The San Francisco 49ers are approximately 40 days from their first practice of 2015 training camp. Once camp gets going, there will be daily media reports leading up to the preseason opener on August 15. That time will give us a better grasp on the depth chart, and which players have climbed onto the bubble.
As we approach training camp, we'll be assessing the roster in several ways. We'll start with this bubble watch post. We'll go position-by-position, and break down whether players are locks, strong bubble, weak bubble and longshots. The discussion for each article will not follow a specific format, but rather will focus on the more interesting aspects of the particular roster competition. In July, we'll follow this with a look at contract numbers for each position, and we'll close with a look at key questions facing each position.
Locks: Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Bruce Ellington, DeAndre Smelter (NFI list, most likely)
Strong Bubble: Quinton Patton, Jerome Simpson
Weak Bubble: DeAndrew White, Dres Anderson, Chuck Jacobs
Longshots: Issac Blakeney, DiAndre Campbell, Mario Hull
Let's make one thing clear, right off the bat. UDFAs generally are viewed as longshots, but I've given DeAndrew White and Dres Anderson the bump strictly because of the big talk following the offseason workout program. They could flame out spectacularly, but with nothing else to work with, they get a little bit of a bump. Chuck Jacobs joins them thanks to two season with the team, and flashing some things his first preseason. Where he is on the depth chart for that first preseason game could impact his bubble status.
Bruce Ellington's specific role with the team is still to be determined, but the second year receiver and return man did enough last year to convince me he's not going anywhere quite yet. He was dealing with a hamstring injury in the offseason workout program, so that will be something to keep a close eye on as training camp gets going. Before that however, he showed some flash in limited work, and he is likely the favorite to handle a lot of the return work. I'm open to discussion, but I just don't see any reason he's going anywhere this year.
Quinton Patton and Jerome Simpson are the two interesting ones. Both got strong reviews in the offseason workout program, but both still have a lot to prove in training camp. If White and/or Anderson show a lot in training camp, this dynamic could change. I believe Patton makes the team, and I think Simpson has a strong chance, but one we see the UDFAs in pads and getting physical, we'll have a better idea of this group.
Who would you move around at this point?