Scott Ostler

Ten reasons for 49ers fans to polish rose-colored glasses.

How do I love the 49ers’ chances of winning the Super Bowl this season? Let me count the ways.

No Red Hole: With no fans in the stands, the 49ers won’t be embarrassed by big clumps of empty seats, especially in the Red Hole VIP section behind the visitors’ bench. Even last season there were empty seats. Now nobody has to wonder, “If 49ers’ fans are so faithful, why don’t they come out of their Tequila bunkers to watch their team play football?”

That brutal sun: Yes, the Levi’s Stadium sun is our friend! Because this stadium is Death Valley North, the 49ers beg for late games. But they still have four home games that start before 1:30 p.m., including Sunday’s opener, when the visiting Cardinals will get to bake on the sunny side of the field. This is thanks to Jim Harbaugh, whose lasting gift to the 49ers was demanding that his team’s owners change the original stadium plans and move the 49ers out of the sizzling sun on the east sideline and over to the shady west side.

Kyle’s got style: Kyle Shanahan was voted the NFL coach most likely to be mistaken for a skateboarder, and that’s not a bad thing. Shanahan earns a lot of cred from his players for his casualhip personality and style. But there’s a lot more there than cool sneakers. Trent Williams told me, “He’s an authentic motivator, everything’s organic, there’s no rahrah with him, and without even raising his voice, you’re kind of ready to run through a wall for him.” Kyle Juszczyk, UFO: A fullback. Fullbacks are as rare in the NFL as shortstops. In fact, Juszczyk is one of the few fullbacks in captivity. Opposing teams are confused. They can’t spell his name or defend him. Teammates call him Juice, apparently because he likes orange jusz. Dee’s knees aim to please: Deefensive end Dee Ford’s playing time was severely limited last season due to bad knees, especially the left. In the offseason he underwent “extensive cleanup” of that knee. You picture the surgeon reaching into the knee joint, pulling out objects and flinging them over his shoulder. Hey,

Dee, here’s your car keys! With all that junk removed from Dee’s knee, opposing quarterbacks won’t hear him coming.

Kneelers gonna kneel: Players around the league will be protesting for social justice this season. Teams will face internal conflicts. No team is better equipped to handle that with sensitivity than are the 49ers. Shanahan has indicated his acceptance and support for protests, and he’ll get backup from generaal manager John Lynch and team boss Jed York. In the locker room, there’s plenty of leadership to head off any division. When Nick Bosa was drafted and came under fire for his socialmedia history, his biggest defender was teammate Richard Sherman.

Kittle as sidekick: In the old Western movies and TV shows, every handsome cowboy hero had a sidekick, usually a goodhearted goofball. That’s George Kittle, sidekick to sixgun cowboy Jimmy Garoppolo. Kittle keeps Garoppolo loose, reminds him that they’re playing a game. Bonus: Kittle can play a little football.

Jimmy G.: Nitpick him all you want, fans, the guy has not been a disappointment. He and Shanahan might turn out to be this decade’s BelichickBrady. Experts say it takes a couple years for a quarterback to effectively grasp Shanahan’s cosmic playbook. Sports Illustrated’s football geniuses estimate Garoppolo’s stats this season thusly: 4,300 yards, 34 TDs, seven picks.

Deebo Samuel: Is he the Russell Westbrook of football? Crazy strength and athletic ability, plus attitude. A wide receiver who bullies defenders. Between Samuel and Kittle, defensive backs will put in a day’s work. DFence: Golfers say you drive for show and putt for dough. Defense is the NFL’s version of putting. The 49ers’ key putter might be linebacker Fred Warner, the Human Windshield Wiper, best sidelinetosideline coverage man in the league. With Bosa and Ford sandwiching quarterbacks, and Warner channeling his inner Willie Mays, Robert Saleh’s defense has a chance to be epic. No team poached Saleh, and next year the 49ers might not be so lucky, but 2020 is what it’s all about now.