San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players Who Could Have a Breakout Season in 2011

The 49ers had a disappointing season in 2010. A quarterback controversy and poor coaching made the 49ers the third best team in the worst division in history.

The 49ers struck gold with the hiring of Jim Harbaugh, who hopes to kick off his head coaching campaign with a major improvement and perhaps a division title.

In order to do so, he's going to need to get the most out of his players in 2011. There are a handful of players on the 49ers on the verge of having a breakout season. The 49ers are loaded with talent, and this year could be the year when we start seeing that talent come to the forefront.

Here are five players who could be primed for a breakout year.

Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree was one of the best college receivers of all time. He won the Biletnikoff Award twice and the 49ers were elated to have him on roster.

Shaky quarterback play and manilla playcalling have held Crabtree back from being a superstar. He has to be frustrated that the team hasn't done anything to better itself at quarterback, but Jim Harbaugh should be able to improve the position immediately.

Crabtree is one of those guys who could thrive in the new offense.

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis was thrust into the right tackle spot far too early. He was a project tackle when the 49ers selected him, and throwing him into the fire led to a few growing pains in his rookie season.

That's to be expected. The fact of the matter is that he has the build to succeed at the next level. He took tremendous strides last season and comes into 2011 with a year of experience under his belt.

Don't be surprised if he ends up flipping places with Joe Staley, who is better suited to play the right tackle position.

Alex Smith

Alex Smith has been given a lot of second chances. He's had every excuse to fail, and he's been given every excuse to do so. He's now surrounded with talent, has an ex-quarterback for a head coach and has three first-round linemen in front of him.

Smith has had a very disappointing career. He's assumed a leadership role in the offseason, but it's not going to be enough to trump the adverse effects the lockout has had on the 49ers.

If Smith can't succeed under these conditions with this head coach and this offense, he's not going to make it anywhere.

Mike Iupati

Mike Iupati already had an outstanding rookie year. He made the transition incredibly well and earned his keep in the starting lineup.

Next season, he could flourish into one of the best guards in the lead. He seems ready to take that next step as not only the best lineman on the team, but a Pro Bowl caliber guard as well.

Iupati was criticized for being a grabber when he came out of Idaho, but he honed his craft and is on his way to being an All-Pro.

Aldon Smith

Aldon Smith is viewed by many fans as a reach. The pick could have been used to "fix" the cornerback situation in the minds of some fans.

Smith enters Vic Fangio's defense as the rush end. It appears as though the 49ers will be working him into nickel and pass rush situations at first. He has a chance to make an immediate impact in those situations and could render somewhere between seven and nine sacks.

The 49ers haven't had a pass rusher record double-digit sacks since Andre Carter in 2002. Seven-to-nine sacks would give the 49ers hope that the drought would be over in the near future.