Golden Nuggets: Practicing What Counts

Now that Trent Baalke has finished filling out the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, the "off-season from hell" is thankfully over. It's time to practice and play games that count. If you've been tracking the final pre-season rankings, then you know the team is consistently placed in the bottom half of the list. There is justifiably a lot of pessimism about the team after the massive roster turnover and learning curve from a new playing system.

When last season ended, the 49ers units ranked this way from best to worst:

1. Defense
2. Offense
3. Special Teams

After what we've seen from the preseason games, I would rank it this way:

1. Special Teams
2. Defense
3. Offense

What saddens me most is that the offense still doesn't look right. There's reason to be optimistic about the depth at the running and receiving corps, but it might not be enough of an advantage since the offensive line has looked, well—quite offensive. We know the defense will round out to form, and the special teams has loads of talent, but the biggest key to any success this season will likely rest on how the starting OL performs. So let's just zip through the rest of this week, and hopefully the team will have a great opening game against the Vikings.

The Practice Squad

Practice squad: QB Dylan Thompson will return to 49ers (Branch)

49ers practice squad: Thompson, Rush among 10 players to return (Maiocco)

Former Syracuse football OL Andrew Tiller signed to San Francisco 49ers practice squad (Syracuse)

49ers stay in-house with practice squad signees (Gutierrez)

QB Dylan Thompson among those on 49ers practice squad (Barrows)

Barrows Bee Busy

49ers coach Jim Tomsula: Man of steel (Barrows)

49ers season forecast: Tomsula's first season ends same as Harbaugh's last (Barrows)

Five questions facing the 49ers in 2015 (Barrows)

Say Hayne

Reaction: Aussie article critical of 49ers rookie Jarryd Hayne prompts loud comment (SacBee)

Australia flipping for 49ers' crossover star Jarryd Hayne (SJMN)

Jarryd Hayne, San Francisco 49ers: The 12 big questions still facing the Australian in NFL quest (FOX AU)

San Francisco 49ers recruit Jarryd Hayne's jersey the most popular on NFL online store (Sydney Morning Herald)

NFL News

More NFC West: Seattle still on top, Arizona rising, St. Louis a contender? (Barrows)

See Ya in Santa Clara (King)

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