any offense on the schedule.

To some extent, Wallace signing with San Francisco is an eerily similar situation when compared to Pittsburgh: a stout defense, mobile quarterback, reliable second-tier receivers and a demanding head coach who earned immediate respect from the day he was hired.

The differences, however, lie in the 49ers' much better rushing attack, younger defense and currently developing quarterback. And with a healthy Ted Ginn Jr., San Francisco has arguably the best kickoff and punt return units in the league.

Overall it's a win-win situation for both parties. And if Wallace moves out to the Bay Area, the Niners immediately become the NFC title favorites.

John Rozum on Twitter.