Niner Noise
FanSided

Top 10 takeaways from first phase of 49ers training camp

By Peter Panacy

ENGLEWOOD, CO - AUGUST 27: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball as he works out during a joint training session with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos at the Denver Broncos Training Facility on August 27, 2015 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
ENGLEWOOD, CO - AUGUST 27: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball as he works out during a joint training session with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos at the Denver Broncos Training Facility on August 27, 2015 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after defending a pass 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: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after defending a pass 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. 9: Cornerback Isn’t as Big a Problem as Anticipated

Last year, Pro Football Focus ranked the 49ers secondary dead last in the entire NFL. And after registering a mere two interceptions, which set a new low for the league, it’s not hard to understand why.

So it was a bit surprising to see the Niners not make significant changes here during the offseason, particularly at cornerback. The only notable moves were to bring aboard oft-injured corner Jason Verrett in free agency, then use the team’s final draft pick on Virginia’s Tim Harris.

Verrett has only just taken the field in practices, working his way back from a 2018 Achilles tear. His prime competitor for starting duties, Ahkello Witherspoon, might not be ready to relinquish his role just yet, though.

Witherspoon already has two camp interceptions over the four days, also boasting a few more pass breakups, too.

If trends are a thing, Witherspoon struggled in training camp last year. Those issues carried over into the regular season, as PFF ranked him the worst corner out of 112 qualifiers in 2018. So far this year, Witherspoon is looking like an entirely different player.

Great sign.

On top of that, veteran cornerback Richard Sherman appears much healthier than he was a year ago at this time, when he was dealing with his own Achilles recovery.

Maybe, just maybe, San Francisco’s cornerback crop isn’t as bad as many thought it would be.