San Francisco 49ers: What We've Learned Through Week 2 of Training Camp
Through two weeks of training camp, we still don’t know how the San Francisco 49ers plan on using 2014 first-round draft pick Jimmie Ward.
Ward is recovering from a broken foot he suffered Week 10 last season. During training-camp practices, he has sat out for team drills and only participated in individual drills.
Last season he was the 49ers’ starting slot cornerback, and he struggled, allowing a passer rating of 134.3 according to Pro Football Focus. This offseason, with Ward on the shelf, Niners’ No. 1 cornerback Tramaine Brock has been the slot cornerback in the nickel defense.
He has excelled in the slot and seems to be a big upgrade over Ward.
If Brock covers the slot next season, what will Ward do? Will the 49ers create a special defensive package specifically for him? Or will he play only special teams? The answer is up in the air.
Here are five things we do know about the 49ers after two weeks of training camp.
How the 49ers Plan to Replace RDT Justin Smith
1 of 5
From 2011 to 2014, under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Justin Smith played right defensive end (4-technique) in the 49ers’ base 3-4 defense, and right defensive tackle (3-technique) in the 49ers’ sub-packages.
Through two weeks of training camp, the Niners seem intent on replacing Smith with two players—Quinton Dial in the base defense and Tank Carradine in the sub-packages.
Dial is a run-stuffer deluxe who earned a plus-5.9 grade from Pro Football Focus during the final three games of last season. And Carradine is an interior pass-rusher who recorded three sacks over the final three games of last season. Both players are on the rise.
Dial has a sore knee, though, and for the past few days, he has only participated during individual drills. While he has been out, Carradine has played fantastically, both against the pass and the run.
If Dial continues to miss time, Carradine might take his job.
How the 49ers Plan to Replace LDT Ray McDonald
2 of 5
Like Justin Smith, Ray McDonald has played in the Niners’ base defense and sub-packages over the past few seasons. But McDonald played on the left side, not the right.
And in the sub-packages, he mostly played 1-technique and rushed through the strong-side A-gap, frequently drawing double-teams from the center and right guard. McDonald’s job was to collapse the pocket on passing plays.
It’s just a matter of time before 21-year-old 2015 first-round pick Arik Armstead takes over both of McDonald’s old positions. But for now, Armstead is at the bottom of the depth chart.
Coming into training camp this offseason, veteran defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was the favorite to replace McDonald as the 1-technique in the sub-packages. But Dockett’s coming off a torn ACL he suffered last August and hasn’t played much during team drills the past two weeks.
Now Ian Williams seems like the best option to replace McDonald as the 1-technique in the sub-packages. None of the Niners’ interior offensive lineman can stay in front of Williams during one-on-ones or team drills.
In the base defense, Williams will probably play nose tackle (0-technique), and Glenn Dorsey, another run-stuffer deluxe, probably will play left defensive end.
How the 49ers Plan to Replace RCB Chris Culliver
3 of 5
Last season, Chris Culliver was the 49ers’ starting right cornerback. However, he signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Washington Redskins this offseason.
Shortly after Culliver’s deal became official, the Niners signed former San Diego Chargers cornerback Shareece Wright to a one-year, $2.95 million contract. He was a bargain.
Through two weeks of training camp, Wright actually seems like an upgrade over Culliver at right cornerback. Culliver is big and athletic and can mirror the league’s best receivers man to man...until he turns his head to find the football.
When Culliver turns his head, which he rarely does, he often loses the receiver he’s covering.
Wright can turn his head and find the ball while maintaining tight coverage. Wednesday afternoon, he quickly turned and intercepted a pass intended for wide receiver Quinton Patton, who was running a fade route to the left pylon in the back of the end zone.
It seems Wright will start at right cornerback in the base defense, and Tramaine Brock will start at left cornerback. In the nickel defense, it seems Brock will move from the left to the slot, while Wright will move from right to left and second-year corner Dontae Johnson will play right cornerback.
Like Culliver, Johnson struggles to find the ball in the air. Opposing quarterbacks will probably pick on him early next season.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
How the 49ers Plan to Replace LILB Patrick Willis
4 of 5
Over the past four seasons, Patrick Willis was the Niners’ starting left inside linebacker, or “Mike.” He usually lined up across from the right guard and almost always covered the tight end.
NaVorro Bowman was the right inside linebacker, or “Jack.” He lined up behind a defensive lineman, who tied up blockers and allowed Bowman to run around and make plays based on instinct.
Bowman has not played as a “Jack” in the first two weeks of training camp. With Willis in retirement, the Niners have moved Bowman to “Mike”—Willis’ old position.
The new “Jack” seems to be third-year inside linebacker Nick Moody, who’s extremely athletic—almost as athletic as Bowman. Moody has played well at "Jack," intercepting three passes during team drills the first two weeks of training camp.
Moody is competing with veteran inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite for a starting job. Wilhoite has missed all of training camp with a strained hamstring. The way things are going, it seems Moody will retain the starting job when Wilhoite returns.
How the 49ers Plan to Replace ROLB Aldon Smith
5 of 5
Aldon Smith became the 49ers’ starting right outside linebacker in 2012, his second season in the NFL. In 2011 he only played in the sub-packages, and Parys Haralson was the starting right outside linebacker in the base defense.
To replace Smith, whom the Niners released on August 7, San Francisco will probably use a platoon like they did in 2011.
In the base defense, the right outside linebacker will probably be Corey Lemonier, a good athlete who can stuff the run and cover the flat. But he can’t rush the passer. He has just one sack during his two-season career.
So the Niners will likely bench Lemonier in the sub-packages, move starting left outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks to the right and play Aaron Lynch on the left. Lynch is a pass-rushing specialist who recorded six sacks as a 21-year-old rookie last season.
All practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
