When it comes to the 49ers’ Super Bowl blunders, two plays stand out more than others, and ghostly questions about them are addressed at training camp.
First is the deep ball of Jimmy Garoppolo. Second is the mentality of cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.
Turning Emmanuel Sanders on a potential Super Bowl-saving touchdown should not define Garoppolo’s season and sensational comeback from knee construction. But honestly, everyone looks hard at every pass over 20 yards, and after a few fatalities early in camp he hit deep passes.
After a sweet strike to Brandon Aiyuk for a 50-yard touchdown on Sunday, Garoppolo teamed up with Kendrick Bourne for a 40-yard completion against safety Jimmie Ward late in camp’s first padded practice.
“The more opportunities we get, of course, the better they will be. Hopefully we can generate a lot more of that in camp, ”said coach Kyle Shanahan. “Then you see what coverage is from week 1 to 16, and you attack them, because we will not prevent any part of the field. We will take part in what they give us. ”
The Chiefs outscored the Super Bowl among the 49ers with a fourth-quarter rally, topped by a third-and-15 finish in which Moseley took a wrong path in coverage. Moseley has ‘really thought’ about the play and revisited it in the six-plus months since that time.
“I use it as learning and moving on to the next season,” Moseley said. “Did it as motivation when I was training, working on my eye mechanics and just being ready for this year.”
Moseley is the favorite to start at right-back, and although the 49ers will look to Jason Verrett and Ahkello Witherspoon, Moseley has a solid supporter in All-Pro Richard Sherman.
“Sherm has helped my game a lot and it will continue to improve,” Moseley said. “We talk a lot on and off the field. He has been a big brother to me. ”
Other observations from the 90-minute practice of Monday that was over noon with temperatures in the low 90s.
COVID CONCERNS: Dre Greenlaw, a second-year linebacker, expressed his concerns before campaigning on how the NFL would pull off a season in the COVID-19 pandemic. He is under the impression about the precautionary measures taken by the 49ers and league.
‘I feel very comfortable here in training camp. “The organization has done a good job of erasing everything and ensuring that we are safe,” Greenlaw said. “There are still worries about the season, but there is less stress with the protocols set up around us. You never know what might happen in the future, especially against boys. ‘
ROLES OF BRUNSKILL: Daniel Brunskill, whose versatility made him a first-year gem last season, turns against Tom Compton and Ben Garland on right guard and center, respectively. Wille Center Weston Richburg remains on the physically non-performing list (knee) and could stay there for the first six weeks of the season, so getting Brunskill on top at the center is an obvious priority in this camp, unlike last year when he only made comedies there.
“This year I’m more focused on technology while trying to be perfect with the snaps and IDs,” Brunskill said. ‘It also helped me to wait. … I know where everything’s going and make me ID what I need to do much faster. ”
Complicating his challenge is the impressive presence of Javon Kinlaw, the 49ers’ no. 1 draft and 319-pound defensive tackle.
“He’s a very big boy, a lot harder to move,” Brunskill said. ‘I’ve been against him in pass pro a few times and it’s like hitting a wall. He is a massive man and will be for us a gate of a player. ”
PASS RUSH VS. TACKLES: Offensively, Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey did better in team action against Dee Ford and Nick Bosa, though no one really went full speed ahead. Of that engaging quartet, Ford’s status was mostly about its full-season surgery to reduce knee pain.
“He has more energy in these first three exercises, came off the ball better than this time last year in camp,” Shanahan said. “… He is in a much better place. That’s great for him. It makes him exercise hard to get better. ”
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PICK FINISH: Safety Marcell Harris’ second interception in as many days, this one against Nick Mullens, put an end to Monday’s practice. Harris is on the hunt for a backup role behind trusted starter Jaquiski Tartt.
INJURY UPDATE: Aside from the big news about wide receiver Jalen Hurd’s knee injury that is likely to cost him this season, the 49ers have other problems. Nickel back K’Waun Williams (bald) missed his second straight practice. Defensive approach Arik Armstead (back) passed this camp for the first time and did individual work with a coach. Tight-end Jordan Reed continues to draw a light workload to upgrade his condition before facing defenders, Shanahan said.
TOUCHDOWN TIME: The 49ers did their first session of the red zone and it produced touchdown catches by Kendrick Bourne (two), George Kittle, Raheem Mostert and Shawn Poindexter.
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