San Francisco 49ers: Early Rookie Progress Reports
The San Francisco 49ers’ rookies are deep into their offseason training program. They finished the rookie minicamp and the first week of OTAs, and this Tuesday they started the second week of OTAs.
That is except for first-round pick Arik Armstead, who missed all of that. “Armstead is not allowed to join 49ers workouts until June 11—the last day of finals at Oregon and final day of mandatory minicamp,” tweeted Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
That means Armstead will miss practically all of the offseason program before training camp. But don’t blame him. The Niners knew he would have to miss OTAs and minicamp when they drafted him. Armstead has to wait until Oregon’s school year ends, and Oregon uses the quarter system. Don’t you just hate the quarter system?
Armstead's progress report will have to wait. Here are progress reports for five other rookies.
Jaquiski Tartt, Safety
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Second-round pick Jaquiski Tartt seems like the early standout of the Niners’ rookie class.
I’ve seen him practice only once (the Niners hold their second open practice of the offseason later this week), and he didn’t stand out when I watched him. But it’s tough for a hard-hitting safety to stand out when he can’t hit. The Niners weren’t wearing pads on Thursday—they were wearing shorts and T-shirts.
I haven’t seen enough of Tartt to gauge his progress, but the Niners have. And they seem to like what they see.
“Lots of uncertainty w/#49ers, but 2 names 2 b excited about: 2nd rd SAF Jaquiski Tartt, and vet RB Reggie Bush. Hear both looking very good,” tweeted ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.
In a subsequent tweet, Riddick wrote: “Tartt is a very intriguing blend of football IQ, competitiveness, athletic skill & versatility. Makes a strong group even stronger.”
Tartt was a ferocious run defender in college, but he can’t show that side of his game until he faces live action during the preseason. If he’s standing out during OTAs, that means he’s probably faring well in pass coverage, which would be encouraging news. A big-time hitter who can cover sounds like a Pro Bowler to me.
Dylan Thompson, Quarterback
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Dylan Thompson was the only quarterback the 49ers invited to their rookie minicamp. Quarterbacks coach Steve Logan focused all of his attention on Thompson. Call it fast-forwarding his development.
The Niners seem to want to bring Thompson up to speed as quickly as possible. They aren’t treating him like a long-term project even though he lacks experience—he was a starting quarterback for just one season in college. The Niners seem to hope Thompson can contend for the backup quarterback job right away.
So far, they seem encouraged by his progress.
“You talk to him and he’s got the intangibles,” said head coach Jim Tomsula, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “Then you watch the tape. This guy can throw the football around. We’re excited about him, we really are.”
Not only does Thompson have a strong arm, he’s mobile—he ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. He’s a good fit to back up an athletic, strong-armed quarterback like Colin Kaepernick.
Dres Anderson, Wide Receiver
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Before the draft, CBSSports.com ranked former Utah wide receiver Dres Anderson the 112th-best prospect in the draft, which would make him a fourth-round prospect.
Oddly enough, no team drafted him. The Niners signed him as an undrafted free agent. What happened to Anderson’s draft stock?
He tore his meniscus last season; that’s what happened. A meniscus tear can rob an athlete of his explosiveness.
But Anderson ran a 4.43 at his pro day—an explosive time. And he fully participated in the 49ers’ recent OTAs—didn’t even wear a knee brace, according to 49ers.com. Anderson seems fully recovered and ready to compete for a roster spot.
And he has a good chance to make the team. He’s a deep threat similar to Devin Smith, whom the New York Jets drafted in Round 2.
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4. Mike Davis, Running Back
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Fourth-round pick Mike Davis injured his thumb during OTAs while catching a pass from Colin Kaepernick.
“Kap, man, I didn’t know he could throw the ball that fast,” Davis said, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. “I still caught it. It’s sore a little bit, but I’m fine now.”
Mike Davis has the traits to be the Niners’ third-down back because he can block and catch passes. He was a fantastic receiver at South Carolina, catching 32 passes for 368 yards last season. But he was catching passes from Dylan Thompson, who throws with touch.
Davis has to get used to Kaepernick’s passes, which are more like bullets. Even his swing passes are like bullets. Davis learned that the hard way.
5. Jarryd Hayne, Returner/Running Back
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Former Rugby League star Jarryd Hayne has terrific hands—that’s the first thing you notice when you watch him practice.
Catching punts is easy to him, even in the Santa Clara wind. Typically, Niners punt returners spend all offseason getting used to the wind. During offseason practices they misjudge the flight of the punt all the time. It’s part of their learning curve.
I didn’t see Hayne misjudge one punt Thursday afternoon. I didn’t see him drop a punt either. At one point he caught a punt while he was holding three other balls—that’s how good his hands are.
During team drills, he caught a few passes out of the backfield as a running back. He easily extended his arms and snatched the passes that were thrown away from his body.
“It’s a little easier to catch a football than a rugby ball,” head coach Jim Tomsula explained after the rookie minicamp, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
In other words, it’s no fluke Hayne has good hands. He worked on them in the Rugby League. Catching an oblong ball isn’t foreign him.
What’s foreign to him is playing a contact sport while wearing pads. That's Stage 2 of his development.
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