49ers stock watch: Who’s up and down after preseason win over Chiefs?
By Peter Panacy
Solomon Thomas, Reuben Foster and the 49ers Front Seven
Yes, it’s just preseason. But here’s a fun stat to chew on — the 49ers allowed just 187 yards of total offense, and only 31 of those came on the ground.
It’s significant, considering how bad San Francisco’s run defense was a year ago.
The Niners got some key contributions from their two first-round draft picks, Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster.
Foster nearly picked off quarterback Alex Smith in the end zone in the first quarter, but the rookie linebacker’s presence was still felt for almost all of his time on the field.
Thomas was even more impressive, playing almost three quarters and late into the game — unusual for highly touted draft picks.
Still, Thomas was a disruptive force against both the run and the pass, resulting in an 88.2 game grade, per Pro Football Focus.
He was the third overall #NFLDraft pick for a reason.
— NFL (@NFL) August 12, 2017
Top 3 @SollyThomas90 plays from his @49ers debut! https://t.co/IZrTB3uRrP
Thomas is currently competing with defensive lineman Tank Carradine for a starting job along the 49ers defensive line.
Right now, it seems to be Thomas’ to lose.