QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Shaun Hill. Backups -- J.T. O'Sullivan, Jamie Martin. Injured reserve -- Alex Smith.

Hill did a solid job after taking over for O'Sullivan, who struggled with turnovers. Hill is 7-3 as the 49ers' starter over the past two seasons, but Singletary has not anointed him as the starter. The 49ers expect to bring in a veteran or a rookie to compete with Hill for the starting job. With Mike Martz gone as offensive coordinator, free agents O'Sullivan and Martin do not figure to be back. Smith, who should be healthy enough to take part in the entire offseason program, will have to accept a large pay cut to return for a fifth season with the 49ers. The 49ers remain open to bringing him back as a backup.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- Frank Gore. Backups -- DeShaun Foster, Michael Robinson, Thomas Clayton. Injured reserve -- FB Zak Keasey.

Gore has two years remaining on his contract, so he will continue to be the centerpiece of the 49ers' offense. The 49ers did not have a fullback for most of the season after Keasey sustained a torn biceps tendon that ended his season. Foster is a scheduled free agent who played relatively well late in the season when Gore was out of action with an ankle sprain. Robinson is a handy third-down back, but he has yet to prove he's the kind of natural runner who can fill in as the every-down back.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Vernon Davis. Backups -- Delanie Walker, Billy Bajema, Sean Ryan.

Davis caught 52 passes in his second NFL season, but he was used primarily as a blocker this season in Martz's offense. Singletary said Davis is the best-blocking tight end he has ever seen. However, Davis is not a consistent pass catcher, and that's what the 49ers would like to see him become. After all, he was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 draft. Walker is a more accomplished receiver and route-runner than Davis, though he caught only 10 passes for 155 yards. Bajema, a scheduled free agent, is a blocking specialist. Ryan was added late in the season after Keasey's injury, and he was used in the role of the H-back.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson. Backups -- Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, Dominique Zeigler. Injured reserve -- Arnaz Battle.

Bruce's production took off in the second half of the season after Shaun Hill was inserted into the lineup at quarterback. Bruce finished the season strong with 61 receptions for 835 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a good influence on the team, but at 36, he clearly does not fit into the team's long-term plans. He does have one year remaining on his contract, though. The 49ers were encouraged with the play from youngsters Morgan and Jason Hill. Morgan is penciled in as a starter for next season. He would've started a lot more games for Johnson, but a torn groin muscle was a major setback. Hill played well after taking over as the No. 3 receiver after Battle's season-ending foot sprain. Hill caught 30 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns in only a half-season of play. Johnson is a scheduled free agent and might not fit into the team's plans with Morgan ready to take over.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT Joe Staley, LG David Baas, C Eric Heitmann, RG Chilo Rachal, RT Adam Snyder. Backups -- T Barry Sims, G Tony Wragge, C Cody Wallace, T Jacob Bender. Injured reserve -- T Jonas Jennings, T Damane Duckett.

The line did not receive a whole bunch of favors early in the season with O'Sullivan at quarterback. Martz called an abundance of seven-step drops and O'Sullivan was not effective in getting rid of the ball on time. As a result, the 49ers surrendered a lot of sacks this season. The 49ers' quarterbacks were sacked 55 times, but many of those were not the fault of this unit. Staley improved as his first season at left tackle wore on. Heitmann had a strong season and was the team's most consistent lineman. Rachal played well after taking over for Wragge. He showed signs of becoming a stalwart in the run game. The 49ers had trouble getting consistency at right tackle. The club started three different men at that position, including Jennings, who has gone on injured reserve in three of his four seasons with the club.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starter -- LE Isaac Sopoaga, NT Aubrayo Franklin, RE Justin Smith. Backups -- RE Ray McDonald, NT Ronald Fields, LE Kentwan Balmer.

Smith was named as the team's MVP after his all-around good season. Smith recorded seven sacks, but he was also strong against the run and led the team in quarterback pressures. Sopoaga had a lackluster season after signing a lucrative contract extension. Franklin proved he was an effective player at the nose after coordinator Greg Manusky had him do a lot more one-gapping later in the season. McDonald lost his job in the second half of the season, as he was unable to apply the kind of pass rush the 49ers had hoped to see. Balmer, a rookie, was a non-factor as a rookie.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- LOLB Parys Haralson, LILB Takeo Spikes, RILB Patrick Willis, ROLB Manny Lawson. Backups - OLB Roderick Green, ILB Jeff Ulbrich, ILB Ahmad Brooks, OLB Tully Banta-Cain. Injured reserve -- OLB Jay Moore.

The 49ers got pretty good all-around play from this unit. Willis made his second Pro Bowl in two years and figures to be around for a long, long time. Spikes played well alongside Willis and made it clear that he wants to re-sign with the club. He played last season under a one-year contract. Haralson became the team's best pass-rusher. He led the club with eight sacks. It was a priority for the club to get him on the field, so he started the final 10 games of the season. Lawson was slow to rebound from a torn ACL that limited him to two games in 2007. He has a chance to become a very good every-down player in 2009. The 49ers will look for more pass rush from this group next season.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Nate Clements, RCB Walt Harris, SS Michael Lewis, FS Mark Roman. Backups -- CB Tarell Brown, CB Donald Strickland, S Dashon Goldson, S Keith Lewis, CB Marcus Hudson, CB Reggie Smith. Injured reserve -- CB Shawntae Spencer.

The 49ers would like to see more big plays generated from the secondary. Roman has not recorded an interception in more than two full seasons. He has played nine seasons in the league and started every game for the past six seasons. However, it might be time for the club to look in a different direction. Lewis does a good job of getting close to the line of scrimmage for help in run support. As a whole, the 49ers need more range from their safeties. Clements is still the team's best corner, though he is prone to getting beat deep. Harris is slowing down a little on the other side, which is understandable for a player who has been in the league 13 seasons. Brown and Strickland played very well when they got their chances. Spencer was the No. 3 cornerback before sustaining a torn ACL early in the season. It might take him a while to round back into shape.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Joe Nedney, P Andy Lee, LS Brian Jennings, KR
Allen Rossum.

Nedney has been very consistent since coming to the 49ers. He made 29 of 33 field-goal attempts. Although he is getting up there in age, he seems to have things taken care of pretty well. Lee is one of the best punters in the league. He averaged 47.8 yards per punt, including a strong 39.0 net average. Jennings is reliable as the team's long snapper, and Rossum did a fine job in the return game. Rossum is scheduled to be a free agent, so the 49ers do need to add a youngster to at least serve as his backup.