49ers preseason: 5 stats to watch in Week 2 versus Broncos
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Defensive End Solomon Thomas’ Pro Football Focus Game Grade
San Francisco’s first-round draft pick, defensive end Solomon Thomas, sure looked like the real deal in Week 1 of the preseason.
Thomas played nearly three quarters in an attempt to get him up to speed, after he missed the majority of offseason activities.
And Thomas didn’t disappoint, receiving a notable 88.2 overall game grade, per Pro Football Focus.
PFF broke it down:
"The rookie third overall pick started his NFL career with a bang as he recorded a hit and two hurries on 20 pass-rush snaps while also showing his stout run stopping ability notching two run stops on just seven run snaps. Thomas was able to consistently push the pocket whether rushing from the edge (9 snaps), over the tackle (8 snaps), or the interior (3 snaps)."
Thomas’ mark led all San Francisco players, with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne coming in at 87.1.
But Thomas is certainly a major figurehead in the team’s rebuilding plans, and the Niners will hope this kind of repeated production is a sign of things to come.