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The following is a quick yet thorough breakdown of the entire San Francisco 49ers roster by position:
Quarterback (3): Colin Kaepernick, Scott Tolzien, Alex Smith
The 49ers are obviously very talented at the position, with Kaepernick leading the charge into the Super Bowl. Smith was the starter halfway through the season but left against the St. Louis Rams with a concussion and ultimately lost his job. Kaepernick is the man, and Smith is one of the better backups in the league.
Running back (4): Anthony Dixon, Frank Gore, Jewel Hampton, LaMichael James
San Francisco has a trio of backs who get the job done, with Gore being the main workhorse. James is a terrific change of pace who can provide some shiftiness while Dixon softens the defense with straight-ahead power.
FB (1): Bruce Miller
Miller will have to contend with the likes of Ray Lewis.
Wide receiver (6): Michael Crabtree, Ted Ginn Jr., Chad Hall, A.J. Jenkins, Randy Moss, Kyle Williams
This group has speed to burn, but is one of the thinest positions on the team since Mario Manningham was lost for the season. Crabtree is the best, while Ginn and Williams provide that burner quality that could be a key in the Super Bowl.
Tight End (3): Garrett Celek, Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker
The 49ers are happy a terrific duo in Davis and Walker. Davis is of course the better of the two, becoming a beast when the postseason arrives, but Walker can block and also swing out for a pass occasionally.
Tackles (3): Anthony Davis, Daniel Kilgore, Joe Staley
No team has a better set of bookend tackles than the Niners, who can do just about anything with the athletic tandem of Staley and Davis.Staley once was a tight end, and he loves to get out in space while Davis is a mauler with an attitude.
Guards (3): Alex Boone, Leonard Davis, Mike Iupati, Joe Looney
Once again, a very good group led by Iupati. Drafted in the same round as Davis, Iupati has developed into one of the elite guards in the league.
Centers (1): Jonathan Goodwin
Goodwin will have a formidable task on his hands Sunday, having to contend with Haloti Ngata.
Defensive linemen (7): Ricky Jean Francois, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Ray McDonald, Justin Smith, Isaac Sopoaga, Will Tukuafu, Ian Williams
Smith and Sopoaga headline this group as the top big-uglies. Smith is almost impossible to block at times, equally effective against the run and pass while Sopoaga eats up double teams.
Linebackers (9): NaVorro Bowman, Ahmad Brooks, Tavares Gooden, Larry Grant, Clark Haggans, Cam Johnson, Aldon Smith, Michael Wilhoite, Patrick Willis
No team in the NFL has a better crop that this group. Between Smith, Willis and Bowman, the 49ers have three pro bowlers at the position, only matched by the Kansas City Chiefs. Brooks is also a force, making it just about impossible to do anything but gameplan for this group for days when facing San Francisco.
Corners (7): Tramaine Brock, Tarell Brown, Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver, Darcel McBeth, Carlos Rogers, C.J. Spillman
Rogers is this best of the bunch, with something left to be desired otherwise. Culliver is a solid third corner, but Brown has proven to be a leak in the defense recently. No corner in recent memory was toasted as badly as Brown was in the NFC Championship game.
Safeties (3): Dashon Goldson, Trenton Robinson, Donte Whitner
San Francisco has a pair of hard-hitting men on the back line in Goldson and Whitner. Goldson could be playing his last game in a 49ers uniform, a storyline for the offseason. In the Super Bowl, both need to make sure they don't get beat over the top.
Specials (3): David Akers, Brian Jennings, Andy Lee
Lee is one of the best, if not the best, punters in football. However, Akers has been nothing short of a nightmare and could be the undoing of San Francisco should the game come down to a field goal attempt.