[ad_1]
The San Francisco 49ers finished Monday their second exhibition match with a 24-15 win over the Broncos in Denver. It was at least a polarizing performance, with the first team offensive proving ineffective against the Broncos defense. It was only after the second half, with the second and third ranks in the field, that the 49ers began to gain momentum.
Here are our five points to remember from the 49ers' pre-season win over Denver:
Difficult beginnings for Garoppolo
The first four passes of Garoppolo were all in the hands of the defenders of the Broncos. Two were beaten, one was intercepted and the fourth should have been. The return of the 49ers quarterback on the field for the first time in almost a year was not ideal. Garoppolo finished his three orders by completing 1 of his 6 assists for zero yards and a spread of 0.0. It was not all Jimmy, however, who had very little time to launch a porous offensive line.
Protection struggles
On the first practice, Bradley Chubb beat defenseman Joe Staley on the left flank, almost intact, putting pressure on Garoppolo before his interception. It looked like a lack of communication between Staley and left guard Laken Tomlinson. Garoppolo was under duress on almost every one of his six releases. Chubb also beat rookie forward Justin Skule, beating the sixth-round rookie to eliminate quarterback CJ Beathard from the ball. It was a disturbing performance for an offensive line missing the Weston Richburg starting center (leg) and right guard Mike Person (foot), which the 49ers are hoping to prepare for the first week.
This is a question that can arise when the 49ers coach reduces their list of 90 players to 53 players later this month. At present, the receiving team consists of three locks: Dante Pettis and recruits Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd. Veteran Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor's big slot spreader also have a solid shot. Bourne and James continued to plead their case on Monday. Bourne, though dropping a well-placed deep ball from Beathard, finished with a 26-yard catch and an impressive foot touch. James put together three kick returns of 48, 32 and 34 yards. He also added a 14-yard reception. There is a scenario in which the 49ers keep Bourne and James, but with Jordan Matthews also in the group, there is a chance that it will come back to one or the other.
Encouraging Defense
Robert Saleh's defense made another strong performance on Monday. The 49ers allowed the landing only at the end of the fourth quarter, after a turnover putting the Broncos in the scoring position. Denver averaged three yards per game for 5.3-49. The defense totaled six sacks, defensive lineman Kentavius Street and Jay Bromley combined for 3.5 of those. The starting safety Jaquski Tartt totaled five tackles, two tackles for the loss and a break of the pass. Defensive linemate Solomon Thomas, cornerback DJ Reed and defensive wing Jeremiah Voloaga also distinguished themselves.
Dirty laundry accumulates
Last week against the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers were penalized 18 times for a total of 218 yards. That number dropped to a low on Monday, falling to 13 penalties for 100 yards that still pose problems. Offensive lineman Najee Toran and cornerback Dontae Johnson were among the culprits. In two games, the 49ers outscored their opponents by 31-14 and 319 yards. It is clear that Shanahan will continue to discipline himself as the 49ers prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.
[ad_2]
Source link