Photo credit: 49ers
Friday’s practice began a bit earlier than the 49ers had initially planned, as the weirdest NFL training camp got just a bit weirder. The team moved practice up an hour due to air quality concerns from the surrounding fires in the Bay Area, namely the CZU Lightning Complex fire southeast of Santa Clara.
Air quality moves
There is no shortage of oddities in this training camp, with players being tested daily, many of whom are separated from their families, masks abound and media separated from the team via a box and Zoom calls, but Friday threw a non-COVID-related wrinkle into things.
Due to poor air quality, the team moved up practice by an hour, and before 11-on-11s, two players were forced to end practice as the air quality reached an unsatisfactory threshold, according to a team spokesperson. Offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith, who bullied Dion Jordan into throwing a punch at him on Thursday, and Tevin Coleman both left practice as the air quality diminished.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh made a point to credit head coach Kyle Shanahan and administrative assistant to the head coach Nick Kray, and the performance staff for getting practice organized and off the ground early.
“They did an unbelievable job, just resetting the schedule, moving things up, adjusting on the fly,” Saleh said. “When you’ve got a group of guys that work together, and we’re going on year four now, I bet it went unnoticed to the rest of the people in the organization. So, it’s a testament to those guys. They’ve always got plan B in their back pocket and players probably didn’t notice anything other than a 30-minute change in time.”
Practice report
Line battles:
- Arik Armstead was back on the field, participating in 1-on-1s and 11-on-11s but with limited reps.
- Dion Jordan continues to look like the worst edge rusher on the team, consistently rushing with no plan of attack and getting high in his stance immediately. Jonathon Kongbo looks a better option at this point.
- Kentavius Street and Solomon Thomas remained impressive, with Thomas beating perhaps the offensive line standout of camp, Laken Tomlinson, in 1-on-1s. That’s no easy feat. Tomlinson has been just as reliable as Trent Williams thus far and looks undoubtedly like the best part of the interior offensive line. Street beat Tom Compton badly, though was stopped by Compton on the next three reps. It’s looking very much like an interior offensive line of Compton-Daniel Brunskill-Tomlinson to start the season.
- Kevin Givens, who has had some consistency issues from a technical standpoint, looked like he got back in a rhythm Friday, beating Colton McKivitz and pulling a swim move out to get a sack versus Hroniss Grassu.
- Nick Bosa got back at Trent Williams after being stonewalled on his first attempt, pulling out a counter inside move. Bosa then moved over to face Mike McGlinchey, winning his first rep on the second move, and then getting stuffed by McGlinchey.
Offense:
- JaMycal Hasty continues to present the front office problems with how to get him on the roster. If the 49ers take four running backs, it’s likely Raheem Mostert, Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman and Jeff Wilson Jr. given that Wilson will be harder to keep on the practice squad. Hasty looks as rapid as he did in college, bursting through the line of scrimmage when given the chance to and presenting himself as a yards after catch option.
- Brandon Aiyuk remains impressive, though he’s largely been limited to shorter route patterns. That’s not knocking their effectiveness, though. He’s made the most of them, breaking off sizable gains with frequency after the catch, and making some middle-depth catches on Friday.
- Said Richard Sherman of Aiyuk:”Brandon has come in as a rookie and has been incredible. You know, he’s really stood out. Obviously, you come in as a rookie, no OTAs, you kind of lower the bar because you just aren’t giving them a chance. Kyle has a really complicated system, and he’s come in and really, really blossomed. And you got to give him credit for what he’s been able to do. And obviously his skillset in terms of the moves, he’s only going to get better, but he’s really good where he is right now.”
- Jerick McKinnon didn’t have a stellar day, frequently getting stonewalled and having a drop for the second-straight practice, but when the ball is in his hands in space, he looks terrifying to defenses.
Defense
- Richard Sherman and recently-signed Johnathon Cyprien both had interceptions on Friday. Cyprien’s came first, as Jauan Jennings ran the wrong route, and Cyprien plucked the ball softly out of the air. Sherman got his as Jimmy Garoppolo threw a ball into no-man’s land, discernibly on another miscommunication, way over the head of Kendrick Bourne and into Sherman’s arms.
- All of the competing corners in Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jason Verrett were fantastic today, limiting receptions mainly to shorter yardage throws.
- At slot corner Jamar Taylor is the clear option behind K’Waun Williams and Jimmie Ward has experience there, but the 49ers could potentially look to some younger players in the slot. Tarvarius Moore effectively played a couple snaps there in the Super Bowl and has the athleticism to match up with tight ends, and Moseley has the physicality that might work there, if the 49ers were to give either of the two a look at the nickel spot.
- Ward and Jaquiski Tartt remain outstanding. Not much to add there, but it’s worth affirming just how dominant they look in coverage.
- The one weakness of the defense thus far is the pass defense of the linebackers. Dre Greenlaw and Kwon Alexander have both allowed a handful of catches along the sidelines and Fred Warner got beat by George Kittle today. Ross Dwelley is also presenting problems.
Interior defensive line depth: Street and Thomas look promising
D.J. Jones was out of practice with a shoulder injury. The severity of that injury is unknown, but the team is running more tests to see how long he’ll be out. Saleh said results are expected back later on Friday. With Jones out, the 49ers are left with just one out-and-out nose tackle on the active roster in UDFA signing Darrion Daniels. Daniels has looked strong, but inconsistent, as you’d expect, for an undrafted rookie who didn’t get the luxury of OTAs or rookie minicamp.
Saleh made sure to clarify that the 49ers don’t exactly operate with a 1-technique. They put players in different positions, and don’t necessarily need a Vince Wilfork type.
Thus far, Kentavius Street, finally healthy, has looked dominant, playing from both the interior and outside as a five-technique. Solomon Thomas looks as strong as ever and while he’s been stuffed a fair few times, he appears to have a better handle on his skillset and is generating pressure on a more regular basis.
Saleh pointed to Street, Thomas and basically the rest (Daniels and Kevin Givens) as comfortable depth options along the interior. Thomas started in place of Jones on Friday.
Street has stood out throughout camp, winning 1-on-1 battles frequently, and generating pressure in 11-on-11s at the same rate. He’s also slotted outside as a defensive end. Last year, Shanahan said the team viewed Street, a defensive end at NC State, as an interior player, but he’s looked more than capable at both positions thus far.
He told KNBR last year that he brings “a lot of versatility,” and is proving thus far that it’s not just optimistic bluster.
Corner competition
The corner spot is seemingly up for grabs between Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jason Verrett. All three have taken reps with the starting units. Friday was Verrett’s turn. His footwork and ball tracking look elite. He’s allowed catches almost solely on underneath routes, in the <5 yard range.
He received plaudits from Saleh and Richard Sherman.
“He’s way further along this year. His feet look incredible,” Sherman said. “His confidence is rising with every day. He’s so, so sound and he’s so hard on himself. But he’s been fantastic at the line of scrimmage. That’s something that coming into camp he wanted to improve on and something that he’s improved drastically on just from last year. Obviously in his best years he was incredible at the line of scrimmage. And I think he’s regained in that form, that confidence.”
The thing is, there’s been no clear distinction between the group. All three of Verrett, Moseley and Witherspoon look at the very least above average. All have impressive footwork, though Verrett’s is probably the cleanest, but Moseley and Witherspoon are more reliable, younger, physical options.
Saleh affirmed the competition is still wide open.
“They’re really competing. They’re doing a great job helping one another out,” Saleh said.
“They’re focused. I really think that they’re enjoying the heck out of it.”
