The San Francisco 49ers concluded their mandatory minicamp earlier this week, electing to cancel their final practice on Thursday, effectively finishing this phase of their offseason program as head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that the team won't hold practices until training camp begins in late July.
What were the main takeaways from the two days of practice?
1. Trey Lance learning from Steve Young
During media availability this week, quarterback Trey Lance shared aspects of his relationship with 49ers legend Steve Young, as the two have talked through team events and exchanged phone numbers.
"We got to talk a decent amount, yeah," Lance said of his interactions with Young. "Obviously, with a guy like that, it means the world anytime he says anything about me. I have nothing but respect for a guy like that. Everything that he's done, and him having been in this building and played for this organization, I'm going to take everything I possibly can from a guy like that. Anything he has to say, anything he has to offer me, I'm welcoming that with open arms."
Last week, Young praised Lance's mind and processing ability, expressing his confidence in the young signal caller.
"Actually, he's processing as well as anybody," Steve Young said last week via Bay Area News Group. "He can understand what's happening. He can figure out who [is open]. And that's a real talent. That's not easy. That's not just given. There's a real skill there. So I have 100 percent confidence that Trey will figure out where to throw it."
"The challenge for Trey is, once he knows, then how to deliver it. That's another great talent that you have to have and develop. So for me, it's the accuracy that comes with [things] as he shows his processing power. I think his body will respond, and he'll find the open guys and figure it out. And then it gives you a confidence to deliver it."
While Young believes that repetitions are extremely important for development with Lance's throwing ability, the former quarterback believes that Lance's mind will take him a long way.
"So more than anything, it's delivering the ball to the open guy over and over and over again, and getting that confidence, because that's the spot he needs to work on," Young said. "This is more of a throwing thing than it is a mind thing. Some guys have mind things. Some guys have both. But Trey has a really sharp processing mind, and I think that's going to take him a long way."
According to Sports Illustrated's Grant Cohn, Lance finished with a 74% completion rate, six touchdowns, and two interceptions during the four practices available to the media.
2. Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, and Trent Williams report to camp
While fellow fourth-year receiver D.K. Metcalf elected to hold out from mandatory minicamp, Deebo Samuel was in attendance for San Francisco, avoiding any significant fines.
Additionally, veterans Nick Bosa and Trent Williams were at the facility for the first time this offseason, and both were in uniform practicing while Samuel did individual drills on the sidelines.
Bosa spoke on his contract situation, choosing to bypass any talks and focus on his play, while allowing his agent to handle those talks when they happen.
"I don't know [about any contract talks right now]. I've just been focusing on getting better. I'll let my agent worry about that."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke on the matter as well, acknowledging that the team hasn't begun contract talks with the star defensive end, but isn't too worried about the issue.
"We haven't been doing [contract talks] yet with Nick, just that's how both sides are going at it now, and I'm not too concerned with it. I fully expect Nick Bosa being here for a very long time, but seeing him for the first time in a while, Nick always takes care of himself as good as any athlete I've ever been around. He had a good Florida tan seeing him yesterday. His quads are still huge and he's ready to play football whenever it's time to go."
With the 49ers not holding practices until the beginning of training camp, both Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa could have resolved contract situations before the next time they step on the field.
3. Charles Omenihu stock rising?
Defensive end Charles Omenihu was an underrated midseason acquisition by the 49ers last year, as the former Houston Texan had multiple years of team control and flashed promise as a pass-rusher, playing 25% of the defensive snaps for San Francisco.
Omenihu could be on the verge of a breakout season this year, as defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans told reporters that OTAs has been very beneficial for the 24-year old defensive lineman as he continues to understand the nuances of the 49ers' defense.
"With all our guys, whether they're ends or tackles, all those guys will move around as much as possible. So [moving Omenihu inside is] nothing that's kind of set in stone right now. We're just working on technique, fundamentals right now and just putting guys in as many different positions as possible to see what they can do. Charles has done a good job, I think OTAs has been very beneficial for him. He came in mid-season, so for him to get all the groundwork, day-one fundamentals of how we play D-Line, this has been huge for him. I'm happy that he's able to get these OTAs under his belt. He's going to be much better for us just because he has a really base level of how we do things now."
Additionally, Omenihu received praise this past week from CBS Sports's Chris Trapasso, who anointed him as a player primed for a breakout season in 2022.
"What's weird was that after being on the field for close to 40 snaps per game with the Texans, the 49ers' newly acquired, unique pass rusher never played more than 20 snaps in a single contest for the rest of the regular season," wrote Trapasso. "That changed in the first playoff win, when he erupted for six pressures on 27 pass-rush opportunities across 35 total snaps against the Cowboys. Sure, it was just one contest, a rather big one at that, but Omenihu made a statement to his new coaching staff -- he should've been playing more from the jump in his new locale."
"The former Texas star has gotten more comfortable and productive rushing the passer in each of his first three seasons in the NFL. And in what should be a more prominent role on the 49ers defensive line, I expect a noticeable breakout en route to a hefty extension in the 2023 offseason for the nearly 6-6 defender with 36-inch tentacles attached to his torso."
Omenihu is in the final year of his rookie contract and could earn himself a nice payday, similarly to Arden Key, who played both on the interior and edge while with the 49ers in 2021. Key received a one-year deal worth up to $7 million with the Jaguars following his breakout eight-sack season with the 49ers last year.
