Training camp is approaching, meaning expectations are sure to grow to irrational levels over the next month. Third-string running backs begin to look like bonafide stars against backups late in meaningless preseason games. A surprise rookie stands out as the next big thing. Even castoff veterans look to be on the verge of a career renaissance.

With that in mind, NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman laid out 50 predictions for the upcoming season and he wasted no time pulling on the heartstrings of anxious 49ers fans.

6. San Francisco’s Six-Year Plan gets off to a rollicking start, thanks in part to a much improved defense. Under Kyle Shanahan’s tutelage, Brian Hoyer recaptures his Browns form, which is just enough to keep the Niners over .500 heading into October.

Bergman must have inside intel to what fans are hoping to see from Shanahan’s crew in the first year. His three-headed prediction seems reasonable, as well as enough to excite the fanbase. Let’s break down each phase.

The Defense

The rebuilding process is off to a solid start with a defense that features three first-round picks up front (Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas), arguably the best linebacker in college football last season (Reuben Foster) and an All Pro, when healthy, in NaVorro Bowman.

(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

The 49ers defense was atrocious last season, ranking dead last in total defense, giving up over 400 yards a game. The new 4-3 scheme, modeled after the success of the Seattle Seahawks, should make life much easier at each level. An aggressive, attacking scheme should look significantly different from the two-gapping, reactive defense of recent season.

The defense won’t reach the elite levels of Seattle, but there’s no reason not to expect them to crack the top-20 in the league and show drastic improvement if the key pieces can stay on the field.

The coach

Shanahan was the hottest coach on the market after coordinating an Atlanta Falcons offense last season that looked unstoppable. Well, except for those few minutes in the Super Bowl. But you get the point.

He immediately brings enthusiasm, but also a sense of confidence that the team, comprised largely of average offensive talent, can be productive enough to win games.

Pair that with general manager John Lynch, who has looked prepared for the role, and it’s no surprise the swagger is growing. The team has a cohesive pair to lead the franchise for the first time in years.

Brian Hoyer

Hoyer is far from a long-term starter this late in his career. Kirk Cousins looks set to hit free agency next year and the 49ers have to be the favorite to land him. If not, the 2018 draft class is already being touted as one of the best of the last 10 years.

One of Hoyer’s best seasons as a pro came alongside Shanahan – 2014 with the Cleveland Browns – and the 49ers are banking on him being an average starter. He’s probably just good enough to keep the offense competitive, which would be an encouraging improvement over last year’s 2-14 campaign.

The 49ers benefit from one of the weakest schedules in the league. The team may only be average, but they hardly face top-tier talent. Rattling off a few wins against inferior opponents and coaching staffs might be just enough to keep momentum rolling into the second half of the season.

Playoff expectations are lofty for the first-year coach and his young roster but the commitment to Shanahan and Lynch, evident in their six-year contracts, suggests the team realizes this is a long-term plan. Training camp and preseason games will answer questions about an overhauled roster, but the 49ers have a legitimate chance at making Bergman’s predictions come true.