The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with some issues at wide receiver right now, which may force them to rely on younger players at the position. Despite some early hype, head coach Kyle Shanahan pumped the brakes on any overreactions.
Shanahan was asked in a recent press conference about the contributions of young wide receivers like rookie Jordan Watkins and un-drafted free agent Isaiah Neyor. The head coach made sure to acknowledge the fact that they have done some good things but followed that up by saying, "But like I was saying earlier, we’ve got to get pads on, see how they really hit it. You’ve got to try to make this team first and foremost. And I think that’s tough at each position. And then you want to try to get on the field.”
Monday was the first time the Niners practiced with pads on. Prior to that, practices were a little more low-key and players were not wearing pads or making full contact. Many players and coaches believe training camp does not truly begin until players put the pads on, so now we will get a fuller sense of what these young receivers are made of.
To be fair to those young players, some of them did have eye-opening moments in un-padded practice. Neyor, in particular, made an amazing acrobatic catch that caught everyone's attention and has already made some believe he has a chance to make the 53-man roster.
Yet, all of these young receivers are going to have to contend with the reality that Shanahan typically has a tough time trusting rookie receivers. His offensive scheme is notoriously complex and, as a former collegiate wide receiver himself, he demands a lot from his receivers in terms or blocking and remaining involved in the play even if they do not have the ball in their hands.
It takes time for receivers to master all the intricacies of his offense, so players like Watkins and Neyor may face an uphill battle for playing time once the regular season begins.
However, Shanahan may not have much choice but to rely on some of these younger receivers early in the season with Brandon Aiyuk potentially missing the start of the year and Demarcus Robinson facing a potential suspension.
There are still veteran options available who could bolster San Francisco's receiving corps, but it still remains dubious whether the front office would be willing to splurge on a free agent.
The young receivers on San Francisco's roster may have to work extra hard to prove to Shanahan that they are ready for NFL action, but they have a better chance than rookies in previous years given the current state of the team's wide receiver situation.