Notes and observations from Niners practice No. 6: - A long session for the Niners coming off a walk through on Sunday. They'll get a full day off tomorrow and begin another practice block on Wednesday. - Coach Kyle Shanahan continues to look like he's making progress in his recovery from injuries suffered in a car crash. Shanahan came out to the field at 10:39 today and was again out there for the rest of the session after. He stood in mid-center field for some of it and moved around a bit from there. He also took part in the breakdown at the end before passing it to another successful head coach... - Mike Brown, the NBA champion Knicks' coach, was in attendance and got to break down the huddle at the end. Brown's son, Cameron, is the team's defensive quality control coach. - Alex Smith, the former Niners QB and current ESPN analyst, was also in the house today. - New additions on the injury front: WR Mike Evans (quad strain) and RB Kaelon Black (adductor). They did not participate. WR De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring tightness) also did not practice again. Saw Evans and Stribling doing some running and work on the side. Both seem to be moving OK. - Also doing work on the side today: WR Christian Kirk (calf) and DT Gracen Halton (knee bone bruise). Also saw CB Jack Jones doing some work on the side though he was in uniform and doing some regular practice things as well. - The other non participants today: S Malik Mustapha (hamstring), RB Jordan James (rib), DL Keion White (adductor), OT Vederian Lowe (ankle), DL Cam Sample (knee). - DT CJ West and EDGE Romello Height (elbow) were back at practice. - DL Mykel Williams and RB Isaac Guerendo continue to get plenty done on the side as well as they work back from PUP list. - Spotted during individual drills: LB Jaden Dugger doing some work with the defensive line group. The Niners liked Dugger's versatility coming out and seem to want to explore all the ways that can be used, though it doesn't hurt that they're short on bodies at that spot right now because of injuries. - With numbers down on the DL, there were no one-on-one pass rush drills today. The Niners did a lot more mixing and matching all over on Monday in general. - The offense and QB Brock Purdy bounced back a bit today despite all the moving parts at wide receiver. Had him at 14-of-21 though there wasn't a lot going down the field. Purdy just missed TE Jake Tonges on a deep ball late in practice and S Ji'Ayir Brown broke up a would-be TD in the red zone for Tonges on a well thrown ball. A nice play by Brown, though. - Speaking of Brown, he had some interesting things to say after practice. He talked openly about how much fun he's having and how Raheem Morris' scheme allows him to play to his strengths (instincts and reading the QB) more than previous one. He has been around the ball a lot in this camp and got his hands on the ball multiple times. A big season for him going into a contract year. - Both corners -- Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green -- were again sticky in coverage today. Even when completions were made, they were right there and both had a PBU or two. - Receiver and edge rusher aren't the only spots hit by injuries. For a team hoping to get RB Christian McCaffrey more breathers, it's not great that the three guys behind him on the depth chart -- James, Black, Guerendo -- aren't on the field. A lot of work for Patrick Taylor and Sincere McCormick right now. - Height flashed his bend and speed off the edge during team. There's little doubt he has some pass rushing chops. I just don't imagine the Niners want him to be a hand in the ground edge in four-down looks that much so much as sprinkling him in there in obvious passing situations and deploying him as the fifth guy when they go five down. Still plenty of time for that to sort, though. - Junior Bergen was drafted to be a returner and landed on the practice squad last year in part because he struggled as a receiver. It looks like he's made some strides in that regard so far in camp. Not saying he'd be in the WR rotation or anything, just noting apparent improvement which would help his cause if can handle return duties. - LB Nick Martin continues to flash his speed too. It seems like for him it's just a matter of harnessing that speed and making the right reads so he doesn't overrun plays. That was something that plagued Dee Winters at times but Martin seems to be finding a groove on when to step on the gas and when to let it come to him a bit more. - The 49ers are off tomorrow. They'll be back at it on Wednesday with back to back practices then before a walk through on Friday.
Another one bites the dust and another one gone and another one gone.....I am betting $5.00 and a ham sandwich that the 49ers will cancel their joint practice on the 11th versus the Titans
ReplyDeleteCoach,
ReplyDeleteThe joint practices would be (besides preseason) a good opportunity to allow young players to show out. As young players, I'm sure they would welcome any chance to play.
Their problem isn't just about the number of players injured but that the injuries are heavily centered around 3 positions RB, WR and DE. They need enough depth to run drills at those positions and the have to pray that no one gets injured just 2 days before a preseason game. They can cancel joint practices they can't cancel preseason games
Delete"They can cancel joint practices they can't cancel preseason games."
ReplyDeleteTBD.
Like you I am hoping they will get healthy over the next 10 days but it just seems like everyday there is another injury
DeleteThe most serious injury so far has been Pearsall and Kamara. Ricky' injury came from a lingering one dating back to last season. Kamara' injury is serious. But, it won't impact the team. I would love for TC to be injury free, but, I also know that football is a serious contact sport and injuries can and will happen. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed right now, Coach.
ReplyDeleteIt's football and Shanahan's camps are known for their physicality. Got to build up those calluses if you want to get through the season En route to the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteMy old high school coach had us doing something similar to the Oklahoma Drill. We couldn't wait to hit someone when the season started because we were well prepared.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is Shanahans camps. I Think if he was doing anything so different than other teams they would have adjusted by now. I don't think it is their training/strength and conditioning staff. They have already made changes to those groups. We all joke about the Santa Clara curse but we do that primarily because those of us who live in the north bay and SF hate the fact that they moved the team out of the city. I was one of those people who laughed at the sub station theory but lately I have started giving that theory credence. I like most of us here played or coached a little football so we are all aware football is a violent game and injuries happen. Why is it the 49ers with the exception of one year since 2014 are in the top 5 teams with the most injuries. No other team is close to that record. I know I am beating a dead horse here but I am getting old enough to start thinking about my mortality and I don't know how many more injury plagued seasons I will be around for
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in "curses" and the sub-station theory has already been debunked by science according to Lynch.
DeleteI don't believe in curses either thats why I joke about them. As for the validity of the study Lynch had done on the substation. Data is only as valid as the one collecting it. Was it a valid study or not? I don't know. I just wonder how many more years of these amount of injuries can they put up with before they move their practice facility? I just don't see any other plausible reason for their injury record. Anyway like I said earlier I am beating a dead horse here. I would just like to see a week go by without any soft tissue injuries
DeleteSeems to me validity is paramount to an organization's investment in not only their players but their reputation. I have no reason to question the validity of their study.
DeleteOldCoach
DeleteI'll try explaining why the sub station (next to Levi) can't and does not cause damage to 9er players:
* The electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by a power substation are extremely low-frequency (ELF at 60 HZ), non-ionizing waves. They lack the photon energy required to break molecular bonds, alter DNA, or degrade collagen in human tissue, meaning they cannot physically weaken players' soft tissues or cause injuries.
* The Physics of Photon Energy Ionizing vs. Non-Ionizing: High-frequency radiation (like X-rays or gamma rays) has high photon energy capable of knocking electrons out of atoms, which breaks chemical bonds and damages DNA
* Planck's Equation (E = HF): Energy (E) is directly proportional to frequency (f). All US power substations operate at 60 Hz, placing it at the absolute lowest tier of the electromagnetic spectrum.
* Insufficient Quantum: The energy packed into a 60 Hz low-frequency wave is millions of times too weak to disrupt covalent bonds in organic molecules, proteins, or collagen fibers. Because the quantum energy is lower than the thermal noise of cells, (no resistance) the fields pass through the human body without transferring enough energy to alter cellular structures.
* Rapid Field Decay: Magnetic and electric field strengths follow an inverse-square or inverse-cube law, meaning field density drops off steeply and exponentially within a short distance from the substation boundary.
* Official Follow-Up: The SF 9ers hired an independent scientist to conduct a full professional review of the facility. General manager John Lynch reported that the workplace levels were found to be safe and 400 times below the threshold for an unsafe working environment, dismissing the theory linking it to team injuries as a "nothing burger"
* I hope that helps explain why the study performed on the
sub station found it caused no harm to players?
I guess everyone has their own opinion as to why so many Niner players are continuing to accumulate injuries. My opinion is in the abstract, here goes - the Niners are victims of their own success. What I mean by this is that the Niners have established a culture that breads success. They bring in quality individuals that can play football. So many players have noted how good the Niners locker room is and players want to be a part of it. No one wants to be an anchor, and everyone is pushing themselves beyond their physical limits in order to make an impression for the coaches and their fellow players. They play hard for their coaches and fellow players, hence injuries.
ReplyDeleteGood point. Niners camp has long been known across the NFL for its intense, high‑impact practices that push players to their limits. This reputation is built on a culture of full‑contact drills, extended practice sessions, and aggressive competition from day one.
DeleteI believe that players will get practice toned down leading up to preseason games in which the majority of key players will not play.
ReplyDeleteThe hard hitting my go for about a week leading up to joint practices and preseason.
After the 49ers’ 21–20 loss to the Rams, Hargrave appeared on Arik Armstead’s Third and Long podcast and said that 49ers practices are “extremely hard” and “more demanding” than those with the Eagles NBC Sports Bay Area & California. He compared the two teams’ coaching styles to NBA franchises:
ReplyDelete49ers: “It’s more so like the Miami Heat” — intense, demanding, and driven by a championship culture. Hargrave likened head coach Kyle Shanahan to Miami Heat president Pat Riley, emphasizing that “everyone can’t make it over here” NBC Sports Bay Area & California.
Eagles: “Over there [Philadelphia] it’s Golden State” — more relaxed, veteran-led, and “chill,” similar to the Golden State Warriors’ approach NBC Sports Bay Area & California.
Hargrave explained that while the Warriors’ style has built a dynasty through a laid-back, veteran-driven culture, the 49ers’ model is about constant pressure and high expectations. He noted that when Shanahan first arrived in 2017, the culture was even harder to establish, with younger players having to adapt to the demanding environment
Jalon Walker just tore his ACL.
ReplyDeleteApparently, injuries can occur on other teams as well. Bad, deal for Walker as he has become one of top defensive players in the league. Hopefully he has a great recovery and helped alonged by being young.
DeleteDeebo deal is guaranteed 1 year deal for $4m. Amazing deal that can become up to $7m based on incentives.
ReplyDelete49ers are now $67.08m under their $340.190m adjusted salary cap with the Deebo deal.
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