The good and not so good from the 49ers’ 3rd open OTA of 2015

SANTA CLARA

Here are the highlights from the 49ers’ Friday practice, their third open OTA of 2015.

THE GOOD

1. Eli Harold, outside linebacker, rookie. Beat Joe Staley around the edge in a one-on-one pass-rushing drill. I haven’t seen a rookie beat Staley one-on-one in practice since Aldon Smith in 2011.

Harold also recorded a sack during team drills by looping to the inside. He was by far the best outside linebacker on the field today, better than Ahmad Brooks and Corey Lemonier (Aldon Smith and Aaron Lynch did not participate).

2. Tank Carradine, defensive tackle, third year. Planted rookie guard Ian Silberman on his back during one-on-one pass-rushing drills. Carradine seems like the strongest defensive lineman on the team.

3. Quinton Patton, wide receiver, third year. Caught five passes during team drills. He made a touchdown catch in a red-zone drill. He ran across the back boundary of the end zone. Blaine Gabbert hit him when he was wide open.

4. DeAndrew White, wide receiver, rookie. Caught four passes during team drills. His best catch was a jumping, twisting catch on a pass thrown high and behind him. White was the best undrafted rookie on the field. He’s fast, has good hands and terrific body control.

5. Carlos Hyde, running back, second year. Returned to practice after missing most of OTAs with a pulled muscle in his leg. Hyde participated in position drills but not team drills.

6. Kendall Gaskins, running back, third year. The 49ers’ best running back during team drills (Hyde, Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter did not take part). Gaskins is big—6’1”, 238 pounds. But he didn’t move like a big guy today. He was quick and explosive. He’s in fantastic shape.

THE NOT SO GOOD

1. Blaine Gabbert, quarterback, fifth year. Colin Kaepernick didn’t attend practice—he was traveling to participate in Joe Haden’s celebrity softball tournament for charity. So Gabbert was the starting quarterback.

He mostly threw short passes, passes that traveled no more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Toward the end of 11-on-11’s he decided to go for it. He dropped back and heaved a deep pass down the middle of the field.

I think he was throwing to Vernon Davis—he was the only receiver in the area. But the pass sailed past Davis and tailed to the left, right into the hands of free safety Eric Reid.

This article has 9 Comments

  1. Eli Harold, outside linebacker, rookie. Beat Joe Staley around the edge in a one-on-one pass-rushing drill. I haven’t seen a rookie beat Staley one-on-one in practice since Aldon Smith in 2011.
    ——
    He’s going to tear it up. He’ll motivate Aldon to elevate his game and the two can compete for the sack record. :)

  2. He mostly threw short passes, passes that traveled no more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.
    ———-
    You’d think Alex had stopped by.

  3. “Carradine seems like the strongest defensive lineman”

    Great news, especially when you consider he’s a converted 4-3 rush DE.

    The offensive line might be a mess, but the Ds looking good.

  4. the main trailer on Carradine showed how strong he was pre-draft. The teams defense had Carradine not rushing but holding his ground and QB or RB came his way he just tossed the left tackle out of the way. The most yards on him was about 3 yards. I feel he will start on one side with Dial on the other with Dockett and Dorsey in relief.

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