A 49ers training camp is two days away from commencing in Santa Clara, and for the first time in several years, there isn’t complete and utter skepticism from one of the smartest fan bases in the NFL.
Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have walked into the building with an actual plan. Isn’t that refreshing?
The new regime aggressively used free agency to give Trent Baalke’s decaying roster a necessary overhaul. Landing both Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster on Day 1 of the NFL Draft was considered a massive win by most analysts. Lynch and Shanahan at least addressed quarterback and wide receiver, even if those answers are temporary. Pro Bowlers like Joe Staley say they are legitimately giddy arriving to the facility every morning.
The vibes are positive heading into August. By the time the season starts, Shanahan and Lynch will hope to have more clarity on these five questions surrounding the team.
What is the plan at running back?
Group me in with those that think cutting Carlos Hyde before the season would be a little preposterous. The excellent Gregg Rosenthal reported this on his podcast last week, but I’m just not buying it.
Nope, Hyde’s never had a 1,000-yard season in his first three years in the league. But consider this: Hyde has been rushing against 8-man fronts more than most running backs in the league. The 49ers’ lack of a passing game has stacked the deck against Hyde. With the efficient Brian Hoyer leading Shanahan’s passing game? That could change. Hyde is still a powerful runner capable of having success with this veteran offensive line group. Because of the non-tackling nature of training camp, I need to see for my own two eyes Hyde struggling in the regular season before I give up on him.
Okay, so we give Hyde the starting job Week 1 against the Panthers. How long of a leash does he have? Shanahan really doesn’t care about status when it comes to this position. He phased out coveted free agent Ben Tate in Cleveland, handing carries to rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell instead. Sixth-round pick Alfred Morris leapfrogged everyone on Washington’s depth chart and galloped for 1,613 yards in 2012. The best player will play.
There is pressure on Hyde because of Shanahan’s previous dealings with running backs — not that he isn’t capable. My guess: some of these reports of Hyde’s job status could be leaks from within to see if it motivates him to have the best training camp of his career.
With that said, Hyde’s leash won’t be tremendously long. Weeks 1 and 2 are against Carolina and Seattle, respectively, which doesn’t bode well for the 25-year-old. Shanahan basically forced John Lynch to pick Joe Williams in the fourth round for a reason. The head coach wouldn’t take a running back that high if he didn’t think there was tremendous potential. If Williams is making big plays in the preseason, there’s a chance he could upset Hyde.
For the coveted third running back spot? Don’t forget about Matt Breida, who I reported in May was the best rookie on the field during minicamp. Kapri Bibbs, acquired via trade with the Broncos during the draft, might be the fastest running back on the roster. Tim Hightower is the wisest. None can be written off yet.
How much will Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster contribute immediately?
When’s the last time a team drafted two rookies in the first round and had neither participate in the offseason program? Thomas was forced to finish classes at Stanford, while Foster was sidelined rehabbing his shoulder after surgery. It’s a peculiar case that Shanahan and Lynch hope to solve during training camp.
There has been some healthy internal debate on which defensive line position best fits Thomas, something Lynch views as a positive. The late (and surprising) addition of Elvis Dumervil likely puts Thomas at defensive tackle instead of defensive end. While away from the 49ers, Thomas worked out with DeMarcus Ware and Warren Sapp, an encouraging sign for his commitment to be a game-changer. How improved the 49ers are against the run is where Thomas will likely begin to make a name for himself early in the 2017 season.
Free agent signing Malcolm Smith had an impressive offseason program at linebacker, which makes Foster’s climb up the depth chart a little more challenging. It’s also likely the 49ers’ medical staff won’t make Foster an every day participant during training camp to ensure his shoulder recovers. There’s a chance the No. 30 pick starts the season as a backup. Then again, Lynch said he drafted Foster because of his relentlessness. When the 49ers watched him on film, he plays so hard it forces other teammates to match his intensity. If that’s the case from the beginning, it’ll be hard to take him off the field.
Who wins the second cornerback job?
Rashard Robinson is locked in as San Francisco’s top corner. The 49ers would feel much better with Tramaine Brock on the roster, but they made a quick decision to release him after domestic violence allegations. It’s left them with a large question mark at one of the most important positions on the field.
Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and rookie third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon will compete for the other starting spot. Reaser emerged as the early favorite during the offseason program, but Johnson will be given every chance to dethrone him in a competition that’s barely begun.
What’s more likely is that we see all three players starting at some point alongside Robinson in 2017. The 49ers’ new regime is being naive if they don’t expect Johnson and Reaser to get picked on by opposing offensive coordinators. The struggles could get so bad that columnists like myself could end up clamoring to put Jimmie Ward back at his original position.
The 49ers’ best hope? Witherspoon emerges in the middle of the season just as Robinson did in 2016 as a rookie. Defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley is regarded as one of the best teachers in the NFL, a reason Shanahan kept him as a holdover from Chip Kelly’s staff.
Which sleeper wide receiver emerges?
Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin are your penciled in starters for Week 1 against the Panthers, but after that, there’s a lot to sort through.
Jeremy Kerley was re-signed before free agency even began, signaling the 49ers think he’ll have a role. Because Shanahan uses anyone and everyone in the slot, there will be heat on Kerley.
Fifth-round pick Trent Taylor was Shanahan’s draft crush and Lynch said last month on KNBR he’s been everything the team has hoped for. Aldrick Robinson was a home run hitter for Shanahan in both Washington and Atlanta — it would be surprising if he didn’t make the team. Oregon State undrafted free agent Victor Bolden Jr. flashed his shiftiness and route running during the offseason program. There’s also Georgia Southern undrafted rookie B.J. Johnson, who was kept in favor of K.D. Cannon after his surprising cut during rookie minicamp.
Will C.J. Beathard show enough to be a possible starter in 2018?
It seems impossible to answer this question through a handful of August practices and four preseason games, but there are signs and keys Shanahan will be hoping to see from the third-round pick.
First and foremost: accuracy. Shanahan won’t play you if you aren’t consistently hitting the target. It’s the main reason Colin Kaepernick wasn’t kept. Next will be Beathard’s ability to handle wordy play-calls in the huddle, something he’s already accustomed to from his days in Iowa’s pro-style offense. Marrying footwork to his eyes will take years to master, but it’ll be a point of emphasis.
If Beathard comes out and has an eye-opening preseason, and Matt Barkley’s struggles are apparent, don’t be stunned if the 49ers throw the rookie as the second quarterback on the depth chart. And if for some reason the team falls flat on their face in 2017, Beathard will give an audition for 2018 in the month of December.