Niner Noise
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49ers training camp 2018: 5 players who have impressed the most so far

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers is wearing jersey #44 while participating in drill during practice on September 11, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Hayne was wearing the #44 jersey for the 49ers scout team preparing for Monday nights game against the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers is wearing jersey #44 while participating in drill during practice on September 11, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Hayne was wearing the #44 jersey for the 49ers scout team preparing for Monday nights game against the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch on his way to against the New York Giants83-yard touchdown against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch on his way to against the New York Giants83-yard touchdown against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Wide Receiver Marquise Goodwin

It would be easy to make the case wide receiver Marquise Goodwin should be the No. 1 most impressive 49ers player in training camp so far. After all, no one has been able to cover him or, at the least, stay with him.

We’ll save that spot for someone else, though, but it’s no slight against Goodwin. During the first week of camp, Goodwin famously (or infamously, from the defensive perspective) burned veteran cornerback Richard Sherman in a one-on-one drill. Sherman hasn’t been the only victim, though, as Goodwin has been regularly making other defensive backs look bad.

As in the case of fellow corner Ahkello Witherspoon:

Goodwin has breakneck, Olympic athlete-level speed. So it’s no surprise he’s been able to run past nearly every one of the Niners defenders in camp.

But what has also stood out is Goodwin’s development in route running. This was a particular weakness from his game back when he was with the Buffalo Bills. Last season, however, Goodwin managed to showcase his abilities in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, demonstrating his route-running capabilities and emerging as a far more dynamic wide receiver.

It’s looking as if Goodwin is pickup up where he left off a year ago. Perhaps getting even better.