When will the 49ers open the QB competition?

By Scooter_McG

According to Kyle Shanahan, there is no QB competition. That has been the public stance since Trey Lance was drafted - Jimmy G is the starting QB and Trey Lance, the QB they gave up three first round picks for, will be given a chance to sit and learn. This was the stance Shanahan and Lynch outlined during OTAs, before training camp started, and through the first seven days of training camp. 

However, over the course of the first seven training camp practices, something happened that probably caught the coaching staff and front office a little by surprise. Trey Lance, the 21 year old rookie with just 17 college starts at a FCS school, looked nothing like an inexperienced rookie out of his depth. He looked the part of an NFL QB. He looked like a QB that was already picking the offense up quickly, processing well in scrimmages, throwing the ball with power, accuracy and timing, showcasing his elite athleticism, and routinely making "wow" plays each day of practice. In short, he looked far more ready to push for playing time than maybe most anticipated.  

Shanahan's stance on the "no competition" at QB hasn't changed, however, he provided some additional clarity and potentially opened the door for a softening of the stance after today's practice. While continuing to stress that Jimmy G is the starter, Shanahan for the first time outlined that Trey Lance will start getting reps with the first team, and will get playing time during the season. At this stage, according to Shanahan, the plan is for Lance to play "situationally", i.e. in certain packages and certain situations, most likely packages that will be based around making use of Lance's athleticism and running threat and situations such as in the red zone. 

The other interesting comment Shanahan made though was that the 2's (i.e. the second team players, or backups) are always looking to supplant the 1's (starters). And that Trey Lance is no different - he is working to try and supplant Jimmy G as the starter. Shanahan even went to say he sees the QB position as being no different to other positions in this regard, and that while typically with QBs it is a little more cut and dried, by having two QBs with different skill sets he sees the 49ers QB situation as being more a case of one where they can split snaps, like what you would see at other position groups. 

So what does all this mean? Not much really at this stage. A lot of what Shanahan said was aligned with what he has been saying in the past and it already seemed clear the 49ers had plans to get Lance on the field for certain packages. But it does show that Lance is well on his way to earning playing time with the way he has performed in practice. And that, for a 21 year old rookie coming from NDSU after limited college experience, is a huge step and bodes very well for how the 49ers perceive his development at this stage. 

But how long will it take for Lance's situational snaps to expand to the point he is the starter? If he continues to show well through training camp and practices, and he takes advantage of the situational snaps he is given in games, it will only be a matter of time before this 2 supplants the 1. 

Role Reprisal

 Did the 49ers sign Anthony Zettel to play the role of Kerry Hyder until The Bosa Constrictor is ready to hunt? Nick hasn't been involved in much physical activity, no 1vs1's or 11vs11's, and yet he's missed the last 2 practices with soreness. This is what I expected, and why I cautioned patience in his return. 

Ryans , "Bosa's still just, you know, day to day taking a maintenance day and coming back, progressing," Ryans said. "When it's time for him to be back in he'll be back out there." "The main thing for Bosa is just him taking the time to make sure he has the confidence in his knee to go out there and perform at a high level," Ryans said. "Once he gets, you know, the reps he needs, gets the confidence in his knee and he'll be fine."

How long before we see Bosa in live action? I have no idea. I just hope there's been no setbacks, and none moving forward.

Jimmy, Gardner, and Nick...Oh My!

 

Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet

·

55m

That was fast. #Colts QB Carson Wentz will have surgery to repair his foot, per coach Frank Reich. He’s out up to 12 weeks, but could be much less. They will remove a bone in his foot.

Let's get the trade scenario's going:

Jimmy Garoppolo- Lance would have to convince Shanny and the locker room he's ready, and the Colts would need to send a 1st round pick.

Gardner Minshew- Day 3 draft pick.

Nick Foles-Another day 3 draft pick but the psychological ramifications to Wentz might be a factor.

(Over)Reacting to the first four days of training camp

Photo courtesy of 49ers.com 

By Scooter_McG

The first four days of training camp are in the books, and we have been getting some exciting and interesting news coming out of those practices. As expected, Jimmy G and Trey Lance have headlined the stories of camp so far, though there have been some other notable developments. 

Here is what has stood out to me from the reports on training camp over the past four days.

1. Trey Lance is looking good. Yes, there have been some rookie mistakes and some rookie moments, but so far everything sounds like it is very much trending the right direction for Lance and the 49ers. He's completed a number of downfield passes over the first four days of camp and seems far more willing to sling it to the intermedaite and deep areas than Jimmy G. From what I have read and heard it sounds like he has been showing everything you want to see from your future franchise QB through his first four days of NFL training camp - poise, good arm strength and accuracy, decision-making, pocket awareness, willingness to play within the structure of the offense, and willingness and ability to take chances downfield when the defense gives them the chance. On day 4, he also demonstrated his ability to extend plays by avoiding pressure and pick up yards with his legs. After practice on day 4, DeMeco Ryans acknowledged Lance's ability to move and run, combined with his play from the pocket, puts extra stress on the defence, which is exactly why Shanahan loved his skillset. 

2. Jimmy G has looked like Jimmy G. After a strong opening day, Jimmy G has reportedly seemed tentative and unwilling to take chances. Reports on days 2 and 3 were that Jimmy G barely threw the ball 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. On day 4 it sounds like he tried to be a bit more aggressive, but it resulted in indecision, some off target throws and turnovers. This is nothing new for Jimmy G - when he's confident he can look great, like he did Day 1. Other times he can struggle to operate an offense that asks him to push the ball further than 5 yards downfield. We know the 49ers can win games with Jimmy G at QB... but why settle for the inconsistency when you don't have to? The competition for the starting QB spot could heat up sooner than many had thought.

3. The defensive line is really deep, especially the interior of the DL. Pretty much all of the notable defensive tackles on the roster have looked good so far. The only exceptions have been those not practicing due to injury (Kinlaw and Hurst). And surprisingly the defensive ends have looked pretty good too, with both Ebukam and Key making plays, especially on days 3 and 4. With a healthy Bosa and Kinlaw, this unit could be very good. Even without them they may be surprisingly decent. But... practices so far have been without pads, which tends to favour the defensive line. We will know more once the pads go on. 

4. Mike McGlinchey looks back to his best. Slim Mike is now Big Mac once again, after adding 25 lbs this offseason, and through four days of camp the extra weight seems to really be helping. But as noted with the defensive line, we will know more once the pads go on.

5. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel look really good. Both players have been the clear standouts among the receivers and favoured targets of the QBs. Even over George Kittle. Somewhat surprisingly, Deebo has been showing off a more rounded skillset, making plays at all three levels. 

6. The third WR spot may already have a favourite. The competition for the third WR spot was expected to be a hotly contested one, but it sounds like there may already be a leader in the clubhouse. Mo Sanu has received plenty of praise from both players and coaches, and could be in the box seat to grab that spot. The other player that seemed might be the main challenger after days 1 and 2 was Jalen Hurd, who based on reports sounded like he was moving very well coming back from his injuries, but he is now once again a big question mark after missing days 3 and 4. Hopefully it is only a minor setback for Hurd.

7. Marcell Harris is no longer a safety. The safety position looked like it may have a bit of a logjam, but turns out the 49ers have moved long time backup SS Harris to LB this offseason. And from all reports it sounds like he has looked pretty good. 

8. Talanoa Hufanga won't be outworked. Hufanga apparently has also seen some time at LB, though there hasn't been much else reported about his play on the field. However, one thing that has been noted is that Hufanga is routinely one of the first out to the practice field and one of the last to leave. That kind of work ethic is what gets late round picks onto a roster and onto the field early in their careers, and keeps them in the NFL. 

9. The running game has struggled. Again, worth pointing out that without pads the offensive line is at a disadvantage, but so far it sounds like bar a handful of explosive runs, the 49ers running game has struggled by and large, with many running plays being completely blown up by penetration. However, one guy that has had some positive reps is Elijah Mitchell, who reportedly has been more willing to test the middle of the defense. 

10. Verrett isn't resting on last year's success. Jason Verrett has had a couple of strong practices as he looks to build on his bounce back 2020 season. This has included an INT as well as multiple pass breakups. When healthy Verrett is clearly the team's best CB. 

11. CB depth is a concern. With Moseley on the COVID-19 reserve list, Tim Harris has been getting starting reps opposite Verrett. This has prompted the 49ers to look at some outside help with Dre Kirkpatrick brought in for a visit. I expect a veteran CB to be added sooner rather than later.   

-350

 One of our long time posters, George thought it'd be fun to give our odds on Jimmy Garoppolo being the week 1 starter for the San Francisco 49ers. I believe the oddsmakers have him at -350. For myself, as long as Jimmy stays upright, he's the starter with an 85% probability rate. Let's hear everyone else's take!

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

 He's yours, Shanny. Trey Lance has signed his rookie deal and will be in house ready to compete against Jimmy Garoppolo throughout training camp. May the best man win!

 4 years @ $34.1 million contract with a $22.2 million signing bonus. The $34.1 million is guaranteed, and the 49ers have the option to pick up a fifth-year option after Lance’s third season.

Training camp primer

By Scooter_McG

Finally! The long break waiting for training camp to start is drawing to a close, with the 49ers training camp set to start next week. So now is a good time to run through each of the position groups and the key things to look at for at each throughout camp:

QB: Let's start with the big one, the one most people will be focusing on. Jimmy G enters as the incumbent and as the guy the 49ers front office and head coach continue to indicate will be the starter in 2021. But he's the starter... until he isn't. He's no longer the future of the 49ers. QBOTF Trey Lance will be prepped to at least be the backup QB, so will get a lot of reps through training camp to get him ready to contribute if and when called upon. Given the type of player and person he is, you can bet he will come into camp well prepared and ready to compete. If he shows he is across the offense, he will be given every opportunity to compete for that starting job. You can expect that 'Trey Lance watch' will be the theme of most off season reports from the local beat writers. 

Lost in the hype of the impending Jimmy G and Trey Lance battle is the team also needs to figure out who the third QB will be. While much more low key, the battle between Nate Sudfeld and Josh Rosen will also be intriguing. Will Rosen start to show his talent? Or will Rich Scangarello get his man?

RB: The RB room is potentially one of the more loaded groups on the team. Which should make for some interesting training camp battles and tough roster math by the end of the training camp. Juice will obviously be the FB, but the tailbacks are in a bit of a logjam. Wilson's injury provides a little more breathing space for the rest of the group, but the jostling for roles between Mostert, Sermon, Gallman, Mitchell and Hasty will be fun to watch. Can Sermon take the lead RB role from Mostert? Can Mitchell surprise and carve out a significant role, or will Gallman's experience and professionalism see him fight off the challenge? And can Hasty surprise in year 2 and beat any of the others for one of the (likely) four tailback spots on the 53-man roster.   

WR: In my opinion, this is potentially a more intriguing position group than QB. After Deebo and Aiyuk there is a whole lot of question marks. Which is why the 49ers have been looking to add a WR to the roster since the offseason program began. I will be looking closely to see if a player stands out early in camp to take the lead for that third WR role. The players I will be paying attention to will be Hurd, Sanu, Sherfield, James, Benjamin and Jennings. But don't write off any of White, Cracraft, Fowler, Watkins and Jones - this is the most unsettled and uncertain group on the team. Return specialist Nsimba Webster was also recently added, and the team's need for a consistent return man may give him a leg up on making the roster. Don't be surprised if the 49ers continue to look for more additions at this position. 

TE: The number 1 TE role is clear-cut with George Kittle. But how will the rest of the TE group shake out? Dwelley and Woerner are the incumbents and would seem the most likely to be TE's 2 and 3, respectively. They play different roles, with Dwelley more the pass catching TE and Woerner more the blocking specialist (though he is still inexperienced and athletic, so may grow to be more than just that). There are a few wild cards here though. First, the team signed MyCole Pruitt, previously of the Titans. Pruitt distinguished himself as a high quality blocking TE with the Titans and could put pressure on Woerner for that role with the 49ers. Levine Toilolo was an important if unheralded part of the 2019 49ers success running the ball, and they didn't adequately replace him in 2020. Pruitt may be just the man to do it. The other wild cards for mine are actually WRs - big guys like Hurd and Jennings may get looked at as options to take over from the role Jordan Reed was signed to play last season. Effectively a big slot. Another key question that they will need to answer is how many TEs will they keep on the roster? 

OL: 4 of the 5 starting spots appear to already be sewn up on the OL, with Williams (LT), Tomlinson (LG), Mack (C) and McGlinchey (RG). The RG spot, however, is up for grabs. Rookie Aaron Banks will no doubt be a guy to watch and one that the local beat writers and fans keep close tabs on - he was drafted in the 2nd round and expectations will be high that he can win that job. But Brunskill has proven to be a capable performer in a variety of roles and won't be easy to beat out for a rookie. And don't rule out Colton McKivitz - the team was very high on him last year and with a full offseason program under his belt he may be primed to make a strong run for a starting role. 5th round pick Jaylon Moore is also in the mix. Obviously the three players that miss out on the RG starting role will be in the mix for key backup roles, but another interesting battle may be for the swing OT spot. Shon Coleman has been unlucky so far in his time with the 49ers, but this may be his opportunity to win that swing OT role. With Skule out for the year, McKivitz and Moore seem like his main competition, though Brunskill also showed his versatility to play OT in 2019. Senio Kelemete was signed when Skule got injured and may also be in the mix, but would appear to be on the outside looking in. 

DL: The DL will be an interesting one, not only to see how roles shake out, but also how key players come back from injury, and how they line up. The successful return of Bosa, and potentially also Ford, will be vital to the success of this unit. The team signed DEs Ebukam and Key, but neither have proven to be consistently good pass rushers in the NFL as yet. It would appear Armstead is set to stay at DE the majority of snaps. This may not be what many fans want, but could be a sign of how the defense is evolving, with the team happy to sacrifice pass rush on first and second down for more size and strength, to allow them to play less 8-man boxes on early downs while still being ready to stop the run. Looking at the DTs on the roster further supports this idea. Leaner DTs like Buckner and Thomas are now gone, replaced by bigger, stronger DTs such as Kinlaw and Kerr. The rotation of Kinlaw, Jones and Kerr should ensure the team is stout up the middle. Kevin Givens and Maurince Hurst will provide some pass rush juice at DT, likely more as subs on later and obvious passing downs. Other players to keep an eye on will be Kentavius Street and Jordan Willis, though Willis will miss the opening weeks of the regular season due to suspension.

LB: All Paid Fred will headline this unit, with Greenlaw his main sidekick. But after the two main starters there are some question marks. Nate Gerry looked like he might be in the mix for the third LB spot, but was recently released after getting injured in offseason work. The three main options for the third LB role now appear to be returning 49ers Al-Shaair and Flannigan-Fowles, as well as new man James Burgess. All three players have primarily been STs players so far in the NFL. Undrafted rookie Justin Hilliard may have an opportunity to work his way onto the 53-man roster. An X-factor that may play into roster decisions is how the team wants to employ their safeties. The likes of Marcel Harris, Tavon Wilson and rookie Talanoa Hufanga could be options to see action in place of a third LB. 

CB: Verrett, Moseley and Williams would appear to be set as the starters at CB. A bit like the WR room, after the starters there is some question marks. Rookies Ambry Thomas and Demo Lenoir could be in line to be the 4th and 5th CBs, and could see plenty of action early in the careers. Dontae Johnson returns (again) to provide much needed depth and experience. After that, the team has the likes of Ken Webster, Tim Harris and Mark Fields - none of which inspire much confidence. I wouldn't be shocked if the team added a low price vet to the group just before camp starts. 

S: Safety could be another low-key very intriguing training camp group to watch. Jimmie Ward will be one of the starters and a defensive leader for the team. But after that, there are plenty of interesting battles to watch. Tartt would appear the most likely candidate to return in a starting role opposite Ward, but the team didn't prioritise re-signing him. The team has brought in Tavon Wilson and Tony Jefferson, two highly experienced starting safeties that should be right in the mix for that starting job. Of note, Jefferson is not much of a STs player, meaning his value to the team diminishes significantly if he doesn't earn a significant playing time role on defense. Wilson on the other hand is an excellent STs player, and would seem likely to make the roster regardless of whether he earns significant playing time on defense. Marcell Harris returns as well, and could be in the mix for the starting safety position, but the decision to bring in extra competition suggests the team doesn't expect Harris to make that position his own. Rookie Hufanga may have a tough time earning much playing time as one of the deep safeties as a rookie, but as mentioned previously, he and Harris could be in the mix to play a little closer to the line of scrimmage as a big nickel/ dime safety/LB hybrid. 

Specialists: Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky and Taybor Pepper all return as the specialists. The main battle of interest here will be the punt return specialist. Newly signed Nsimba Webster may earn himself a roster spot purely through lack of other reliable options.  

Let the battles begin!