What to watch for as the 49ers host the Broncos in preseason
The 49ers don’t care about preseason results, but Kyle Shanahan and his staff do care about performances and players they may need to depend on in the regular season showing signs of development. As such, the Niners will want to see a lot better than San Francisco produced during their 34-7 loss to the Raiders […]
The 49ers don’t care about preseason results, but Kyle Shanahan and his staff do care about performances and players they may need to depend on in the regular season showing signs of development.
As such, the Niners will want to see a lot better than San Francisco produced during their 34-7 loss to the Raiders in the preseason opener last week when the Broncos visit Levi's Stadium.
Though the 49ers have one of the best rosters in the NFL, they enter the game still with plenty of questions to answer on both sides of the ball.
And, with the possibility that the starters may play at least some snaps, San Francisco’s home preseason opener carries no shortage of intrigue and features several areas to watch closely.
49ers: What to watch for as San Francisco hosts Denver
An O-Line reshuffle?
Last week against the Raiders the second-string offensive line that started the game endured a nightmare outing, with Trey Lance under constant pressure and left guard Nick Zakelj in particular having a difficult game. Zakelj, previously viewed as a favorite to make the team as a backup interior lineman, gave up four pressures according to Pro Football Focus.
While the second-string struggled, those further down the depth chart produced some impressive displays.
That may partially be the product of them facing players lower on the totem pole for the Raiders, but interior lineman Keith Ismael and tackles Leroy Watson and Ilm Manning gave up one pressure between them versus Las Vegas.
Watson and Manning are developmental players whose home for 2023 is most likely on the practice squad. However, with versatility that allows him to play both spots on the interior line and previous regular-season experience for Washington, Ismael has a shot at the 53. It will be interesting to see if any of that trio enter the rotation earlier than they did in the first exhibition.
Extra D-Line depth
The 49ers got precious little from a defensive line shorn of depth because of injuries against the Raiders.
San Francisco had just two pressures in that game, per PFF, and former Raider Clelin Ferrell registered their only sack.
Meanwhile the interior of the D-Line was too easily pushed around in the run game, with former first-round pick Javon Kinlaw enduring all too familiar struggles with his pad level.
It is a group that should have more options this week, though. Fifth-round rookie edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. is set to make his debut while Drake Jackson and Kalia Davis were doing individual work in Thursday’s practice, though it is unlikely the former would be risked given his likely expanded role at defensive end this season
Depth on the defensive line has long since been a calling card of the 49er defense. A strong showing here would provide reassurance that they still have it beyond their impressive starting front.
Time for tight ends to shine
One of the most eyebrow-raising developments of the Raiders game was that the rookie tight ends in whom the 49ers invested in the draft, third-rounder Cameron Latu and seventh-rounder Brayden Willis, were thoroughly outperformed by veterans Ross Dwelley and Troy Fumagalli.
With the 49ers wanting more out of the tight end position behind George Kittle, the lack of involvement in the passing game for Latu and Willis when they played in the second half was a surprise. The former, though, has not inspired confidence he deserves to be featured more. Latu has continually dropped passes in practice and committed a fumble and a holding penalty against the Raiders.
Latu’s room for error in terms of even making the roster may have diminished amid his persistent struggles, while Willis will want to prove he can translate some positive performances in training camp into a game situation.
The 49ers will obviously be happy to have a veteran presence at tight end behind Kittle, but the point of picking Latu and Willis was to acquire more upside at the backup spots. It’s high time for them to prove they can provide it.
Moody looks to make amends
The 49ers’ divisive selection of kicker Jake Moody with the 99th overall pick in this year’s draft looked dubious last week when he badly missed both his field goal attempts from 40 and 58 yards.
But Moody’s confidence has not been affected by those errant kicks and, after a strong week of practice in which the 49ers have looked to better prepare him for being iced by opposing coaches – which happened on both his efforts against the Raiders – he’ll hope to demonstrate why San Francisco took him in the top 100. Any more misses and the criticism will start to mount.
The nickel corner conundrum
Though Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson are in something of a battle for the starting defensive end spot across from Nick Bosa, the most compelling non-quarterback competition on the 49ers’ roster became apparent last week, and it is in the secondary.
Isaiah Oliver’s highly disappointing performance versus the Raiders helped blow the fight for the starting nickel spot wide open, with San Francisco considering several alternatives to the defender they signed to a two-year contract in free agency.
Undrafted free agent rookie D’Shawn Jamison and the unheralded former Detroit Lion A.J. Parker are both in the conversation to usurp Oliver, while the progress of Ambry Thomas at outside corner could facilitate a shift inside on passing downs for Deommodore Lenoir.
Lenoir has taken snaps inside in practice this week and, should he do so against the Broncos, that would be a clear indication the 49ers are leaning towards making that their primary plan of attack at nickel.
Of course, Lenoir playing versus Denver is entirely dependent on what Kyle Shanahan decides to do with his starters.
Will Purdy and the starters play?
Ferrell and Oliver were the only potential starters at non-specialist positions who played last week, but Shanahan indicated that could change for Week 2 of the preseason.
He hinted Purdy could play “a series or two” with some of the ones despite the 49ers’ starting quarterback taking 95 reps in 11 on 11 drills in practice this week.
Whether the 49ers decide to play Purdy may give a window into how his surgically repaired elbow on his throwing arm is responding to a heavier workload.
Shanahan didn’t reveal whether the defensive starters may also get some work to start the game. However, with the Niners seemingly considering a major alteration to their secondary makeup, it would perhaps behoove them to get an idea of whether a prospective changeup involving Thomas and Lenoir is one that will work in a game situation.
Darnold vs. Lance part two
The primary topic of conversation surrounding the 49ers continues to be the backup quarterback competition between Sam Darnold and Trey Lance, the latter having come in for heavy external criticism in the wake of an underwhelming showing after getting the start in the preseason opener.
Regardless of whether Purdy plays against Denver, Darnold will enter the game before Lance, giving him a distinct opportunity to further tilt the battle in his favor after a comparatively poised performance in his 49ers debut.
For Lance, it is approaching last-chance saloon territory. Getting the opportunity to go against the Broncos’ second and third-string in the second half, he must demonstrate an ability to deliver confident and decisive throws and produce against backups.
If he cannot even do that, the battle will be all but over and the conversation may definitively turn to when the 49ers will look to part ways with the man they picked as the future of the franchise in 2021.
Preseason games rarely live long in the memory but, with what could be revealed about their quarterbacks and the Niners' plans at a key position on defense, it is one that potentially carries more significance than most exhibitions.
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Featured Image Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
