The San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2017 preseason campaign with a road bout versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Niner Noise lays out five things to watch during Friday’s game.
NFL preseason games typically offer just a brief moment of excitement before fans want regular-season action, but that’s not exactly the case for the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners have already ushered in a new era. And fans of the red and gold will be able to witness some of these efforts in semi-real situations when San Francisco takes to the field in a somewhat meaningful contest.
The 49ers open their preseason with a road contest against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday, August 11 at 9 p.m. ET from Arrowhead Stadium.
Niners general manager John Lynch already stated his starters will play a bit more than usual, which makes sense. There are new offensive and defensive schemes in place, and a number of the younger players need all the reps they can get.
Aside from the increased workload for the first team, what else should fans pay attention to on Friday?
Niner Noise breaks down five other aspects to be monitored as San Francisco gears up for its first preseason effort of 2017.
No. 5: Will Safety Lorenzo Jerome Stay Hot?
With presumed starting free safety Jimmie Ward (hamstring) still on the PUP list, and free safety Eric Reid (ankle) just returning to training camp, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the 49ers stick more to their depth during preseason games.
One name to watch is rookie free-agent safety Lorenzo Jerome, who has seen plenty of time with the first-team unit after turning heads in camp earlier.
Niners Wire’s Rob Lowder already indicated Jerome looks comfortable with this promotion:
#49ersCamp Notes - Day 9: UDFA safety Lorenzo Jerome doesn't look out of place with the first team. Several big hits in today's practice.
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) August 7, 2017
Jerome has worked well in this free safety role, although one will have to see if he can continue his strong efforts against competition against which he’s not totally familiar.
While it seems likely Jerome makes the 53-man roster this season, continuing the efforts already seen will go a long way to ensuring it happens.
No. 4: Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s Scheme in Action
San Francisco 49ers
Rarely do teams open up the entire playbook for preseason games, and it’s anyone’s guess how much we’ll actually see of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
There are two arguments here. The traditional route suggests Shanahan will want to withhold using some of his better plays, electing instead to save them for the regular season.
At the same time, especially since Shanahan’s offense is very complex, it makes sense for the head coach to ensure his offensive players get more chances to execute on every level to gain the necessary familiarity with the system.
There have been numerous instances this offseason where it’s apparent the offense is far behind the defense, in terms of both personnel and capability.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs still boast one of the better defenses in the NFL, and it’s going to be a challenge for the 49ers offense even if it’s just an exhibition bout.
We’ll see if Shanahan’s play-calling is of the “vanilla” variety, or if the execution is trying out some of the more complicated aspects of the playbook, hoping to reap the practice benefits as a result.
No. 3: A Reinvigorated 49ers Pass Rush
One of the major differences between the 49ers defense now and that under last year’s defensive coordinator, Jim O’Neil, is San Francisco has simplified the scheme under new coordinator Robert Saleh.
Just ask veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks (h/t Kevin Jones of KNBR 680):
Ahmad Brooks says the 49ers only have 10 defensive play calls in this system. In years past, SF has had as many as 25-30 calls. Simplifying
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) August 2, 2017
This should allow the defense to rely more on instinct and less on guesswork. And one of the areas where it will be reflected should be in the pass rush.
San Francisco struggled here last year, obviously, but a new-look edge rush could be on full display this preseason. Players like Tank Carradine, Elvis Dumervil, Aaron Lynch and Arik Armstead should be rotational pieces from the outside, while interior defenders like DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas could spring an interior pass rush.
Friday will mark the first time we see this crop in action outside of practices, and it could be a good indication what to expect when the regular season rolls around.
No. 2: How Big a Weakness Is the 49ers Offensive Line?
San Francisco’s offensive line remains a unit in flux. And that’s not a good thing, considering O-lines take time to jell.
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The Niners will already be without second-year guard Joshua Garnett (knee) for the foreseeable future, and all sorts of questions remain outside of veteran left tackle Joe Staley.
The 49ers defensive line made easy work out of O-linemen Trent Brown and Brandon Fusco on day nine of practice, per Niners Wire’s Rob Lowder, and both pass protection and run blocking have been something of a constant issue for the guys up front.
If there is good news, it’s the fact this preseason bout should give a chance for players to test their skills against guys not necessarily familiar with apparent weaknesses.
Better yet, we could get a clearer indication which players may wind up in the starting alignment and which are better in reserve roles.
Still, signs aren’t pointing to this unit being a solid force this season.
No. 1: The 49ers Rookies — DE Solomon Thomas and LB Reuben Foster
Preseason games are great, because we finally get a full window to see high-profile rookies compete in serious action against a real opponent.
And there’s no shortage of buzz surrounding San Francisco’s first-round picks from the 2017 NFL Draft, Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster.
Thomas may wind up working with the second-team unit in Kansas City, as the Niners have an experienced crop of veterans ahead of him. This includes defensive tackle Tank Carradine, who was listed ahead of Thomas on the team’s first unofficial depth chart.
One shouldn’t get married to this placement, though, and the preseason could go a long way in forcing a swap here.
Regardless, it will be exciting to actually see Thomas make an impact.
The same goes for Foster, who likely assumes a much larger role with veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith (pectoral) sidelined for the rest of the season.
Foster will probably end up rotating with fellow veteran, Ray-Ray Armstrong, at the weak-side (WILL) linebacker spot. Meanwhile, the rookie has had little trouble working with the first-team unit and generating turnovers during the process:
#49ers Reuben Foster continues to find the ball. The rookie had his 4th INT of TC off a Matt Barkley pass intended for Kendrick Bourne.
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) August 8, 2017
Perhaps no other 49ers rookie has generated more excitement than Foster.
And he’s a major reason why fans are going to be paying close attention to the Niners’ exhibition opener this Friday.
Next: A second look at 49ers trade candidates in 2017
Stay tuned to Niner Noise as we continue to provide you with training camp and preseason coverage!