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
6 of 10
Next
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 03: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes punts the football during the second half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the 38-20. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 03: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky #33 of the Utah Utes punts the football during the second half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the 38-20. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Punter Mitch Wishnowsky Looks Like a Field-Changing Weapon

On the surface, the 49ers using a fourth-round draft pick on a punter seems like a complete waste, especially when the team had weaknesses and shortages elsewhere.

But that’s what the Niners did, grabbing Utah’s Mitch Wishnowsky in Round 4.

Diving deeper, there’s some sense behind the selection. San Francisco lost its former punter, Bradley Pinion, during free agency. Yet that alone doesn’t mandate using a mid-round pick. What does, however, is the fact the 49ers defense averaged stands on opponents’ 30.9-yard line — third worst in the league.

And when you factor in many of the Niners’ defensive woes last season, one can see how and why field position can be so crucial.

As Niner Noise’s Aaron Tan pointed out in his training camp review, Wishnowsky has been showing off his booming, hangtime-generating leg with regularity.

If that makes a substantial difference this season and beyond, few will stop and continue worrying about a draft pick being spent on Wishnowsky.