With the 49ers preseason opener in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look at who impressed me, and who didn’t in the win against the Packers.
First off, the good.
- QB Trey Lance looked really good, I think he only had 1 incompletion, and a nice long TD to Danny Gray, a 76 yarder, he looks as advertised.
- QB Nate Sudfeld looked very good, nice arm strength, had a nice long TD to Ray-Ray McCloud III, also showed nice athleticism, I think I was wrong about being mad about a 1yr fully guaranteed $2 million deal.
- QB Brock Purdy looked really good, has some nice throws, a nice TD to Tanner Hudson, and showed nice arm strength.
- RB Trey Sermon looked good to me, he had a few nice carries, no he wasn’t spectacular, but he looks improved.
- RB Jordan Mason was very good, hit the holes, really looks like a potential to steal a roster spot, but practice squad for sure to develop as that next UDFA back to surprise.
- WR Ray-Ray McCloud III looked good besides the fumble, he had that nice long TD catch from Sudfeld.
- WR Danny Gray looked very good, not just on the TD, but his speed, his size, he really may end up being a steal when it’s all set and done.
- TE Tanner Hudson looked really good with that TD catch, he has very good hands, he may have won a spot on the roster, especially if he keeps this up the next 2 preseason games.
- C Jake Brendel, LG Aaron Banks, & RG Spencer Burford all looked good, they had a rocky start, but really looked good out there, I think the 49ers may have found their guards of the future.
- RG Jason Poe looked very good, for a guy who’s only 6’1, 305, he looked good, protecting the QBs.
- RT Jordan Mills looked good, he was a late camp addition, so he could steal a roster spot, but practice squader for sure.
- DE Kemoko Turay looked very good, he had a nice stop, showed nice pass rush skills, he’s a guy I’m excited to see out there week 1.
- DE Drake Jackson showed some nice techniques, he looked very good in the limited play time, thankfully the injury was just a stinger.
- DE Kerry Hyder Jr. also looked good, very happy to have him back after a down year in Seattle.
- DT Robert Nkemdiche looked very good, he got through the Packers offensive line with ease, made a nice tackle that looked like a loss of yards.
- NT Javon Kinlaw looked good in my eyes, got some pressure, had a nice tip, coming off an injury, he’ll just continue to improve each week in my opinion.
- SLB Marcelino McCrary-Ball had a very nice INT, showed nice speed, most likely a practice squader.
- MLB Oren Burks looked very good, all over the place, has a knack for getting to the ball, better than advertised.
- CB Ka’dar Hollman looked good despite giving up a TD, he looked like as real good player out there, he may steal a roster spot, especially with Dontae Johnson’s injury.
- CB Dontae Johnson also looked good out there, playing outside CB, inside CB, and safety, he should be on the week 1 roster unless he must begin on IR due to the rib cartilage injury.
- CB Ambry Thomas & CB Deommodore Lenoir I thought looked good, not great, but looked good out there, Thomas had a penalty, that wasn’t accepted, Lenoir was good, both look like the backup outside CBs.
- CB Samuel Womack III looked tremendous, he had 2 INTs, one where he took the ball away from the Packers WR, and a second, he may unseat Darqueze Dennard for that slot CB role.
- SS Talanoa Hufanga looked good, he’s solidified himself as the teams’ strong safety
- SS George Odum also looked good, both on defense and special teams, I expect big thing from him on special teams.
Now, the bad.
- RB JaMycal Hasty looked good to some but to me that kickoff where he should have let it go out of bounds was bad, I’m not a big fan of Hasty, so maybe I’m being biased
- TE Ross Dwelley was just ineffective, he wasn’t doing anything, I think the 49ers may end up regretting the $250,000 guarantee they gave him.
- C Keaton Sutherland was horrible, bad snap(s), getting run over, he can’t see the field
- LT Colton McKivitz was also ineffective, getting beat, luckily none of the QBs got hurt.
- LT Sam Schluetter was bad, getting beat, pushed back, just not an NFL Tackle, at best a practice squader to develop
- RT Justin Skule was also ineffective, getting beat, looking real bad out there, might be time to cut bait.
- DT Kevin Givens didn’t look bad, but also didn’t look great, he still has the upper hand for the backup DT spot behind Arik Armstead.
- FS Tarvarius Moore got beat badly on the Romeo Doubs TD, not sure what happened, but it was bad, for a guy with very good speed, he shouldn’t have gotten beat, but with no other safeties on the roster, he’s still a lock to make the team.
Well, there you have it, my good & the bad from the 49ers win over the Packers.
With that said, thank you for reading, & you can follow me on Twitter @49erscap.
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