SANTA CLARA — The 49ers and Saints canceled their joint practice in Irvine this week, and boy, did it show in the first quarter of Sunday’s preseason game at Levi’s Stadium.
If you must know, the Niners won 16-10.
But even in the doldrums of such a mostly lifeless contest, countless players were fighting for their football lives, and some interesting things did happen for the 49ers — both on the periphery of the roster and with the team’s starters:
STUDS
Renardo Green – CB
Given an opportunity to play exclusively outside Sunday, he registered a pass-break up on a third-down out-route that took the Saints off the field. The Niners are loaded at corner, and Green could wind up being as good as anyone at the position by the end of this season.
Jacob Cowing – WR
It wasn’t a great start for Cowing Sunday. His first noticeable play was a hold that took a big Cody Schrader gain off the board. Cowing followed that by he made a couple of guys miss… en route to a six-yard loss.
But his talent is undeniable, and his 38 yard catch down the sideline — setting up the 49ers’ first touchdown — showed the big-play ability the Niners identified when they drafted him in the fourth round.
Cowing will need to do much, much more to justify playing time, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he made the most of it upon receipt.
Pressley Harvin III – P
He put on a mastercalss of punting, with four of four punts being pinned inside the 10-yard line . Is Mitch Wishnowsky (knee injury) getting Wally Pipped? (It should be noted that Wishnowsky was holding Jake Moody’s two field goals Sunday, so to answer my own question… no.)
Ji’Ayir Brown – FS
He really shouldn’t have been on the field — he has nothing left to prove. Alas, the Niners’ lack of safety depth had the starters in action early, and Brown made his presence known with a great tackle for loss on the Saints’ second drive.
Ultimately, Brown’s coverage skills as a single-high free safety will define the 49ers’ season — safeties are destiny in a pass-happy NFL — but you can’t question the sophomore’s talent. He has a chance to be special.
Alex Barrett – DE
In a preseason where the Niners are begging for a defensive end not named Nick Bosa to make an impact, Barrett has put together a nice camp and put really solid reps on film Sunday. His strip-sack of Spencer Rattler in the second quarter is the kind of relentless-effort play that could lift him off the practice squad.
Josh Dobbs – QB
There is not a quarterback controversy.
I repeat, there is not a quarterback controversy.
But Dobbs looked really good, again, on Sunday — this time as the second quarterback behind Brock Purdy. He let it rip in the second quarter, throwing 21 passes for 132 yards, and the 49ers — get this — moved the ball. Dobbs’ rushing ability was on full display Sunday, too. He scored a touchdown with his feet and added 24 other yards on two scrambles
So if there is any quarterback controversy, it is for who will be Purdy’s backup. That race, it seems, is wide open.
Jake Tonges – TE
He just keeps making plays. I doubt the 49ers keep four tight ends, and I can’t imagine a world where Cam Latu, the 2023 second-round pick makes the team. But if the Niners were to keep four, they should keep Tonges.
DUDS
Colton McKivitz – RT
The 49ers starting right tackle repeatedly lost one-on-one reps on Sunday, even against second and third-string defensive ends. This is nothing new, but the issue is even more glaring when Trent Williams is not on the other side of the line, always allowing safe passage to the left for a quarterback. And given McKivitz’s current form, I’m not sure if it woulnd’t be noticiable even if Williams was playing. It sure looks like George Kittle will be this team’s de-facto right tackle again in 2024.
The 49ers’ starting receivers
Obviously the 49ers didn’t bother putting Deebo Samuel or Juauan Jennings in this game. It was obvious because the Niners’ receivers playing alongside Brock Purdy — Chris Conley and Trent Taylor— couldn’t separate from Saints coverage. Pair that with hit-or-miss pass protection and you had a dud of a game from Purdy. Feel free to consider the Niners’ starting quarterback part of this “duds” list — he nearly threw an interception to start the team’s second drive. But it is very hard to complete passes when there’s absolutely no one to throw the ball to downfield. Brandon Aiyuk is the real winner of Sunday’s game.
Jordan Elliott – DT
The Saints decided to run directly at him snap after snap, leading to their first touchdown of the game. New Orleans’ offensive line is widely considered one of the worst in the NFL — Elliott is a player the Niners are counting on to provide snaps this season. After an underwhelming start to his career in Cleveland, Elliott has looked good in practice for the 49ers. He did not look good Sunday, and that could be a big issue for the 49ers in the regular season, as they have few — if any — viable alternatives to Elliott currently on the roster.
Robert Beal – DE
Sunday was a great opportunity for Beal to show that he is deserving of serious snaps this season. All he did was convince anyone watching that he shouldn’t be given such a role.
Beal’s most noticeable play of the game was when he was lifted off the ground by Saints tight end Foster Moreau, tossing him into the legs of teammate Nick Williams, who subsequently left the game with a knee injury.
He did play better in the second half, but that was when the Saints had third-string players in the game. There’s no reason to think Beal is anything more than a third-string player right now.
Ronnie Bell – WR
Had every opportunity in this game to make plays and, perhaps, make the roster. The plays weren’t made, and so Bell won’t make the roster.
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