Let's overreact to these 5 things from 49ers OTAs
By Peter Panacy
OTAs never reveal too much, but we're going to draw some premature conclusions about the 49ers anyway.
With a simple announcement, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan put a stop to organized team activities after just two weeks instead of the three that were originally scheduled.
On top of that, Shanahan and the Niners will move up mandatory minicamp into what was going to be the third week of OTAs, although about the only notable difference between the two sessions is that mandatory minicamp is, well... mandatory. OTAs are voluntary.
Doing so will also give an earlier break to players, and they won't be expected to report back until late July when training camp begins.
Either way, OTAs and minicamps don't force too many concrete conclusions. There's no contact, no pads and zero tackling. Most of the team drills are 7-on-7 and not a full 11-on-11, which will be more prevalent during training camp.
Forget about a real pass rush or press coverage by defensive backs.
Despite the not-real nature of OTA practices, we'll still overreact to some takeaways, including these five from the two-week session.
49ers OTA overreaction No. 5: Jake Moody has Zane Gonzalez beat for kicking job
it might not be a huge overreaction, but it is a reaction nonetheless.
Remember, San Francisco traded for kicker Zane Gonzalez prior to the NFL Draft and before knowing it'd use a Round 3 pick on Michigan's Jake Moody, the consensus best placekicker in this year's class.
Both kickers, the rookie and the veteran, appeared to be neck and neck the first week of OTAs, according to multiple reports, but Moody apparently began to separate in Week 2.
Jake Moody was 4-4 on his kicks today and Zane Gonzalez was 3-4 at 49ers' practice. Moody drilled one from about 40 yards with a wild amount of room to spare — ball traveled all the way to the back fence, so it was in the air for at least 60 yards
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 31, 2023
So, is that enough to overreact and say that Moody has the kicking job locked up while Gonzalez is shown the door?
Probably. But it's not concrete just yet.
Training camp and the preseason will be the actual testing ground, and a couple of makes from Moody over Gonzalez won't cement the deal.
Although being a third-round specialist almost could in itself.