8 San Francisco 49ers in Need of Standout Training Camp Performance
Ninety players on the San Francisco 49ers' 2015 NFL roster will eventually be whittled down to 53 by kick off of Week 1 of the upcoming season.
And the serious portion of that process begins with training camp.
A good number of the roster is destined to either be cut or sent to the practice squad. Some players are all but guaranteed spots given their incumbent accolades and abilities.
But for others, training camp will be a mandatory step to showcase their abilities with the hopes of landing a coveted spot in the 49ers' future plans. Their actions on the field during camp and in the preseason will ultimately dictate whether their services will be retained.
The context is complicated by numerous elements: competition, depth, scheme, salary and a slew of other factors will carry weight.
For players on the bubble, training camp is of the utmost importance. Which members of the 49ers should we be watching over the coming days and weeks?
Running Back Kendall Hunter
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Running back Kendall Hunter is likely one of the safer bets to make the opening-day roster in 2015 given his abilities as a solid No. 2 back.
The 26-year-old tailback enters the season after missing all of last year because of an ACL injury he suffered at the opening of training camp a year ago.
On the positive side of things, Hunter is prepared to enter camp fully healthy.
โHeโs coming along great,โ head coach Jim Tomsula said, perย Joe Fann of the team'sย official site. โI think we all have strong feelings for Kendall...but we definitely have a rep count on him. Youโve got to keep him corralled, but heโs moving around really quick.โ
The problem is that the 49ers are stacked at the position.
Hunter will be competing for a spot alongside running backs Carlos Hyde, Reggie Bush, Mike Davis and Jarryd Hayne.
Hyde and Bush will likely secure berths this season, barring injury. Hyde should emerge as the featured back in the wake of running back Frank Gore's departure, while Bush brings a backfield receiving option the 49ers haven't seen in quite some time.
The primary competition will take place between Hunter and Davis, with some consideration given to Hayne. San Francisco invested a fourth-round pick on Davis, and it's unlikely the team would be willing to risk parting ways with him so quickly.
Hunter is also entering a contract year, which would make him an easier commodity to move should the 49ers elect to do so.
The 49ers could keep four backs on their roster. From that point, Hunter's future with the team still looks relatively safe.
Cornerback Chris Cook
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Similar to the situation at running back, the cornerback position promises plenty of competition when it comes to evaluating the depth chart.
Cornerback Chris Cook arrived in San Francisco after four disappointing seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.ย
The one-time second-round pick of the Vikings blossomed well enough with San Francisco last season before being sidelined for the year with an injury after Week 7. However, his performances were enough to convince general manager Trent Baalke to re-sign him for one more year entering 2015.
But Cook will also have to contend with a deep crop of defensive backs at his position.
Corners Tramaine Brock, Shareece Wright, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser, Marcus Cromartie and Kenneth Acker are just some of the players competing for a roster spot heading into the season.
San Francisco could elect to keep upward of six cornerbacks on its regular-season roster. Will Cook be strong enough to warrant consideration?
The fact that Cook has yet to record a regular-season interception hurts his chances.ย
Yet Cook did impress during the preseason last year, according toย Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus.
Perhaps a repeat of last year's efforts will be enough to ensure Cook stays with the 49ers for another season.
Cornerback Kenneth Acker
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If Cook winds up making the roster, what will that mean for second-year pro corner Kenneth Acker?
Acker flashed some promise in the preseason last year before being shut down for the regular season.
The competition here could force the 49ers to make a tough decision with the one-time sixth-round pick. If Acker flashes in campโlike he did during minicamp and OTA workoutsโthe decision will be much more difficult to make.
David Fucillo of Niners Nation broke down how he saw the situation at cornerback filling out:
"If I were to rank the strong bubble players on likelihood of making the roster, I'd probably go Wright, Reaser, Cook, Acker. Those latter two are tough to figure out. Acker looked strong last year in the preseason, while Cook looked good in the regular season before getting hurt.
I don't know if Acker could clear waivers and get to the practice squad, but this could open the door for some August and September trade talks.
"
Fucillo supports the claim that San Francisco's final cornerback spot could fall between Cook and Acker. The 49ers would have veteran presence with Cook but a strong, developing talent with Acker.
Camp will help determine this. Even if Acker doesn't end up being a favorite for a roster spot, the 49ers could consider moving the young defensive back prior to the regular season and getting something in return.
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Wide Receiver DeAndrew White
4 of 8UDFA wide receiver DeAndrew White was one of the better stories to come out of the 49ers' offseason programs.
Despite not being selected in the 2015 NFL draft, White was able to impress enough to get to training camp after the 49ers picked him up. One of his numerous highlights can be viewed on the team's website.
White has certainly demonstrated his amazing hands. That part is hard to argue with. But will be able to find a way onto the roster in light of how crowded the situation is in San Francisco?
The 49ers have their startingย wideouts locked in, with Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith as the team's featured receiving targets. Behind them, San Francisco has wide receivers Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton, Jerome Simpson, Dres Anderson, Chuck Jacobs and White all in the mix.
That's an awful lot of competition for White to overcome.
But if there is a supporter in White's corner, it's former Alabama teammate Amari Cooper.
The Raiders rookie receiver stated, relayed byย Levi Damien of Silver & Black Pride (h/t David Fucillo of Niners Nation):
"I feel like he will make the Niners. He's a very talented player. He goes and high-points the ball, is a very good route runner, really fast, so I feel like he has a great chance at making it with the Niners.
"
White will have to beat out depth players such as Jacobs, Anderson and probably even Patton to have a chance at making the roster.
He could do it, however.
If not, the 49ers would be wise to figure out a way to stash White on the practice squadโa task easier said than done if another team wants to snap him up in the process.
Outside Linebacker Corey Lemonier
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San Francisco's selection of former Virginia pass-rusher Eli Harold in Round 3 of the 2015 NFL draft may have signaled the end of outside linebacker Corey Lemonier's tenure with the team.
Lemonier has largely been a disappointment since being selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2013 draft. To date, the third-year pro has just one sack and 19 tackles at the NFL level.
Those aren't good enough numbers to suggest San Francisco is still envisioning him in its long-term plans.
Along with Harold, Lemonier will have to compete with outside linebackers Aldon Smith, Aaron Lynch and Ahmad Brooks. Unless Brooks' substantial contract is moved prior to Week 1, Lemonier's chances to stay on the roster seem slim at best.
If there is a positive, the 49ers' coaching staff has been making efforts to rectify some inherent problems with Lemonier's footwork.
โ[Linebackers coach Jason Tarver] pointed out that I would take false steps so many times,โ Lemonier said, via Taylor Price of the team'sย official website. โIt led to a lot of bad plays.โ
Whether this makes a difference remains to be seen. Lemonier's chance to stay on the roster might have already been determined given the depth here.
He'll have to prove that he belongs.
Safety Craig Dahl
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If it weren't for injuries suffered to starting safety Eric Reid, the 49ers probably wouldn't have to worry about fellow safety Craig Dahl in coverage all that often.
But when Dahl did grace the secondary, San Francisco's defense was frequently exposed, with opposing quarterbacks targeting the 30-year-old veteran's coverage space.
Granted, Dahl does have some positive attributes. According to Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus, Dahl ranked as the highest special teams player on the roster in each of the last two years. Special teams prowess is a strong consideration piece. But if the 49ers were to get favorable production elsewhere, would this mean the 49ers move on from the veteran defensive back?
San Francisco could give additional consideration to other safeties to back up the starting tandem of Reid and Antoine Bethea.
L.J. McCray is one safety who has special teams ability, and second-round safety Jaquiski Tartt also has enough upside to put Dahl in jeopardy.
Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News doesn't think Dahl will make the roster in Week 1.
And that's a good enough reason to assume he won't be there in 2015.
Wide Receiver Quinton Patton
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2015 may be the final shot wide receiver Quinton Patton has to remain in San Francisco.
The third-year pro has struggled to get on the field during his first two seasons despite making some noteworthy impressions during his preseason campaigns. Injuries hindered his rookie efforts, and a deep cast of wideouts rendered him almost expendable last year.
To date, Patton has just six receptions on 13 targets for 78 yards over a mere 10 games played. He is perhaps best remembered for his costly fumble against the San Diego Chargers in Week 16 of the 2015 season.
San Francisco parted ways with veteran wideouts Brandon Lloyd and Stevie Johnson during the offseason. However, they also added free-agent receivers Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson.
Simpson, Patton and Bruce Ellington will all be competing for the 49ers' No. 3 wide receiver position during camp, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
โIโm not going to say itโs my time, but Iโm coming,โ Patton said, relayed byย Maiocco.
Patton's confidence is a good thing. But making the roster is another issue.
It's hard to envision Patton upsetting Simpson in the depth-chart race. And Ellington's spot looks safe given his abilities in the return game. At best, signs point toward Patton being the No. 5 receiver on the team.
And he'll have to beat out talented, young receiving targets Dres Anderson and DeAndrew White to do that.
Can he?
Tight End Vance McDonald
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Tight end Vance McDonald recorded the first 49ers touchdown at Levi's Stadium.
Granted, it was the preseason last year. That stat didn't matter much. And it matters little that McDonald has had back-to-back strong preseason campaigns.
What does matter is the fact McDonald has just 10 receptions for 149 yards over his two-year career. That's not a whole lot for the one-time second-round pick, who was supposed to be the complementary piece to tight end Vernon Davis when fellow TE Delanie Walker departed via free agency after the 2013 season.
McDonald has plenty of capabilities as a blocker. But his receiving game has left much to be desired.
Add to that the 49ers' drafting of tight ends Blake Bell and Busta Anderson in the 2015 draft, and one can see that McDonald's time may be numbered.
Does that mean San Francisco will move on from McDonald this season?
David Fucillo of Niners Nation doesn't think soโat least not yet:
"A rather disappointing rookie season was followed by a second season cut short by multiple injuries. I still think he is certain to get one more year while the team figures out what's next with him. This is not anย A.J. Jenkinsย situation where McDonald is doing literally nothing for the team during the regular season. But if he has another poor year, he might not make it to the final year of his contract.
"
This could mean McDonald is still afforded the luxury of a weak training camp performance. But a failure to impress may indicate the 49ers will slide him down the depth chart in order to promote someone else, such as Bell or tight end Derek Carrier.
It's hard to say at this point.ย But it is safe to state that McDonald is on the hot seat entering this season. He'll need to capitalize on this chance in order to justify the high pick San Francisco used on him.
And soon.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy ofย Pro-Football-Reference.comย andย Sports-Reference.comย unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of Over the Cap.
Peterย Panacyย is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering theย San Francisco 49ers.
Follow himย @PeterPanacyย on Twitter.ย
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