First preseason game analysis (defense)

[gimmesix]

With Quinn (Crawford), Collins and Lawrence out, we were playing without three of our likely defensive line starters. We also were playing without Lee and Byron Jones. The 49ers didn't play most of their starters.

Defensive end

Although this group wasn't perfect, there was something to like from multiple players. Taco Charlton, starting at right end, had a couple of nice pressures and really fought the left tackle well. With Robert Quinn's suspension, we might see quite a bit of him at RDE the first couple of games. Kerry Hyder got a pressure that resulted in an interception and was active in getting upfield. Dorance Armstrong made a real nice play on a draw and provided a little pressure. Jalen Jelks got a sack, at least one other pressure and drew a hold. Joe Jackson also was in the backfield a few times.

PREDICTION: I go heaving here with DeMarcus Lawrence, Charlton, Armstrong, Hyder, Jackson and Jelks, even knowing that Quinn will be returning after two games. (One reason is that I think we'll see Hyder eventually working some as an interior rusher.)

Defensive tackle

As good as the ends were, a lot of the tackles were so-so. Trysten Hill was outplayed by Ricky Walker, who got penetration on a couple of plays and chased a running back down downfield. Antwuan Woods held his ground at 1-tech when he was in there. Christian Covington did not fare as well at fighting off double-teams. He did get into the backfield a couple of times, but didn't show a great ability to anchor. Daniel Ross was just a body out there as the starting 3-tech. I didn't really see much from Daniel Wise, either. It was an underwhelming effort by the group with Maliek Collins and Tyrone Crawford.

PREDICTION: Collins, Woods, Crawford and HIll make the team, and Hill only because of draft status. Walker goes on the PS. Covington reminded me a lot of Cedric Thornton.

Linebackers

I was a bit disappointed with Leighton Vander Esch. He didn't get too many opportunities to make plays the brief time he was out there, but he let a running back run right through his grasp. Jaylon Smith looked the better of the two young studs in the brief time we saw them on the field, flying to the ball to make a resounding tackle. Obviously, it was too small of a sample size to really judge.

With Sean Lee out, Joe Thomas got his time with the first team, and I really didn't notice anything good or bad. The only other linebacker who really stood out to me was Luke Gifford, making some plays against the run as well as the interception on the off-throw caused by Hyder. Since I didn't go back and rewatch the fourth quarter, I may have missed some plays by other linebackers. I did see Chris Covington close on the ball well on a couple of runs.

PREDICTION: Smith, Vander Esch, Lee, Thomas, Gifford and Covington.

Cornerbacks

The first group (Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis) was strong, even if Awuzie got away with tugging the bottom or a jersey. They were physical and attacked receivers as soon as they caught the ball. It was a mixed bag after that with Donovan Olumba probably looking the best of the rest, making a head's up play to elevate and bat a pass heading toward an open receiver.

Michael Jackson was outclassed on the outside as was C.J. Goodwin. I did not notice Chris Westry or Treston Decoud, so I guess that's a good thing.

PREDICTION Jones, Awuzie, Brown, Lewis, Olumba, with Jackson and Westry going to the practice squad.

Safeties

The interception by Donovan Wilson was a really good play. It was a terrible decision to throw that pass, but it would have stood a real good chance of being completed if Wilson had not read it and immediately broke forward to cut the receiver off. The starting safeties didn't do much to stand out, but the coverage was OK overall when they were in there and Jeff Heath did attack correctly on a couple of runs that he stopped.

Tyvis Powell looked like someone we signed off the street just a few days ago, which he was. The rest didn't do much to impress, either.

PREDICTION: Xavier Woods, Heath, Wilson and Kavon Frazier (mainly because of special teams).

DEs (6) Lawrence, Charlton, Hyder, Armstrong, Jackson, Jelks
DTs (4) Woods, Collins, Crawford, Hill
LBs (6) Smith, Vander Esch, Lee, Thomas, Gifford
CBs (5) Jones, Awuzie, Brown, Lewis, Olumba
Ss (4) Woods, Heath, Wilson, Frazier

With 24 on offense (and three special-teammers) that leaves me one spot to fill. It could go to Justin March-Lillard, Michael Jackson, Christian Covington or Ricky Walker. Based on this one game, I'd either give it to Walker or keep an extra player on offense.

 

[jazzcat22]

Are you basing your roster just from the game itself of who is in and who is out? Nothing wrong with that at all. Just want to get a feel of your overall thoughts including the entire TC. As I appreciate your well thought out opinions on this.

Based on the entire off season and TC.
Anyway, I would remove Jelks, add Covington at DT.
You say 6 LB's but have 5 in your list, I would add the other Covington in.

I may add one more S in Iloka or Thompson, but can see why you only have 4, as neither of those 2 say, hey I can help. Which I was hoping Iloka would step up and show something. I also want to see more of Powell as he picks up the defense. As you said, he was basically coming off the street.

 

[gimmesix]

Are you basing your roster just from the game itself of who is in and who is out? Nothing wrong with that at all. Just want to get a feel of your overall thoughts including the entire TC. As I appreciate your well thought out opinions on this.

Based on the entire off season and TC.
Anyway, I would remove Jelks, add Covington at DT.
You say 6 LB's but have 5 in your list, I would add the other Covington in.

I may add one more S in Iloka or Thompson, but can see why you only have 4, as neither of those 2 say, hey I can help. Which I was hoping Iloka would step up and show something. I also want to see more of Powell as he picks up the defense. As you said, he was basically coming off the street.

A little bit of both. Obviously, it can't be based just on the game itself simply because some players didn't play. However, all we can really go by for some of these players is the preseason games. Jelks has been getting some notice in both. He still may be a practice squad guy, though, but a few more plays like his sack and it might be tough to get him there.

I expected more from Christian Covington than what we saw. However, i think he's miscast as a 1-tech especially since he dropped weight. It's hard to hold up to those double teams when you're under 300. He needs to be playing run-down 3-tech.

I meant to include Chris Covington among the linebackers. It might be a toss-up, though, between him and March-Lillard for the sixth spot.

I actually forgot about Iloka. He looked OK in the times that I noticed him and could take that final spot. He seems to be starting off pretty far down the depth chart for a veteran, so I don't feel secure about his spot at all. (I originally had us carrying five corners and five safeties and still think we could go with a total of 10 in the secondary.)

I don't like to base too much off TC. Obviously, Jon'Vea Johnson's status elevated due to his work in practice, but overall, it's hard to tell much in certain drills because they often either favor the offense or defense.

 

[Whyjerry]

Hard to judge the D given no Quinn, DLaw, Gregory...

That said, their interior DL play was terrible. Hill looked lost and to me he looks like a dough boy. Frazier was just terrible. I love Lewis but he did not play well. DT Covington played terrible as well. Taco and Armstrong had good games. Unlike most I think Taco is at risk of cut. He needs to play well to make this team.

 

[gimmesix]

Hard to judge the D given no Quinn, DLaw, Gregory...

That said, their interior DL play was terrible. Hill looked lost and to me he looks like a dough boy. Frazier was just terrible. I love Lewis but he did not play well. DT Covington played terrible as well. Taco and Armstrong had good games. Unlike most I think Taco is at risk of cut. He needs to play well to make this team.

Jourdan Lewis? I'd like to know what you are basing that on. I didn't see any problems with his play.

I think Hill has to learn that his initial quickness isn't going to win him many battles in this league. Every player is better than most he faced in college. He's got to figure out how to make moves, use his hands, etc. He's a project that might not pay off for a year or two, if he ever does.

I don't think there's much risk for Taco with Quinn out and Gregory not looking likely to avoid his suspension.

 

[Whyjerry]

Jourdan Lewis? I'd like to know what you are basing that on. I didn't see any problems with his play.

I think Hill has to learn that his initial quickness isn't going to win him many battles in this league. Every player is better than most he faced in college. He's got to figure out how to make moves, use his hands, etc. He's a project that might not pay off for a year or two, if he ever does.

I don't think there's much risk for Taco with Quinn out and Gregory not looking likely to avoid his suspension.

Hyder, Armstrong, Crawford, Law, Quinn and maybe Gregory all above him on the depth chart. Taco needs to show something.

As for Lewis go back and watch the game. He gave up a couple to a weak SF passing game. I like Lewis but it was not a great game for him.

 

[gimmesix]

Hyder, Armstrong, Crawford, Law, Quinn and maybe Gregory all above him on the depth chart. Taco needs to show something.

As for Lewis go back and watch the game. He gave up a couple to a weak SF passing game. I like Lewis but it was not a great game for him.

Quinn's out two games. Gregory is suspended for who knows how long. Neither Armstrong nor Hyder is ahead of him. In fact, Charlton switched over to the right side and took over starting for Quinn when Quinn got injured. Before that, Charlton was working in Lawrence's spot while Lawrence is out. So he would have started at left end with Quinn at right end if Quinn has not been injured. Instead, he was moved over to where there's a starting vacancy for a couple of games to be the starter there. All that shows that he's currently third in line. Will he maintain that? I don't know.

Lewis gave up a catch on a wide-receiver screen and immediately made the tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage. I don't remember any other catch given up by him while the first team was in.

NOTE Just for you I went back and looked at the two defensive series for the first team again.

Here are the passing plays: Awuzie got beat on the first play for 19 yards, but the receiver dropped the pass when he hit the ground. Heath committed pass interference. Lewis tackled the WR at the line of scrimmage on a WR screen. Brown gave up a reception on a slant but tackled the receiver short of the first down. On the next series,Vander Esch gave up a a first down. A check-down throw was too low, with Vander Esch coming on the coverage. An underneath throw was blown up by Awuzie for no gain or a loss. A deeper out was broken up by Awuzie, who got away with a jersey tug. From there, we brought in Goodwin, Olumba and Jackson.