gimmesix
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
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First of all, for those who didn't get to watch the game, understand that the 49ers didn't play any of their starters. We did not have Martin, Witten, Cooper or Elliott, but the rest of the first team was out there for one series. (NOTE: I went back and tried to particularly watch the lines in this game, but I only got through the third quarter.)
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott was on the mark for the most part. He threw a crossing route slightly behind Michael Gallup, which caused Gallup to slow some, but I'm not sure Gallup was going to gain any more yards even if the ball had been out in front of him. It's also possible that his pass that was batted (and that he caught) would have been intercepted. It was going to be a tight squeeze to Jarwin at the goal line because the linebacker in the middle of the field was breaking on the pass. Dak might could have slipped it in there with a fast ball, but it looked to me (and the Cowboys broadcast team) that the linebacker was going to undercut the pass. Because we don't know what the end result of that pass would have been, I'd have to say it was a solid outing for Prescott.
Several people who were posting here were down on Cooper Rush, and it's understandable because he missed on his passes over 20 yards, actually overthrowing each one (although he was hit on the pass he threw just out of reach of Jarwin over the middle). Although I'd like for us to have a better backup, one thing I like about Rush is that he reads the defense well and pretty much knows where he's going with the ball as soon as it's snap. That quick and accurate decision-making helped propel two scoring drives (which his overthrows turned into field goals instead of TDs). Both his limitations and his strengths were easy to see. He's more decisive as a QB than Prescott, but doesn't have the arm talent.
Mike White is a disappointment. Where Rush is quick at decision-making, White is plodding. He either doesn't see blitzes or doesn't know where to go with the ball when he's blitzed. He also just misfired on several attempts, while arm talent is supposed to be his strength. A deep pass that he missed on to Devin Smith probably sums up his night. Smith blew past the corner on the go route, but White was late delivering the pass, giving Smith no chance at it.
I'm pretty sure Taryn Christion didn't play.
PREDICTION: Prescott and White make the roster.
Running backs
I was disappointed that we didn't play Tony Pollard more. He did a good job of running between the tackles, averaging 4 yards per carry on 4 carries, and made good decisions on where to go with the ball. Nothing dynamic, but solid work.
The rest of the backs were spotty. Mike Weber and Darius Jackson each had a decent run (two for Jackson), but didn't show much power or escapability otherwise. Patrick Chunn looked like a big plodder, slow and without much maneuverability. With Alfred Morris not playing, he ended up being the second-best back for the team by default.
I can't say I really noticed the fullbacks, Jamize Olawale or Ryan Yurachek, do much either good or bad.
PREDICTION: Elliott, Morris, Pollard and Olawale make the team. (Yes, I'm still counting on Elliott to return before the start of the season.) Weber goes on the practice squad.
Wide receivers
I know it was only against backups, but Michael Gallup looks ready to take his play to the next level this year. Without Amari Cooper, he was the go-to receiver on the first team's only drive, catching two passes and drawing a pass interference. He was easily open on his two catches. Randall Cobb was playing the other outside spot in Cooper's absence and didn't do anything to stand out. Tavon Austin had a short catch out of the slot.
The next-best receiver to Gallup was Cedrick Wilson working the underneath of the coverage. He did a good job working open quickly and making the catches until Mike White hung him out to dry on an overthrow. Beyond that, Jon'Vea Johnson showed he clearly has the ability to get open and was targeted a lot for it. However, two drops and an illegal touch made it an up and down performance for him. Devin Smith came on late with a couple of downfield catches when Dallas was trying to make a comeback. Jalen Guyton also added a couple of catches. It didn't seem like they were beating coverage, though, up to that point like Johnson and Wilson were.
PREDICTION: I still feel like a spot on the roster is Johnson's to lose, but a couple of more up-and-down performances like Saturday's will cause him to do just that. Cooper, Gallup, Cobb, Austin, Wilson, Johnson. Guyton goes on PS.
Tight ends
Blake Jarwin was eating up the backups to get downfield and make catches. His speed and receiving ability were readily apparent. However, so was his mediocre blocking ability. In fact, both he and Dalton Schultz blocked poorly, which is one reason the running backs struggled. Jason Witten didn't play, but he also isn't going to lose any playing time as a starter if the other tight ends continue to block that way. Witten's blocking had slipped before he retired, but I'd say without seeing him now that it can't be worse than what was on display by the tight ends.
As a receiver, Schultz actually wasn't as good as Cody McElroy, who clearly has some raw talent but is probably worse than the others when it comes to blocking, and that's saying a lot based on this game.
PREDICTION: Witten, Jarwin and Schultz make the roster. McElroy goes on the PS.
Offensive line
The first unit, with Xavier Sua'Filo filling in for Zack Martin, had very few problems with the 49ers' backup line. Prescott had plenty of time and the initial blocking for the running game was solid. I was disappointed that Connor Williams had trouble maintaining some of those blocks. On Pollard's first run, Williams went to the second level to take on a linebacker, but instead of Williams pinning the linebacker to the outside, the linebacker fought off the block and got back to the inside to stop what could have been a much bigger gain. A similar play happened when Williams had a defensive tackle pinned to the outside.
It was good to see Travis Frederick back out there. One of the things we missed last year was his understanding of the game. On one play he was helping Williams with a block by using his left arm to hold up the defensive tackle while scanning the right side to watch for anyone trying to loop back inside of the right guard and tackle. He did not commit more than he needed to to that block so that he could be free to come off it if needed. It's the subtle things that make the difference.
The backup line did much better than I initially thought (primarily based on the comments in the game thread). Adam Redmond clearly has issues with power and was driven back into the quarterback a couple of times. Alex Campos at RT, Joe Looney at C, Sua'Filo at LG and Cameron Fleming at LT were mostly solid. Of course, some of that had to do with how decisive Rush was with the ball. San Francisco was mostly only able to get any pressure on Rush with blitzes and through Redmond being overpowered. There were a couple of failures on the left side, though, on one drive involving Fleming. On one of the plays, the defensive end got Fleming going back and then looped inside Sua'Filo's block. Fleming got caught up in the wash of Sua'Filo's man's charge and both him and Sua'Filo going to the ground. On the other play, Fleming allowed the DE to get under him and drive around the corner to hit Rush, forcing him to get rid of the ball.
The run blocking by this group also was better than it looked because the tight ends were the culprits in many of the failed runs. The line would clear out one side with the tight ends blocking on the backside, and the tight ends would just get whipped.
When we changed out the tackles, we didn't fare as well up front, with Mitch Hyatt proving to be a disappointment by getting overpowered several times. Some of the problems were because of White not getting the ball out, but the tackles didn't give him much support.
PREDICTION: Tyron Smith, Williams, Frederick, Martin, La'el Collins, Fleming, Sua'Filo, Looney and maybe Connor McGovern. Hyatt could go on the practice squad to see if he can gain some strength.
So the offensive roster looks like this for the moment:
QBs (2) Prescott, Rush
RBs (4) Elliott, Pollard, Morris, Olawale
WRs (6) Cooper, Gallup, Cobb, Austin, Wilson, Johnson
TEs (3) Witten, Jarwin, Schultz
OL (9) Smith, Williams, Frederick, Martin, Collins, Fleming, Sua'Filo, Looney, McGovern
That gives me 24 on offense, with Johnson being questionable. (McGovern either makes the team or goes on IR because I can't see us cutting a third-round pick.)
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott was on the mark for the most part. He threw a crossing route slightly behind Michael Gallup, which caused Gallup to slow some, but I'm not sure Gallup was going to gain any more yards even if the ball had been out in front of him. It's also possible that his pass that was batted (and that he caught) would have been intercepted. It was going to be a tight squeeze to Jarwin at the goal line because the linebacker in the middle of the field was breaking on the pass. Dak might could have slipped it in there with a fast ball, but it looked to me (and the Cowboys broadcast team) that the linebacker was going to undercut the pass. Because we don't know what the end result of that pass would have been, I'd have to say it was a solid outing for Prescott.
Several people who were posting here were down on Cooper Rush, and it's understandable because he missed on his passes over 20 yards, actually overthrowing each one (although he was hit on the pass he threw just out of reach of Jarwin over the middle). Although I'd like for us to have a better backup, one thing I like about Rush is that he reads the defense well and pretty much knows where he's going with the ball as soon as it's snap. That quick and accurate decision-making helped propel two scoring drives (which his overthrows turned into field goals instead of TDs). Both his limitations and his strengths were easy to see. He's more decisive as a QB than Prescott, but doesn't have the arm talent.
Mike White is a disappointment. Where Rush is quick at decision-making, White is plodding. He either doesn't see blitzes or doesn't know where to go with the ball when he's blitzed. He also just misfired on several attempts, while arm talent is supposed to be his strength. A deep pass that he missed on to Devin Smith probably sums up his night. Smith blew past the corner on the go route, but White was late delivering the pass, giving Smith no chance at it.
I'm pretty sure Taryn Christion didn't play.
PREDICTION: Prescott and White make the roster.
Running backs
I was disappointed that we didn't play Tony Pollard more. He did a good job of running between the tackles, averaging 4 yards per carry on 4 carries, and made good decisions on where to go with the ball. Nothing dynamic, but solid work.
The rest of the backs were spotty. Mike Weber and Darius Jackson each had a decent run (two for Jackson), but didn't show much power or escapability otherwise. Patrick Chunn looked like a big plodder, slow and without much maneuverability. With Alfred Morris not playing, he ended up being the second-best back for the team by default.
I can't say I really noticed the fullbacks, Jamize Olawale or Ryan Yurachek, do much either good or bad.
PREDICTION: Elliott, Morris, Pollard and Olawale make the team. (Yes, I'm still counting on Elliott to return before the start of the season.) Weber goes on the practice squad.
Wide receivers
I know it was only against backups, but Michael Gallup looks ready to take his play to the next level this year. Without Amari Cooper, he was the go-to receiver on the first team's only drive, catching two passes and drawing a pass interference. He was easily open on his two catches. Randall Cobb was playing the other outside spot in Cooper's absence and didn't do anything to stand out. Tavon Austin had a short catch out of the slot.
The next-best receiver to Gallup was Cedrick Wilson working the underneath of the coverage. He did a good job working open quickly and making the catches until Mike White hung him out to dry on an overthrow. Beyond that, Jon'Vea Johnson showed he clearly has the ability to get open and was targeted a lot for it. However, two drops and an illegal touch made it an up and down performance for him. Devin Smith came on late with a couple of downfield catches when Dallas was trying to make a comeback. Jalen Guyton also added a couple of catches. It didn't seem like they were beating coverage, though, up to that point like Johnson and Wilson were.
PREDICTION: I still feel like a spot on the roster is Johnson's to lose, but a couple of more up-and-down performances like Saturday's will cause him to do just that. Cooper, Gallup, Cobb, Austin, Wilson, Johnson. Guyton goes on PS.
Tight ends
Blake Jarwin was eating up the backups to get downfield and make catches. His speed and receiving ability were readily apparent. However, so was his mediocre blocking ability. In fact, both he and Dalton Schultz blocked poorly, which is one reason the running backs struggled. Jason Witten didn't play, but he also isn't going to lose any playing time as a starter if the other tight ends continue to block that way. Witten's blocking had slipped before he retired, but I'd say without seeing him now that it can't be worse than what was on display by the tight ends.
As a receiver, Schultz actually wasn't as good as Cody McElroy, who clearly has some raw talent but is probably worse than the others when it comes to blocking, and that's saying a lot based on this game.
PREDICTION: Witten, Jarwin and Schultz make the roster. McElroy goes on the PS.
Offensive line
The first unit, with Xavier Sua'Filo filling in for Zack Martin, had very few problems with the 49ers' backup line. Prescott had plenty of time and the initial blocking for the running game was solid. I was disappointed that Connor Williams had trouble maintaining some of those blocks. On Pollard's first run, Williams went to the second level to take on a linebacker, but instead of Williams pinning the linebacker to the outside, the linebacker fought off the block and got back to the inside to stop what could have been a much bigger gain. A similar play happened when Williams had a defensive tackle pinned to the outside.
It was good to see Travis Frederick back out there. One of the things we missed last year was his understanding of the game. On one play he was helping Williams with a block by using his left arm to hold up the defensive tackle while scanning the right side to watch for anyone trying to loop back inside of the right guard and tackle. He did not commit more than he needed to to that block so that he could be free to come off it if needed. It's the subtle things that make the difference.
The backup line did much better than I initially thought (primarily based on the comments in the game thread). Adam Redmond clearly has issues with power and was driven back into the quarterback a couple of times. Alex Campos at RT, Joe Looney at C, Sua'Filo at LG and Cameron Fleming at LT were mostly solid. Of course, some of that had to do with how decisive Rush was with the ball. San Francisco was mostly only able to get any pressure on Rush with blitzes and through Redmond being overpowered. There were a couple of failures on the left side, though, on one drive involving Fleming. On one of the plays, the defensive end got Fleming going back and then looped inside Sua'Filo's block. Fleming got caught up in the wash of Sua'Filo's man's charge and both him and Sua'Filo going to the ground. On the other play, Fleming allowed the DE to get under him and drive around the corner to hit Rush, forcing him to get rid of the ball.
The run blocking by this group also was better than it looked because the tight ends were the culprits in many of the failed runs. The line would clear out one side with the tight ends blocking on the backside, and the tight ends would just get whipped.
When we changed out the tackles, we didn't fare as well up front, with Mitch Hyatt proving to be a disappointment by getting overpowered several times. Some of the problems were because of White not getting the ball out, but the tackles didn't give him much support.
PREDICTION: Tyron Smith, Williams, Frederick, Martin, La'el Collins, Fleming, Sua'Filo, Looney and maybe Connor McGovern. Hyatt could go on the practice squad to see if he can gain some strength.
So the offensive roster looks like this for the moment:
QBs (2) Prescott, Rush
RBs (4) Elliott, Pollard, Morris, Olawale
WRs (6) Cooper, Gallup, Cobb, Austin, Wilson, Johnson
TEs (3) Witten, Jarwin, Schultz
OL (9) Smith, Williams, Frederick, Martin, Collins, Fleming, Sua'Filo, Looney, McGovern
That gives me 24 on offense, with Johnson being questionable. (McGovern either makes the team or goes on IR because I can't see us cutting a third-round pick.)
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