San Francisco 49ers: 3 Encouraging Signs Heading into the 2012 Season

Will the San Francisco 49ers progress in 2012, or will they falter under the enormous expectations after their success in 2011? Fans would like to think the former, but who truly knows?

The unpredictability of any given season is what attracts so many football fans. 49ers' fans can attest to this, as the 2011 season proved to be a shocker for many. 

On paper, this is a deep 49ers team with a ferocious defense, a rising offense, and a steady special teams unit. In addition, this is a team that boasts young players across the board. 

Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh deserve credit for righting the ship, especially in such a short time. The personnel decisions last year proved excellent in the long run and from a certain viewpoint. 49ers' fans should feel comfortable with the moves made this offseason. 

With that, here are three encouraging signs heading into the upcoming season. 

Randy Moss Impresses

Can anyone truly say they predicted Randy Moss would return to the NFL, let-alone donning a 49ers jersey? There should be a few raised hands. 

Will the 49ers receive the Moss that recently flailed with the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans, or the record-breaking threat that donned a New England Patriots jersey? If I had to guess, it would be a combination of both. 

The 49ers expect Moss to open the field as the designated deep threat, and from early reports his presence has opened a few eyes. Moss has received rave reviews for his performance in these camps, and more importantly, for his motivation and attitude. 

If Moss plays like the media hype fans are hearing, expect the 49ers' offense to be more vertically explosive. Moss' presence should free some coverage for his fellow teammates, especially All-Pro tight-end Vernon Davis. 

Alex Smith's Progression

Alex Smith surprised many, if not all, fans with his play in the 2011 season. The presence of Jim Harbaugh likely helped in that department. 

With another year in the same offense, Smith should continue to progress in Harbaugh's West Coast scheme. 

The 49ers will continue to be a run-first team, but I suspect Harbaugh will open up the playbook for Smith in 2012.

With the lockout last season, Harbaugh likely limited areas of the offense, but with a full offseason in 2012, Smith's training wheels will be cut loose. 

It's time for Smith to make further progression and all signs look great heading into training camp. His minicamp performances have been well noted by teammates and coaches alike. 

Return of Greg Roman (Offensive Coordinator)

The return of Greg Roman is a breath of fresh air. The 49ers' offense, despite statistically finishing in the bottom half of the league, made leaps and bounds in 2011 compared to their pitiful performance in 2010. 

Roman and Harbaugh have added a creative element to this offense that has been missing. The 49ers' last two head coaches made their names on the defensive side of the ball, unlike Jim Harbaugh who formerly played QB in the NFL with various franchises. 

Greg Roman decided to stay with the 49ers despite several interview opportunities, but if the Niners offense continues to progress in 2012, say adios to a highly valued coordinator.