"Can this team finally win under Alex Smith?

An ideal system and offensive-minded coach give Smith his best chance at succeeding for a franchise that drafted him first overall in 2005.

Coach Jim Harbaugh's arrival - and experience as an NFL quarterback - was enough to convince Smith to return on a one-year, $5 million deal. Smith took this opportunity so seriously, he led offseason workouts both on the field and in the classroom during the labor lockout.

What makes the West Coast system so ideal for the cerebral Smith is its detailed nature and reliance on shorter, quicker routes. The 49ers ran a similar look in Smith's rookie season under coordinator Mike McCarthy, but now they have a bastion of proven weapons in Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Braylon Edwards and Michael Crabtree.

Smith has gone through six coordinators and two significant shoulder injuries, and now he is on the clock more than ever to produce a winning campaign. If this season doesn't end in the playoffs, then don't expect the 49ers to award him a fourth contract."