FanPost

Mid camp roster check in

Having read every training camp practice review, coach press conference and random 49er related tweet I decided I was uniquely qualified to give every notable player a grade. Rather than A-F or 1-100 I'm just giving arrow up, down, or flat. This is a grade relative to expectations. Kaepernick by all reports has been playing pretty well but that's to be expected. So here's the totally meaningful hearsay, rumor and innuendo grades for some number of players off the top of my head.

Qb's-

Kaepernick- flat. He's had good days, bad days and average days. The coaches have praised him for playbook mastery and he's reportedly the first guy to work every day. The one thing I'm glad to hear is that he's spreading the ball around.

Gabbert- up. This is based on low expectations and the fact that his competition apparently hasn't been challenging for qb2. The coaches have been positive as well.

Josh Johnson- down. He needed to beat Gabbert to make the team. He hasn't.

McBLT- down. See Johnson, Josh.

Rb's-

Gore- up. We brought in legit challengers to push the aging legend. By all accounts Gore looks in great shape and raring to go. Also two injuries beneath him make his spot even more secure.

Hunter- down. Torn acl. 'Nuff said.

LaMichael James- flat. When Hunter went down his arrow was pointing straight up. The next day he busted his elbow. I'm still tempted to give him an arrow up because going into camp he was presumed to be on the trading block. Now he's a lock.

Hyde- up. Very much up. He's been given positive reviews from coaches, observers and players. He's healthy which is enough to give him an up arrow in this group. With Hunter, James and Lattimore out he's the obvious beneficiary but he's apparently taken advantage. We could be looking at our future starter. Baalke deserves a raise.

Lattimore- down. Expectations were perhaps unfairly high after the hype from the offseason. Marcus hasn't dressed in camp. It would seem that his recovery has stalled.

Jewel Hampton- flat. He's healthy so that gives him a leg up but I haven't heard anything about him. He needs a huge preseason to elevate his stock. Luckily for him he should get plenty of carries.

Alfonso Smith- flat. 0 expectations and 0 mentions of this camp body. 0 chance of making the team.

FB's-

Miller- flat. Haven't heard anything but apparently he's recovered from the scapula fracture.

Millard- flat. Red shirt.

Wr's-

Boldin- flat. He's healthy, played well (if not spectacularly) and doing exactly what we've come to expect.

Crabtree- up. Glowing praise from Colin and Roman along with positive reviews from the beat reporters. A recent and apparently minor injury shades this ever so slightly but Michael is reportedly looking better than ever.

Stevie- flat. My expectations are relatively high. Players and coaches and reporters are speaking fairly highly of this new addition. He projects to be a major upgrade at wr3.

Lloyd- up. My expectations were nil. He reportedly is impressing on a daily basis. I didn't think he'd make the team and now it sounds like he's got a decent shot.

Patton- flat. I'm tempted to place him in the down category. He's caught a few tds as reported by the beat writers but he hasn't been a major figure. The addition of Lloyd and Stevie has pushed Patton out of the spot light. He's still considered a lock to make the team.

Ellington- flat. The rookie speedster missed a few days of camp with an ankle injury. He's back and mostly involved in punt returning now by all reports. The reviews are positive but he hasn't been a major star. I expected him to be good and of course he will make the team.

Baldwin- down. Despite low expectations Baldwin has managed to underwhelm. He's only been mentioned with regards to an unreported injury and in the files of missing persons.

Chuck Jacobs- flat. His only chance is as a special team player. I haven't seen his name mentioned. This is as expected.

Osgood- flat. See chuck.

Wylie- flat. See Osgood.

Te's

Vernon Davis- flat. He showed up. He's caught a few balls but it's been a quiet camp.

Vance McDonald- up. The off season practices were decidedly negative in the eyes of some beat writers (who like to pick a whipping boy). But since camp started Vance has reliably been mentioned in the positive column. The coaches have also praised him.

Celek- down. He seemingly hurt himself during the fitness test on day 1 of camp.

Carrier- flat. I'm tempted to give him an up grade because of Celek's injury but he hasn't caught much attention. I like his athleticism and pass catching potential but for te3 it may be more important to be able to hold down the fort on the blocking end of things than stretch the field.

Cleveland- flat. His name has been mentioned once or twice but he would have to really pop to make the 53. Ps is his best bet.

OL

Staley- flat. Not much to say other than that he's healthy and playing. He's a core player and a star.

Iupati- flat. See Staley

Davis- flat. He's taking camp off but all reports are that he's expected to start week 1.

Kilgore- up. It sounds like he's solidifying his spot as the starting center.

Boone- down. Camp hold out

Looney- up. The beneficiary of Boone's contract gambit. The coaches have talked him up but that could be aimed at Boone's agent.

Snyder- flat. Not much mentioned here. If he makes the team it means one of the young guys isn't developing.

J. Martin- flat. He's healthy but I haven't heard anything good about him. It sounds like he was struggling as Davis' replacement in camp. But I still think he makes the team.

M. Martin- down. Rehabbing a minor injury. He was expected to challenge Kilgore at center but he's lost valuable time.

Thomas- flat. Red shirt. Wait till next year.

Netter- flat. PS candidate at best, most likely a camp body.

Phillip- flat. See Netter.

Seymour- flat. See Phillip.

Safety-

Reid- flat. He's healthy, he's playing, he's the starter.

Bethea- flat. Good reviews from the coaches. It sounds like he is who we thought he was.

Ward- up. Great reviews all around. He's made some of the highlight reel type plays and he is mentioned as being very active and around the ball almost everyday. Occasionally he's the victim of one of our good, veteran wr's but in general he sounds like he's one of the camp stars.

Dahl- flat. I guess it's good to have him around in case of emergency but if he's playing something terrible has happened. I don't know that we can cut him but I think he's borderline.

Spillman- flat. Special teams guy. Probably on the bubble. He hasn't warranted a mention yet.

CB-

Brock- flat. The coaches love him. The writers haven't said much about him but I think he may have snagged an int. He's missed a day here and there but you can write him in as a starter.

Culliver- up. It sounds like the ACL has healed. Like Brock except he is likely facing a short suspension for a hit and run. I give him the thumbs up because we didn't know if his knee would hold up.

Cox- up. Another one of the camp stars. He has really been busy snagging the football the last few days. With his potential emergence cornerback is looking better.

Cook- flat. It sounds like he's been okay and has at least one int. Right now he's in Cox and Ward's shadow. The writers have commented on his size.

Morris- up? Borderline up with his name being mentioned positively a few times. We know he's fast but like Cook he hasn't popped. I give him a slight edge on cook.

Dontae Johnson- flat. Of the rookie corners he's been mentioned the most I believe. Fangio has expressed his desire to see Dontae assert himself more.

Acker- flat. He's apparently playing but he hasn't stood out.

Reaser- flat. Red shirt.

OLB

Aldon- up.... We know he's about to get suspended but the sad thing is he's been a major player in camp. Some have said he's the most impressive guy out there.

Brooks- flat. He's healthy, he's playing, he'll start week one. I think he's underrated.

Lemonier- up. The writers have noticed his physique and he's been a disruptive force. Aldon jr.

Skuta- flat. He could possibly start for some teams. Valued veteran depth.

Moody- flat. I know the name but little else

Lynch- flat. He's been activated off an injury list. We would all love to see him realize his potential.

ILB

Willis- flat. He's having a good camp but this is Patrick Willis.

Bowman- single tear

Borland- up. The writers like him. Fangio says he free lances too much but over all it sounds like he's doing well.

Wilhoite- flat. Probably Bowman's replacement week 1. I haven't noticed him be mentioned

Skov- flat. As a udfa he needed a huge camp and I haven't heard that.

Costanzo- flat. Core special teamer returns and with Bowman hurt he could make the team.

DE

Justin Smith- flat. He says he's healthy but he's taking camp off.

Ray McDonald- flat. I think he's also taking camp a little easy.

Tank Carradine- up. All signs are positive on Tank living up to the hype. At times he's been described as unblock able

Quinton Dial- up. Like Tank, he's been a major force in camp.

TJE- flat. Valued depth. He could start elsewhere.

Okoye- up. I say up because my expectations are low. Yes, he's a specimen but he still isn't ready. That being said he's made noticeable progress.

Ramsey- flat. He was a late round pick because he can't stay healthy. Unsurprisingly he's hurt .

NT

Dorsey- flat. He's the starter. He's healthy. Not much else to say.

Williams- down. Sadly it sounds like he's still not recovered from the gruesome injury from last year.

To sum up: my mid camp all stars are Carlos Hyde, Jimmie Ward, Perrish Cox and Tank Carradine.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.