Training Camp - Review

Training Camp - Ready for the Pre-Season

The 49ers prepare this week for their first pre-season game against Green Bay on Friday. Training Camp has been competitive, tough and here are my thoughts from what has been a good few weeks of intensive training in Santa Clara: 

Quarterback – Trust the Process

Trey Lance is the starting Quarterback and Training Camp has allowed Lance to take the first team reps and get valuable experience playing against the 49ers defense. I am not one of those who pays a huge amount of attention to Training camp statistics.

If we recall last year, all the beat writers were questioning Garoppolo and the number of interceptions he threw during training camp, but in the end, Garoppolo lead the team to the NFC Championship game.

What we have learned is that Lance has made some significant strides this off season, Lance has willingness to learn and is not afraid of hard work. Lance has demonstrated maturity at press conferences, this has given us an insight into Lance's character and all bodes well as we enter the season.

I think Kyle Shanahan will put Lance in positions to minimize mistakes and there will be bumps along the way, but the team has a clear direction as to who the Quarterback is.  The 49ers offense and Lance will develop and evolve as the season unfolds.

Offensive Line

This is the area of the team that concerned me most leading into training camp and still in my opinion is a real cause of concern. The team, in Trent Williams, has one real standout player (Hall of Fame) at the O-Line. Aside from that, the other four starting positions are not confirmed. Spencer Burford has impressed the staff and has a chance of a starting job.

The pre-season, will determine who starts and I suspect the Shanahan and Co are still behind close doors worried about the O-Line and who will be protecting the team’s most valuable asset, that's Trey Lance.

Secondary – Upgrade and a Threat

John Lynch knew that the team's  Secondary had to be strengthen and the team wanted to avoid last year’s debacle. Lynch has been proactive and the introduction of Charvarius Ward has provided the experience and leadership in the Cornerback room. The team now has depth, youth and experience and is in a far better position than last year.

At Safety, Jimmy Ward looks like he has had a great off season and the player I am most excited about seeing this year, is the second year Safety, Talanoa Hufunga, who I suspect is going to be a real play maker this season.

Wide receivers – A Real Genuine Threat

The signing of Deebo Samuels, has been the icing on the cake for the Wide Receiver Room. Brandon Aiyuk, Juan Jennings, Danny Gray, Ray-Ray McCloud III and the recent signing of Willie Snead all have their own ability to threaten opposing defenses. This set of wide receivers are a deep threat, a physical group, who are willing to block and help the team.  The team have a mobile Quarterback, who will extend plays and I am excited to see what Kyle Shanahan has in mind as the season goes on.

Defensive Line - the Heart Beat of the Team

This is the heartbeat of the 49ers team, the are in a division that has Kyler Murray and Matthew Stafford and the pressure that the D-Line puts on opposing Quarterbacks will determine whether the 49ers are a genuine contender this year.

This is the strongest group the team have had since 2019 at D-Line, they are young, have players who have something to prove and they have depth in the team's roster.

With a young Quarterback, who will make mistakes and turn the ball over, the importance of winning the turnover battles this season, is going to decide the 49ers success this season.

Conclusion

There should be real hope as we enter the first pre-season game, I suspect we will have a better idea of how the season will go after the first four games of the regular season. I do not think the team will have hangover after losing the NFC Championship game and all the indicators suggest they are ready to make a real push for the Superbowl this season.