Photo Credit: 49ers – Terrell Lloyd
49ers’ training camp is technically over, but there is another week before roster cuts are due. There is still time for impressions to be made on the coaching staff, but the roster, at this point, is fairly rigid.
Clint S. asks via Instagram: Do any of you miss cold weather if you’re from the east?
I’m not sure how you knew that, but occasionally, yes. And then I remind myself I’d have to shovel snow 5-10 times a year which is hellish. More than anything I miss the Italian food, bagels and innate, hilarious anger everyone from New Jersey displays at all times.
Mona S. asks via Instagram: How are players and trainers keeping safe at camp?
Daily testing – players need three-straight positive tests to participate in camp and players are tested each day. If a test fails (the NFL has a deal with BioReference Labs with five different lab sites across the country), they run a point of care test, which is tested at the practice site, not sent to the lab. There are other protocols each organization has put in place, too. Players, at least at the start, were wearing masks everywhere, along with beepers to notify them if they were within six feet of one another. Meeting rooms have spaced out seating to keep players six feet apart and there are individual weightlifting tents outside.
Kenny M. asks via Instagram: How does McKinnon look?
Healthy, which is the most important thing. He doesn’t look like he has the exact same burst as he once had, but he’s still quick and a viable receiving target.
Paul J. asks via Instagram: How likely is it SF goes with more DB depth with Cyprien over DL depth with a guy like Jordan?
I cannot see Dion Jordan making the roster. He’s not shown a sign that he’s worth retaining. That said, the team took 10 defensive linemen last year and they love having substantial depth there. I would expect that to result in 10 defensive linemen being taken. They’re also likely going to take four safeties on the roster because Jimmie Ward, or even Tarvarius Moore, may have to play nickel to open the year. The tradeoff may be at a skill position; whether they keep three quarterbacks, four running backs or four tight ends, if they want to go with more than nine defensive backs. If they keep nine, though, they don’t need a tradeoff elsewhere.
Christian Z. asks via Instagram: Chances Jauan Jennings makes the 53?
High. He’s had rookie moments, but he’s also looked like the most dynamic red zone threat not named Jordan Reed. He operates as a funky option out of the slot who could give the 49ers a unique look. Imagining him on the field two tight end sets with Reed and Kittle (and maybe Kendrick Bourne) in not oft-used jumbo formations is bringing a tear to my eye. Jalen Hurd would have filled that role perfectly, but Jennings is looking like he could fill the void capably.
Nick N. asks via Instagram: Will Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and K’Waun Williams be ready for Week 1?
Maybe. It’s too far out to tell. That’s when the 49ers hope they’ll be back. You can add Kyle Juszczyk and Nick Bosa to that list, who have a hamstring strain and leg muscle strain, respectively, and are week-to-week.
Bobby B. asks via Instagram: Does Trent Taylor look close to being as good as he was before he broke he foot?
Yes. He’s remained Garoppolo’s favorite target, though the defense seems like it’s done a better job against him in recent days. Still, the battle of (Trent) Taylor vs. (Jamar) Taylor has undoubtedly gone in Trent’s favor. He’s quick getting in and out of routes and has displayed no hesitancy in planting his foot.
Cole Q. asks via Instagram: Why is George Kittle so good?
More than anything, he works relentlessly in all facets: physically, tactically and technically. But my favorite factor is that he’s a lunatic on the field. He loves contact; there is quite literally nothing the man loves more than pancaking another human after driving him back for 10 yards. Simply put, he loves it and works harder than everyone else at it. Oh, and he’s also an athletic freak.
Joseph A. asks via Instagram: Who should be the starting corner opposite Sherm?
Right now, Ahkello Witherspoon. His confidence is high, he’s not hampered by an injury, and of the three (Witherspoon, Emmanuel Moseley and Jason Verrett), I’ve seen him burned the least, and the most aggressive in tracking and attacking the ball, an area which he struggled mightily in after losing some confidence.
Rob G. asks via Instagram: What is the main focus for the defense this year? How can they improve?
The run game. They can do that solely by staying healthy: with D.J. Jones, Ronald Blair, Kerry Hyder, Kentavius Street, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens. Those rotational guys are key on run downs and the 49ers were spread thin there last season. When Jones and Blair fell apart, so too did the run defense, though it wasn’t stellar to begin with. The key on run downs may be the basics: better play identification and defensive linemen maintaining gap integrity.
Dryden asks via Instagram: Why is everyone getting injured?
Shorter camp, more pressure to ramp up quicker. The NFL ignored its own doctors’ recommendations on ramp-up time were: 21 days strength and conditioning, 10 days of non-padded practices, then 14 days of contact acclimation. The 49ers would just be starting padded practice and the league would have had to push back the start of the season in order to accommodate this.
Rick V. asks via Instagram: How is Kittle looking in camp?
He looks like Kittle, when he’s out there. They’ve basically kept him on ice.
Elias B. asks via Instagram: Who is the guy who will surprise everyone?
Kentavius Street, or Solomon Thomas, or Kerry Hyder. All three of those guys have impressed, with Hyder showing speed off the edge and a knack for tracking the ball carrier, and Thomas displaying a rip move and improved confidence as a veritable inside pass rush threat. But Street has been the most impressive of anyone. He’s successfully rushed from the edge and from the interior with a combination of speed and raw strength that’s similar to D.J. Jones. Jones, by the way, will have 5.0-plus sacks if he’s healthy this year. That’s my hot take.
Connor S. asks via Instagram: Does Shanahan intend on keeping 3 QBs this year?
Probably. He loves C.J. Beathard. Just can’t quit him. To be fair, Beathard has looked much improved from last offseason.
Tyler L. asks via Instagram: Who has been the most surprising/impressive addition to this year’s team?
In terms of who’s the most impressive, Trent Williams. But that was obvious. We knew he’d be great. But surprising? Kerry Hyder. He has the jack-of-all-trades skillset that Ronald Blair has, but rushes with a ton of speed. He’s entertaining to watch.
Collin asks via Twitter: How will the team handle a potential K’Waun Williams extended injury? Do they start playing Kwon, Dre, and Fred together on 3rd downs, move Ward to Nickel, or just rely on an inexperienced player to take over the role?
They won’t abandon nickel sets because Williams is out, but they could opt for Ward. They’re being very secretive about who’s playing there, but anyone from Emmanuel Moseley to Jason Verrett or Tarvarius Moore could play there. If it’s not Ward, my money is on Verrett.
Tom M. asks via Facebook: Who looks like they have the edge at Right Guard?
It would be Brunskill, but he’s probably your starting center for Week 1. My best guess is Tom Compton. He’s a veteran who should be at least passible. Colton McKivitz is the other option and he’s certainly improved since the 49ers slid in him inside, where he was destined to play. But he’s still a rookie, and experience usually wins out in these spot situations early on.
Larry B. asks via Facebook: Josh Hokit have a good chance to make the team?
No, but he’ll be on the practice squad.
Jim S. asks via Facebook: How has Kinlaw looked so far in camp?
Exactly like a rookie who was drafted as a physical, unpolished project, with far less time than rookies have had in the past decade: raw. He’s going to be frustrating if you expect him to be anything near what DeForest Buckner was. It’s going to take him time. It might not be until year three he really starts to fulfill that potential, but he’s going to have his moments. While he’ll get frustrated frequently, he has the strength and size to maintain gaps and he will have flashes of violence, ripping through the lineman in front of him. I would say his performance has been 50/40/10: 50 percent unpolished and sloppy, 40 percent decent in terms of not losing ground or gap integrity, and 10 percent pure brute force domination, usually against a younger lineman.
Anthony M. asks via Facebook: Will there be a season?
Yes. Now, if there are COVID breakouts within teams, it may get shortened, and a playoff bubble could happen. But the season is happening and it’s almost here.
Stephen T. asks via Facebook: How has Bourne looked throughout camp?
Bourne is Jimmy Garoppolo’s second-favorite wide receiving target. He looks more polished from the outside, where he has not excelled in previous years, which is encouraging, because he’ll need to play more outside the slot with Trent Taylor back.
Benjamin T. asks via Facebook: How’s my boy Greenlaw doing?
Looked rough in pass defense early, but is recognizing plays faster now.
Jas C. asks via Facebook: How does Pettis look? Could we have a legit 1-2 threat with him and Deebo back?
Pettis is genuinely looking impressive. His physicality in attacking the ball over the middle of the field is the most promising aspect. He needs to show that consistently and as a punt returner, too. He muffed one in practice and was repped two-straight times; it seems like Shanahan wants him to win that job. I don’t see him being the 1-2 threat with Deebo Samuel, at least not yet. This comes off like a redemption season for Pettis, but he has to prove that aggression will translate to the regular season. I could see him going for something like 400-500 yards receiving and a few touchdown catches. That’s not to say that he hasn’t impressed or that he’s not capable of more, but they drafted Brandon Aiyuk for a reason, and he and Samuel are the 1-2 pairing on this team if there is one.
Cutter H. asks via Facebook: How’s the running game looking with the addition of Trent Williams?
Everything is better with Trent Williams.