Here is what stood out from the 49ers thirteenth practice during training camp in Santa Clara.
Sunday’s session was not in pads and lasted just over 60 minutes. While the practice was light, it was highlighted by some interesting looks in the run game.
Deebo Samuel and Ray-Ray McCloud
During Deebo Samuel’s contract stalemate, there were several reports that the receiver was unhappy with being used in the backfield. Based on today’s practice, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Today, Samuel and Ray-Ray McCloud spent almost the entirety of practice lined up in the backfield.
The first eight plays of team looked like something you’d see in a college football game. It was a mesh of zone read with outside option and several deep play-action passes coming off of it.
Trey Lance
Lance finished the day 4-15 with two touchdown passes and an interception in the redzone. The performance from Lance was not as bad as the numbers suggest.
The 49ers new starting quarterback went 2-8 during a redzone period. Of Lance’s six incompletions, two were from throwing the ball away, and there was a drop from Ty Davis-Price and Tay Martin.
During the following team period, Lance missed Brandon Aiyuk on a deep out along the right sideline. Lance struggled to hit this throw throughout training camp and missed it for his lone incompletion in Friday night’s game.
On the next play, Lance found Brandon Aiyuk on a dig route for his lone completion of the session. His final three attempts feature a pass break up by Azeez Al-Shaair, a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage, and a drop by Brandon Aiyuk.
On the Aiyuk drop, Lance had Deebo Samuel open down the right sideline. Samuel had a couple of steps on the defensive back, but the quarterback did not see it.
Charles Omenihu
During a redzone period, Omenihu got his hand on a Trey Lance pass leading to an interception.
Fred Warner
Warner intercepted a Trey Lance pass in the endzone after Charles Omenihu got his hands on the ball at the line of scrimmage.
Tariq Castro-Fields
The rookie sixth-round draft pick moved into the starting lineup for the first time.
Ken Crawley
Crawley worked on the right side of the 49ers starting lineup. He is a veteran who just signed with the 49ers last week.
Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir
The 2021 draft picks appear to have dropped below Castro-Fields and Crawley on the depth chart. Quite an indictment on how both have performed through training camp.
Ty Davis-Price
The rookie running back from LSU can’t catch the ball. Trey Lance put the ball right on his hands in the left flat during a redzone period, and the rookie couldn’t hang on. The play would have been a walk-in touchdown.
Charlie Woerner
Woerner has missed the entire offseason and first 12 practice of training camp. Today he was activated from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List.
Let me preface this by saying I’m not worried yet. Trey Lance will get better and I’m very hopeful he will be a Superbowl winning QB. Having said that:
I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE Trey Lance’s throwing motion. The way he drops the ball down low and winds up for even short throws is like watching grass grow. That windup must be fixed. That windup is a very real reason for concern.
Trey Lance missing Gray on that 3rd down is a cause for concern. The long TD throw was awesome. Accurate and on Time for a long TD. Absolutely awesome. I dont think Jimmy G makes that throw and I very much like Jimmy G. Missing Gray on an easy Out for a 1st down is a major red flag. Trey must find a way to consistently complete that pass.
I didn’t give Lance enough credit for his mobility. He moves to space to extend time to pass and he makes good runs when necessary. I was very happy with his mobility.
Soooo,,,, I’m looking for QB growth. Improve throwing motion and accuracy. Thats the only way Trey Lance will become a decent NFL QB. He’s definitely not there yet. Right now Trey Lance looks like a center fielder winding up from the wall trying to throw to Home. He needs to look like a 2nd basemen turning a double play transferring the ball to his throwing hand very quickly directly to his ear. It’s a major change in his throwing motion which can’t really be accomplished until the off season.
“Ty Davis-Price The rookie running back from LSU can’t catch the ball”
1 dropped pass = can’t catch ????
I didn’t make that observation based on one dropped pass. He’s done it all offseason.
I’ve read of his dropped passes from maybe five other practices
Niners are short of talent at safety now that Ward is down. Safety was a question for the Niners all off-season.
Quite an indictment on how both have performed more through training camp. Ty Davis-Price. The rookie running back from LSU can’t catch the ball.