49ers Preseason: Evaluating Bubble-Watch Players for Each Position
By Peter Panacy
![Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up before the game against the Houston Texans at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/0d2c6b2f75972b4ae5533503c2e1888423222569b761588f825256d5d4faddcf.jpg)
The San Francisco 49ers have one preseason game in the books and will look to make the first steps to formulate their roster in 2016. Niner Noise takes a look at each position and determines who is a lock, who’s in good shape and who is on the bubble.
The San Francisco 49ers have no shortage of questions as the team looks to further evaluate its roster after the Niners’ 24-13 preseason loss to the Houston Texans last Sunday.
Preaseason games aren’t so much about wins and losses. Play-calling is traditionally more vanilla, first-team units rarely see more than a handful of drives and this type of competition is more about giving depth players a chance to showcase why they belong on a roster.
San Francisco’s 90-man offseason roster has more than a handful of question marks.
While there is good depth at a handful of positions, others leave plenty to be desired.
So, with three preseason games remaining, Niner Noise takes a look at each player on the 49ers roster and determines where he falls in this crucial criteria. Let’s base this on four tiers — a lock, in good shape, strong bubble and weak bubble.
Determining who is a lock will be easy. The problem is the 49ers have far fewer of these players than they did just a few years ago.
But hey, that’s what the preseason is for, right?
Keep in mind the Niners will have to trim the 90-man roster to 75 players after the third preseason week. The final 53-man roster will be announced following the conclusion of the preseason.
Who stays and who goes? And who gets the proverbial “I dunno” mark?
Next: Special Teams