If you are like me, you have all no doubt been pouring over and enjoying the daily updates out of training camp coming from the various local beat writers. For most of us, aside from the occasional short video clip of practices from the 49ers website or on Twitter, these training camp reports are as close as we come to getting to understand how these players are looking in camp.
Which is what makes preseason games exciting for fans. It gives us visual insight into how certain players are looking, albeit for most of the players of note these glimpses are only brief.
Obviously the main attraction for most 49ers fans, myself included, will be seeing Trey Lance in action as a 49er for the first time. Kyle Shanahan outlined the plan is for Lance to play most of the first half; around 30 snaps. Bar NDSU's glorified exhibition game in 2020, this will be the first game action he sees in around two years. I can't wait for the massive over reactions - my own included - during and after the game. But before then, it is worth mentioning that Lance can't win the QB competition (if there was one, wink wink) in a preseason game. But he can go some way to knocking himself out of a competition if he looks out of his depth.
I will also be keenly watching the other rookies, not just to see how they perform, but also to see how soon they are entering the game. When they play, more so than how they play, will tell us a lot more about how they are progressing and their chances of seeing significant action early in their careers.
After that, there are two other things I am really interested in seeing:
1. Which starters join Jimmy G on the sidelines after the first series. This goes for offense and defense. Shanahan seemed to suggest all starters would only play the first series, so if any of the projected starters stay out there for longer we will get a pretty clear indication their position is still up for grabs.
2. After Aiyuk and Deebo exit, how does the snap allocation for the WRs look the remainder of the first half? And how do they perform? The WR group is one of the more in-flux position groups on the team, and this will provide some insight as to how the players are currently stacking up in that competition.
That's the things I am most looking forward to seeing. Let me know your thoughts on what you are most interested in from this game.
Thanks for the write-up, Scooter. Mike Mc clarified that the main thing he and Kyle are looking forward in Lance's debut is how well he's able to take control of the huddle, call the plays, and manage the clock in game situation. At this stage when Lance is taking baby steps in the NFL game, the coaches are probably not very concerned with how well he's connecting with starters on offense. Once he begins to get accustomed to the speed of the game, other things will slowly fall into place. It will likely take some time.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense, Mood. He hasn't played much, so those are all key hurdles he needs to prove he can be consistently good with. Also situational football awareness. At NDSU he didn't have to play a lot of situational football.
DeleteAnother area that Lance will need to gain experience is how to manage the offense when playing from behind in the final quarter. I don't think he was much in that situation at NDSU.
DeleteI think for me,
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Trey, I will be watching how he and Kyle handles him in situational situations. How Kyle calls Goal line and 3rd/4th and short for him. How Trey manages clock situations.
In regards to the Rookies, I am curious to see who is used as the 3rd down back Moore or Sermon. What the line looks like in pass pro I am really curious in regards to Moore.
Others I am excited to see are Sherfield as the 3rd receiver, Matthews at TE, and Key at the edge.
Additionally it will be interesting to see if the Dline is as good as they have sounded according to camp reports, or is the 49ers Oline is worse than expected.
Yeah, agree with all of those.
DeleteI'm looking forward to how Ryans' defensive schematics differ from Saleh's.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI suspect we will need to wait until week 1 of the regular season to really get a bead on that.
DeleteWould make sense that they will use the vanilla versions of the scheme for the preseason since the defensive starters are pretty experienced.
DeleteI feel bad for Robert Saleh. I don't see a world in which Zach Wilson will even come close to having the kind of impact that Justin Fields will have. I can understand why Kyle went with Trey over Justin, but in a million years, I'm pretty sure I'll never understand taking Zach Wilson ahead of Fields.
ReplyDeleteOK. On to the Niners.
The big questions for me are:
- How many DL's make the final roster. DL is clearly a huge strength, so do 10 guys make the 53?
- Jalen Hurd will remain a unicorn for at least another week .... unfortunately!
- How is the Defensive Backfield shaping up?
- Is OL depth as concerning as it appears, or is the DL just giving the appearance?
I would be surprised if they don't carry at least 9 defensive lineman on the initial 53, and it wouldn't surprise me if they sneak another onto the designated to return ir.
DeleteSounds right Razor .... where do you put Arden Key? With questions about Ford's health, and Bosa's limited snaps, for me, he's the reason I think they find a way to keep 10.
DeleteIf he's the main Bosa speller, and I think he is, Key easily makes the roster. I think Kerr is playing for another team cuz they have too many interior guys.
DeleteIt's a real logjam at the DL spot. Some good looking players won't make it.
DeleteI actually still think Kerr is a decent shot at sticking on the roster. I think they will want 3 bigger DTs (Kinlaw, Jones and Kerr). I think Givens, Street and Hurst are playing for two spots. And based on what I have read, and the 49ers unofficial depth chart, Hurst may be the odd man out.
Tbh, the make up of the DL will give us a better picture of how they plan to play D this year. Are they moving towards more of a bigger DL for base downs to play more 2 high safety looks on early downs, or are they sticking with the smaller, quicker, penetrating DTs with 8 man boxes?
Based on the excellent analysis of Diante Lee in the Athletic Football Podcast of June 18, I'd say that the Niners are moving towards a bigger DL that can stonewall the run game in base downs -- thus allowing LBs and safety to focus on coverage to counter teams that are passing on base downs taking advantage of the open space between the box and the single high safety in cover 3.
DeleteExactly Mood. That was a great breakdown by Lee.
DeleteNick Mullens ..... �� YIKES!!
ReplyDeleteIn case you guys missed it, Nick had a 0.00 Passer Rating last night.
DeleteNick: 1/5 for 4 YDS, 2 INT's, 0 TD's
Two things I would like to see in tomorrow's preseason game.
ReplyDelete1. I want to see what a healthy Kantavious Street can do. All TC reports have given Street very positive reviews. I'd be very happy if this carries over on game day.
2. I want to see how Trey reacts and responds when he makes a mistake.
I've known of Lance' undeniable talent since his playing days at NDSU. Now, I want to see if he can quickly shake off a mistake and respond in a positive manner.
Yeah, good ones AES. Street sounds like he has really started to come along this TC now he is finally fully healthy.
DeleteSo it's now gone from "Jimmy is our guy, there is no competition", to "Jimmy is our guy, but it will be situational and Lance will play some this season", to John Lynch now saying "Jimmy is our guy, but Lance is pushing".
ReplyDeleteThe narrative is definitely shifting.
As the boxes are checked.
DeleteI've to respectfully disagree. Kyle,IIRC, said that Jimmy was the starter and that there was no competition for the starting job -- not that "Jimmy is our guy". There is no doubt that Lance is "their guy" -- just not this year.
DeleteI don't think anything has changed. Lance is still quite far away from being ready to be the starting QB of this Niners' team that has the talent and experience to play in the Super Bowl. In contrast, I'd say that Lance is on his way to be the starting QB of the first ShanaLynch Niners' team of 2017.
Lance has shown all the things they expected him to show in practice, including his lack of experience. Lynch is right when he says that Lance is pushing. Lance should be pushing -- but he has a lot of pushing to do. There is no substitute for experience. Lance is being compared (wrongly, IMO) with seasoned FBS college QBs who were successful starting right out of the gate like Wilson, Herbert, Burrows, etc.
There are a large number of boxes for Kyle to check. Here's one where Kyle is wondering how Lance will end his runs:
“I don’t want a guy in practice to practice diving or sliding,” Shanahan said Thursday. “You don’t want to hurt a wrist or get your feet caught in an awkward way. So that’s something we’re all going to see in the game. Trey says the right things. He’s a pretty good runner. He’s pretty competitive. So I hope he takes my word for it.
“Because sometimes, those guys don’t believe how hard people hit and they get hit a couple times in the NFL and they’re like, ‘All right, now I know what you’re talking about.'”
How Lance negotiates the learning curve and progresses in the next three weeks will tell us how ready he will be to take over from Jimmy in case of the latter's injury.
When I say "Jimmy is our guy", I meant they were saying he is the starter this year and Lance wasn't in the conversation to start. That stance has progressively been softening.
DeleteScooter,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct that the narrative is shifting regarding Garoppolo/Lance. But for me the one consistent comments are that "Jimmy is our guy."
We know that Lance is our QBOTF, and the only question is, when will he completely take the reins. The next few preseason games could add more clarity to the shifting narrative. Until then, I'm leaning slightly more to "Jimmy is our guy" until further notice.
He'll take the reins when every box has been checked.
DeleteRazor,
DeleteYup.
All very good points, and I agree with both of you. Just very excited that Lance is so quickly checking a lot of these boxes. Bodes very well for his and the 49ers futures.
DeleteYes sir
ReplyDeleteI would love to see how the O-line and the Running game looks like.
ReplyDeletePlus paying close attention to the Special teams....PR/KR especially. IMO, at least 1 WR and 1 DB roster spot will be decided by play on Special teams.
My primary interest in watching tomorrow is also the running game execution efficiency -- particularly with the second-string O line.
Delete