49ers fans had a lot to say following the team's Sin City beatdown on Sunday. It's just a preseason game, so there's no need to worry. But there's still plenty to talk about.
Kyle Shanahan gave some injury updates on Monday. Fortunately, no one was injured in Sunday's game with the Raiders, although Oren Burks sprained a PCL (knee) when he collided with Davante Adams at practice on Friday. The team is hoping he's ready to go for week one.
As for other injury updates, Shanahan said he expects the following players to return to practice this week: Robert Beal, Jr., Kalia Davis, Dre Greenlaw, Danny Gray, Drake Jackson, and Elijah Mitchell. George Kittle should return next week, but George Odom has a shoulder injury that could keep him out for multiple weeks.
Let's get to the mailbag and see what's on your mind.
I'm just curious if there is an update on the Bosa contract situation. I know we have taken our time to get things done (Kittle, Deebo), but it makes me nervous. He's earned the contract he will eventually get. I don't worry too much about preseason games. - Josh C.
There is still no word on the Nick Bosa contract extension. They'll get it worked out, but as I've said before, I worry a little about Bosa not being in game shape, and then ending up with a soft tissue injury like we often see from players holding out. But I'm hoping for the best.
Another underrated disadvantage, that Matt Barrows has pointed out, is that Colton McKivitz needs practice reps against someone like Bosa. He'll be facing T.J. Watt in week one, so it would benefit McKivitz to face Bosa in practice. But that's not happened yet, and may not at this point.
Are preseason records an indicator of....anything? - DoctorWDS
Not really. We've seen teams go 0-4 in the preseason and play well in the regular season. And we've seen the opposite. Case in point: when the Detroit Lions went 0-16 in 2008, they were 4-0 in the preseason. So preseason really doesn't mean much.
That said, you'd like to see your young players perform well and start learning how to win.
It's only preseason. I still remember during the 1994/95 season the Niners lost all of the preseason games and still ended up winning the Super Bowl. - Damien P.
The 1994 49ers actually went 3-1 in the preseason. But I get Damien's point, along with the point of many others who stated, "It's just a preseason game." I agree. There's no need to panic.
Brandon Allen- QB2, dump Lance or Darnold. Bring back Robbie Gould, one of the top kickers in the NFL for one year. Keep Moody for that year working up to K1. - Kim C.
Brandon Allen had a better game than Trey Lance did. But I don't think I'm ready to name him QB2. And yes, Jake Moody missed two field goal attempts (one being from 58 yards). But it's way too early to give up on the rookie kicker.
Would Robbie Gould even want to return at this point?
When Lance was able to get a pass off, he looked like he had better mechanics and better accuracy. Thoughts? - DoctorWDS
Yes, I would agree. When Lance threw the ball on Sunday, he looked better doing so. His issues against the Raiders were more decision-making problems, such as making a wrong throw, or not getting rid of the ball when he should have. And his offensive line did him no favors.
My biggest concern is kicking. You can't miss kicks like that in a covered field. With the winds at Levi, and then having to also play at Pitt, Seattle, and Philly. We need a kicker that can make kicks. -Shaun G.
Moody will not make the routine kicks as consistently as Gould did. Gould was elite at that, and rookie kickers typically struggle. But Tracy Sandler told me, "Jake Moody is no ordinary rookie." And as Jim Harbaugh said: "Death, taxes, and Jake Moody."
I trust them to not lead us astray.
Yesterday is really no big deal. It's literally tryouts. And I'm sure none of them will be making the team lol. - Katie B.
The presumed starter at nickel corner, Isaiah Oliver, played a lot on Sunday. And he got beat multiple times...by a rookie QB playing in his first NFL game. Steve Wilks called Oliver "one of the best nickel corners" in the game. Shanahan, however, seemed to suggest on Monday that Oliver may not be the presumed starter. Maybe that's why he played so much. Or maybe he was the guy going into the game, but not anymore.
Jordan Mason played on Sunday. He didn't have a very good game. Clelin Ferrell played and performed well. He could end up being a starter on defense.
There were plenty of players who played on Sunday that will be on the team. But I get what Katie is saying. Most of the starters weren't on the field.
Did any of the OL guys look good? - DoctorWDS
As a whole, the offensive line that played on Sunday was atrocious. Tackle Leroy Watson was probably the best of the bunch. He gave up one pressure on 24 QB dropbacks, which was better than what most of his line-mates did. But Ilm Manning was the team's top-graded pass protector on Sunday. He didn't allow a single QB pressure on 17 pass reps at left tackle. Also, Keith Ismael surrendered zero pressures on 29 pass block snaps.
Everyone else was garbage. Nick Zakelj (four QB pressures allowed) and Jaylon Moore (three QB pressures allowed) were both really bad. Jason Poe only allowed one quarterback pressure, per PFF, but he was terrible for the most part.
It's crazy how everybody is focused on the QBs..when the worst part of yesterday was the 49ers defense. They couldn't stop anybody. The last time the 49ers allowed 30 points or more in a preseason game was Shanahan's first year as HC!! In 2017 they gave up 30 points or more in 2 preseason games (both losses). - Darne H.
The defense wasn't very good, that's for sure. But the offensive line was the worst part of this game.
Darnold looked better than Lance. Bell was the shining star of the game to me. Hopefully, we keep him. I think Ferrell will be an awesome addition, as well. - Brent W.
Darnold looked better than Lance. That is true. And I agree that Ronnie Bell looked like a keeper, except for the ball that went through his hands and was picked off. But it was his first NFL game, and he had played really well up to that point.
Ferrell was playing against backups, but he did exactly what we'd expect him to do. He made his presence known. If Jackson can't convince his coaches that he should be a starter, Ferrell Will take that starting edge spot opposite of Bosa.
Do you think Kyle will take any of the preseason games seriously? I still believe he would have forfeited the Raiders game if the NFL allowed him to. - DoctorWDS
I think Shanahan takes preseason games seriously, but he's on record as saying he values the joint practices a lot more than he does preseason games. Unfortunately, reports from those practices weren't favorable for the 49ers. Not only did the Raiders outplay the 49ers on Sunday, it sounds like they out-practiced the 49ers on Thursday and Friday.
I would imagine Shanahan's preference for preseason is to see what the rookies can do and try to get through with as few injuries as possible.
That's all we have for this week. The 49ers are back in action Saturday evening against the Denver Broncos. We'll be back next week with another 49ers Webzone Mailbag.
- Marc Adams
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Written by:Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
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