49ers preseason: 5 stats to watch in Week 2 versus Broncos

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 17: Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos gets hit by defensive back Perrish Cox #20 of the San Francisco 49ers during a preseason game at Levi's Stadium on August 17, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 11: A referee picks up a penalty flag in the first half as the Buffalo Bills play the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Penalties

San Francisco was flagged 17 times for a whopping 131 yards last weekend versus Kansas City.

That’s a lot, even for a rusty preseason game, and it’s not something the rebuilding 49ers can afford during the regular season.

“Expected it a little bit going into the first preseason game, but definitely was disappointed” Shanahan said of the excess flags, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “We’ve had them in practice. It’s something we just talked to the team about. It’s something we definitely need to get better at and clean up on Monday.”

Six of those penalties came on special teams, so one can figure this is a specific area the Niners will look to address in Week 2.

But the entire issue is something needing to be solved from the top down. That means practicing good technique this week and continuing it throughout the preseason.

Let’s see if this number drops against Denver.