49ers: No. 2 Wide Receiver Is Most Interesting Camp Battle

The San Francisco 49ers have little in terms of experienced depth at wide receiver, meaning the battle for the No. 2 spot behind Torrey Smith is wide open and the most interesting positional duel of the upcoming training camp.

Until the 2015 season, the San Francisco 49ers had gone through a period of getting relatively consistent production from the wide receiver position, something the team had not had the benefit of during the dark days under former head coaches Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary.

San Francisco had three straight seasons from 2012 to 2014 with a 1,000-yard receiver, with Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin proving especially productive during those years.

Boldin was not able to reach that milestone last term but racked up 3,030 yards over his three seasons with the Niners. Yet, with the 49ers so far choosing not to bring him back for 2016, there appears to be few wideouts on the roster capable of reaching four figures aside from deep threat Torrey Smith.

Smith’s production dipped significantly in his first year with the Niners as he was significantly neglected in an anaemic San Francisco offense. He should expect to see more targets in 2016 under Chip Kelly but — if the 49ers’ offense is to be successful this coming season — Smith will need help from the other unheralded receivers on the depth chart.

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The list of wideouts contending to start across from Smith is underwhelming and of those on it, four players — Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington, DeAndre Smelter and Eric Rogers — seem to have the best chance of competing for the No. 2 spot.

Patton and Ellington have plenty of experience under their belt but may be on their last chance to make a serious impact, although Ellington received a surprising lack of snaps in 2015, and figure to come under pressure from Smelter and Rogers despite neither having played a snap in the NFL.

In the case of Patton, he actually had his best season in the league in 2015, but the fact that came in a year where he had only 30 receptions for 394 yards a touchdown speaks volumes about his inability to take advantage of the opportunities he’s had in his time in the league.

To his credit Patton does possess a lot of the qualities needed to be a starting receiver in the NFL. He is not undersized at 6’0″ and 204 pounds and is quick and shifty enough to make people miss and put up yards after the catch.

He is a natural hands-catcher and has previously shown an ability to win jump balls at Louisiana Tech, although he has not had much of a chance to showcase that talent in the pros, and general manager Trent Baalke — per David Fucillo of Niners Nation — is expecting further improvement from Patton:

"When he [Patton] got an opportunity, made some plays. I think the big thing for him is consistency, especially in the route trees and getting on the same page within the offense and with the quarterback. But, he’s probably the most energetic player I’ve ever been around. The guy can run nonstop all day long and always comes to compete. So, we’re expecting him to take another step forward."

Baalke is right when the speaks about consistency, which has been lacking for much of Patton’s 49ers career. That may be have more accepted by Niners fans had a lot of the energy referenced by Baalke gone into negative aspects of the game such as taunting opponents.

In spite of his flaws, Patton is probably in a better position to get starter snaps than Ellington, who was woefully under-utilized by the Jim Tomsula regime, making just 13 catches on 19 targets for 153 yards.

Kelly figures to make better use of Ellington, who he labelled as “intriguing” back at the NFL Scouting Combine in February — per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee — and take advantage of his quickness in space as a slot receiver and use him as somebody who can make an impact on reverses and gadget plays:

"When you look at just the short time that I’ve seen just film of him [Ellington] you’re like, ‘Wow – that kid can do some interesting things’. Then it’s our job to figure out how we can use that to help us win games."

Ellington certainly has the speed to test defenders on deep routes but, at 5’9″ and 197 pounds, doesn’t really have the size to hold up outside and be a long-term No. 2. Instead it is Rogers and Smelter who have a better chance of beating out Patton for that role.

Rogers did not stick in the NFL after signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and, following a 2015 season with the Calgary Stampeders in which he topped 1,400 yards and had 10 touchdowns to his name in the CFL, is determined to enjoy better fortune with the Niners this time around, per 49ers.com.

“When the ball’s in the air, it’s mine,” Rogers said. “I don’t like negative plays.”

One quality Rogers has in his favour is how he attacks the ball in the air. He is a hands catcher who tracks the ball into his grasp and — with his 6’3″ and 210-pound frame — should be a nightmare for defenders to contend with on jump balls.

Yet Rogers is more of a straight line athlete who lacks home-run speed and has limited ability after the catch, which is an area where Smelter excelled during his time at Georgia Tech, as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein pointed out in his scouting report of the former Yellow Jacket going into the 2015 draft:

"Big receiver with physicality to match. On hitch routes, showed shake to make first defender miss and also showed he can punish defenders with a stiff-arm. Talented after the catch. His football intelligence really stands out. Has understanding of leverage within his routes and will adjust his route to counter the defender’s actions. Able to create separation underneath by pushing cornerbacks with good route speed. Consistently worked back to quarterback when plays got off schedule. Uses wide frame to box out cornerbacks on back-shoulder throws near the boundary. Wins when ball is in the air with physicality, body control, well-timed leaps and strong hands. Capable run blocker. Great competitor with mature background."

Of course Rogers and Smelter have yet to play an NFL down and that inexperience could count against them in a potential camp battle with Patton, who is in a prime position to get significant starter reps for the first time in his career.

Patton has to go into camp as the favorite to be the No.2 across from Smith but Rogers and Smelter, with their superior size and catch radius, could quickly make things interesting with some strong showings early in the camp.

Others such as DeAndrew White, Aaron Burbridge and Jerome Simpson may potentially emerge but the most likely battle at the No. 2 spot is between two under-performers in Patton and Ellington and a duo in Rogers and Smelter who could give the Niners a jump-ball red zone threat they have lacked for some time.

San Francisco needs a productive second receiver to take the pressure off Smith and, with the unknown quantities Rogers and Smelter are bringing to the table, the fight to win that job should provide fascination throughout training camp and preseason.

Next: Colin Kaepernick: Why 49ers QB Will Progress in 2016

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro Football Reference and Sports Reference unless otherwise indicated.

Why No. 2 Wide Receiver Is 49ers Most Interesting Camp Battle in 2016

By Nicholas McGee | May 23, 2016

The San Francisco 49ers have little in terms of experienced depth at wide receiver, meaning the battle for the No. 2 spot behind Torrey Smith is wide open and the most interesting positional duel of the upcoming training camp.