Welcome back to football, folks!
Well, something like football. That certainly wasn’t the full program.
But it was good enough for August.
Here are the stars and losers from the first warm-up game against the Titans.
💪 Stud earrings 💪
Brandon Allen and Josh Dobbs
» Allen played well, including some over-the-top throws. Dobbs was impressive in the second half, bringing up the bottom end of the team with nice throws and some necessary scrums.
As evidenced by the order in which they played (Allen in the first half, Dobbs in the second), it’s clear where the lineup stands. But Dobbs played well enough to justify the 49ers keeping three quarterbacks on the active roster at the end of the month.
Offensive starting line
» Credit where credit is due: After some seriously questionable training sessions, these guys played well against the competition.
The Niners had to sit out Jaylon Moore, as he is the team’s left tackle until Trent Williams shows up. That put Chris Hubbard in the most important position on the line. He was good. We also saw Nick Zakelj play center in the first unit – a telling move by the 49ers that could indicate the now veteran player is a sure bet for this roster.
Malik Mustapha
» There’s every reason to believe he can be a special player. He made two exciting plays in the run game. For a defense that will struggle in the run game (Saturday was the last indication of that), that could prove to be hugely important, especially in the second half of the season.
Eric Saubert
» The experienced blocking tight end has obliterated opposing defenders. The Niners were disappointed to lose Charlie Woerner as a free agent. I think they upgraded with Saubert.
Kyle Shanahan
» The Niners head coach didn’t call any plays for the first time since arriving in San Francisco, letting Klay Kubiak run the offense.
“I didn’t really know what to do with my hands,” Shanahan said after the game.
Cody Schrader
» The stats don’t say much, but anyone who watched the game saw that Schreder was outstanding not only as a runner but as a pass protector as well. He is the team’s No. 3 running back until Elijah Mitchell returns.
JP Mason
» There’s your No. 2 running back. That could also be the case when Mitchell returns from his injury.
📉 FLAP SHIPPING 📉
Jake Moody
» What kind of first kickoff was that? Kicking the ball to the 7-yard line couldn’t have been the plan. Ambry Thomas and Curtis Robinson also deserve contempt for Tennessee’s great return. Starting after a foul on the 49ers’ 15-yard line is unacceptable.
Ambry Thomas
» A massive miss on the Titans’ kickoff. A hold that negated an excellent third down stop at the goal line. One miss after another in the running game. Thomas can count himself lucky that he was injured in this game – now he can stay on the squad.
The defense line
» Kalia Davis had his moments, but the Niners got nothing from Yetur Gross-Matos, Robert Beal, Ty McGill and the rest of the second unit that was in the game.
This is a problem because the 49ers will often have to rely on the second line of defense next season.
There’s a reason the Niners were looking for a defensive end in a trade for Brandon Aiyuk. We saw it on Saturday.
