SANTA CLARA – The 49ers had their sixth practice of training camp on Friday morning. They have only six practices left. They are half done.
Here’s who stood on Friday.
THE GOOD
1. Broad receiver Kendrick Bourne.
A team-high scored eight goals and a team-high made six catches. Through six practices for training camp, it is clear that Bourne is the 49ers no. 1 wide receiver. He’s a veteran, he has a contract year, he knows the crime, he has the confidence of Jimmy Garoppolo and he’s in great shape. Bourne will almost certainly be the starting flanker in Week 1, and will likely keep that job, even if Deebo Samuel returns from a broken foot. The 49ers must now offer Bourne a contract extension before having a great season.
2. Broad receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Made five catches during team drills – tied for second most on the 49ers with tight end George Kittle. The 49ers apparently prepared for Brandon Aiyuk for a starting role at split end of the season, and he seems ready. I doubt he will remain a starter when Deebo Samuel returns, but I think Aiyuk will go to flanker in a year or two and eventually become a starter in that position.
3. Broad receiver Tavon Austin.
Make the best catch of the morning. Ran a go-route on the sideline, stopping at a sentiment, passing cornerback Tim Harris Jr. and making a 20-yard catch before falling out of bounds. Austin will likely be one of the six veterans in the 49ers practice team this year. If he continues to play in practice, he can just make the 53-man roster.
4. Nos approached Solomon Thomas.
Yes, nose approach. Thomas replaced starter DJ Jones, who has a injured shoulder – more on him later. Thomas is much smaller than Jones, but still played surprisingly well against the onslaught at team drills. The 49ers offense struggled all morning to get yards to the ground, and Thomas was a major reason why. He may wrestle at nose tackle against teams with power, but against zone-blocking teams running sideline to sideline, he is a perfect nose tackle because he runs well for a defensive lineman.
5. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
Still struggling big time during one-on-one pass-rush drills – he could not even beat third center Hroniss Grasu today. But Kinlaw is not yet a supposed pass rusher – he is a project. And he is at least an effective player, especially against running. Earlier in the camp, he rode the quarterback wildly, clearing his hole and giving big runs on team drills. Well, he stays in his hole and the mischief cannot move him. He and Thomas were two of the defensive MVPs on Friday.
6. Defensive one Arik Armstead.
Actually joined the practice for the first season this offseason. Dived two reps against guard Tom Compton during one-on-one pass-rush drills and hit him once. Also played about a dozen snaps during team drills and looked effective. Looks like his back is no longer irritated.
7. Defensive one Nick Bosa.
Finally, Trent Williams struck during a one-on-one. Bosa set Williams up by first using a power rush directly into Williams’ chest. Williams blocked this, but on the next rep Bosa faked a power play and cut inside. Williams braced for power and whiffed. Bosa is extremely smart. It’s fun to see how he thinks his opponent.
8. Defending a Dee Ford.
Eventually his gave much effort during one and destroyed straight approach Mike McGlinchey. Strike him once inside and once around the edge. Ford is so much faster and more explosive than McGlinchey – Ford has to defeat him every time.
9. Linebacker Fred Warner.
Every time the 49ers ran the ball, Warner met the running back in the hole and hit him. Hurd. And the running backs don’t hold it. Raheem Mostert wrote in particular Warner after a few plays out of sheer frustration. It seemed like Warner knew exactly what was going on, because he probably did. He is a brilliant footballer who is so well prepared and in fantastic shape. He is even bigger and stronger than last year. Looks like an All Pro.
10. Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt.
Brought two passes from Jimmy Garoppolo during team drills and almost one intercepted. Both passes were intended for slot receiver Trent Taylor across the middle. Tartt read Garoppolo’s eyes and broke both times early. Two great practices in a row for Tartt. More than Garoppolo below.
11. Strong security Johnathan Cyprien.
Interpret a pass from Nick Mullens during team drills. Mullens threw deep for Jauan Jennings at third and 10 and Jennings never turned his head to find the ball – apparently he did not expect to get it. Rookie error. The ball went right to Cyprien, who was in the right place at the right time. Good start to his 49ers career.
12. Safety / Nickelback Tarvarius Moore.
Brought a pass intended for slot receiver Jennings on fourth and third. The 49ers have given a lot of defensive backs reps at nickelback, while starter K’Waun Williams has been out with a sore calf, and Moore has played well at nickel so far.
THE NOT SO GOOD
1. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Bad Jimmy made his first appearance of training camp. He was accurate – 17 of 23 – but he was awake with football after it so well protected the first five days of camp. Today, he made a badly advised throw from his back foot that sailed over his intended receiver and came into the hands of Richard Sherman. Easiest interpretation of Sherman’s life. Later, Garoppolo was almost interpreted by Tartt. And during the final drill of the morning, Garoppolo had 1:35 to lead the offensive 70 yard for a touchdown and ran out of time. Not a terrible day, but not up to the standard he set this offseason.
2. Cornerback Richard Sherman.
Interpreted Garoppolo, but also gave up two first-down catches to Bourne during the final drive of the offense. It looked like Garoppolo was picking on Sherman, who appears to have had 15-yard completions. I have a feeling NFL offense will attack Sherman this season for the first time in a decade. The 49ers offense has already.
3. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.
However, the confidence he had during last year’s training camp has not yet won. Contained an irregular penalty for penalty interference against Dante Pettis when Pettis ran deep. Witherspoon just panicked and grabbed him. Didn’t even try to cover him well. Poor Ahkello. He may never mentally recover from playing so badly last season after injuring his foot.
4. Nickelback K’Waun Williams.
Missed another day of training with a sluggish calf. Spend the morning stretching and jogging with Deebo Samuel, who will be out for about a month. Doesn’t look like Williams will be back anytime soon.
5. Nose approaching DJ Jones.
Do not speak after he sustained injuries to his shoulder on Thursday. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Jones is undergoing tests and they will have the results by noon. Stay tuned.
6. Close a Jordan Reed.
Not yet trained in training camp. Hasn’t even participated in position drills since Day 1. Looks like the 49ers want Reed to be one of their six veterans in the practice team this year. If he never trains in training camp, and the 49ers are waiting for him, another team will probably not pick him up.
7. Broad receiver Dante Pettis.
Played mostly with the backups, got seven goals and caught none of them. He was 0 for 7. Pettis had a great practice on Tuesday – the best of this professional career – but he returned today. He is not consistent enough to be a starter. The coaching staff does not seem to have even competed for a starting position. Tuesday could have been a mirage.
8. Tom Compton Guard.
Competing for a starting job on the right guard with a man who is now the starting center, and the competition is still losing Compton intended to compete with Daniel Brunskill, but Brunskill was moved to center because Ben Garland and Weston Richburg were injured . And Compton is still playing with the backups, because he can not block anyone. Even undrafted rookie Darrion Daniels shot Compton around. He is weak. Today, he split time on right wing with Colton McKivitz, who has fought the entire camp. Meaning the 49ers need to find another guard. Maybe they can coax Cohabitation Anthony Davis out of retirement. Or maybe I can get him to come back. We’re going back.
