The San Francisco 49ers open the 2017 preseason in Kansas City on Friday as they take on the Chiefs, here are six things you should be watching for.
Friday provides the first look at a Kyle Shanahan-led San Francisco 49ers team when they face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. With so many changes on both sides of the ball following the roster overhaul overseen by new general manager John Lynch and Shanahan, there will be plenty to keep an eye out for from a 49ers perspective.
Here we look at six things you should be paying particularly close attention to in the Niners’ preseason opener.
Brian Hoyer’s performance
Almost all reports about Brian Hoyer’s performances in training camp have been positive. Hoyer was signed because of his familiarity with Kyle Shanahan’s system and, so far, it looks an astute move.
But how will Hoyer perform as a 49er in a live game situation for the first time? And will rookie C.J. Beathard lend credence to the talk he could leapfrog Matt Barkley and snatch the backup role? There is plenty of intrigue under center.
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Rookie running backs
Carlos Hyde appears to have strengthened his grip on the starting running back spot, despite talk the 49ers could trade or even cut him. So all the attention at the running back spot should be on rookies Joe Williams and Matt Breida.
Williams was a favorite of Shanahan in the draft process and the head coach pounded the table for the former Utah back on day three. We will get the first idea as to whether that faith was well placed, while Breida has the opportunity to build on his explosive showings in camp and take another step towards the 53-man roster.
An tight end emergence
Fifth-round pick George Kittle is unlikely to play due to a hamstring issue, per Niners Nation, so this game opens the door for Vance McDonald to make his case as someone who should start at tight end, rather than be traded away.
Logan Paulsen’s spot on the roster seems pretty secure but Garrett Celek and Blake Bell will both be looking to prove themselves. The athletic Cole Hikutini is another the one to watch, though, the undrafted rookie having put himself in the conversation for a roster spot with the way he has beaten linebackers in camp.
How the D-line gels
The 49es have spent first-round picks on defensive linemen for three successive drafts, and many have voiced concerns as to how they will get Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas on the field at the same time. Thomas has been working with the second-string at right defensive end, meaning of that trio it will be just Armstead and Buckner on the field when the 49ers are in their base first-string defense against the Chiefs.
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But, with Armstead taking on the challenge of playing at LEO pass rusher — a position most consider too athletically demanding for him — there figures to be extra scrutiny on the D-line if and when Thomas subs in to join them. If this extremely talented triumvirate have success in Kansas City rushing the passer, the concerns should quickly subside.
The Foster-Bowman partnership
Reuben Foster has been a turnover machine in camp, having failed to intercept a pass at Alabama. The first-round pick comes into the preseason opener with momentum, though he has been battling an ankle injury, and it will be extremely intresting to get a first look at his partnership with veteran NaVorro Bowman.
Bowman himself has plenty to prove in terms of health after tearing his Achilles last season, but if they live up to their billing, this could prove to be an early glance at one of the better linebacking combinations in the league.
UDFA Safeties
There’s much to be settled in the secondary. Dontae Johnson — the favorite to start at corner alongside Rashard Robinson — has a concussion, per The Sacramento Bee. And his likely absence will provide opportunities for Keith Reaser and Ahkello Witherspoon.
But on the back end it is the second-string safeties who deserve to draw the most attention, with undrafted free agents Lorenzo Jerome and Chanceller James both having produced impresssive performances.
The 49ers are thin at safety and head into the season starting a player in Jimmie Ward who has had difficulties staying healthy, and therefore the emergence of a rookie at the position could provide a much-needed safety net to a team whose secondary looks talented but shaky.
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It’s one thing to perform in camp, if either Jerome or James can put it all together in games, the 49ers will feel a lot better about their safety options.