Breaking Observations - Hooray Preseason!

So this would have been a "Breaking Observation" had I not been sickly all last week. Oh well. Disease is a bitch.

On Friday, the NFL announced its preseason schedule for the 2008 season. The 49ers got their four games just like everyone else. Here's what lies ahead in August.

• WEEK 1 @ Oakland - I can't say I mind that the NFL keeps giving the 49ers preseason games against the Raiders. It's a short trip, which is easier on the players, and the cross-Bay rivalry is an added bonus. Concerning Oakland's squad, my eyes will mostly be on WR Javon Walker, whom I wouldn't have minded joining the Niners this season instead of Isaac Bruce (but we trust in Martz, right?). The continued progression of second-year QB JaMarcus Russell will also be worth watching.

• WEEK 2 vs. Green Bay -  Smitty vs. A-Rodg, and I'm just glad it's happening during the preseason. I don't know if I could take a full regular season game of uninformed comparisons by second rate television commentators who know little beyond stats concerning San Francisco's offense over the past three seasons (the Niners rarely get a team of quality broadcasters anymore unless they are playing in a nationally televised game). Still, it will be interesting to watch Smitty and A-Rodg battle it out for a quarter, and the match-up will probably get some attention from the national media as well. But still, I'm glad it's just an exhibition game.

• WEEK 3 @ Chicago - For some reason, the NFL loves the match-up of 49ers vs. Bears in the preseason. By my count, this is the fourth time in five years the two teams will meet in exhibition play. Of course, there will be tons of talk about tampering and Lance Briggs and blah, blah, blah. I just hope by this game that the Niners are building confidence on offense and have the ability to crush the Bears early in the first half. Yes, fellow fans, a new NFL rivalry has been born.

Oh, and I'm also very, very excited to see what has become of everyone's favorite former 49er WR Brandon Lloyd, who will lineup with Chicago this season presumably as a starter. There are so many, many memories. I can't wait.

• WEEK 4 vs. San Diego - Another preseason match-up the NFL loves, although this one makes a bit more sense geographically when compared to Chicago. The 49ers have faced the Chargers in exhibition play dating back to 1999 (and maybe even farther, but I couldn't find the records anywhere), with the Chargers winning six of the last nine games. I will mostly be looking at the offensive and defensive lines in this contest, since the Bolts seem to really thrive in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

And that's the preseason rundown for your 2008 San Francisco 49ers. Of course, the real story with this year's exhibition games will be Smitty vs. Hill, but that's another (probably gigantic) article for another day.

Maiocco's Take

Barrow's Take