There was a lot to report on the first weekend of training camp for the San Francisco 49ers. New scheme, new schedule, new faces and yet some familiar faces returning too. The format of the practice was very similar to what we saw during minicamp and OTAs: group calisthenics, position warm ups, 7-on-7s, and 11-on-11s with teaching segments in-between. It makes the practice like an interval training session so the team has time to recover before going full speed again. Here are some highlights of what we saw:
- Anthony Davis is back. He’s in the best shape of his life and is ready to work hard to earn a spot. He kept up physically with everyone else although when he spoke to the media he said he felt like he was standing on a highway during practice. He worked mostly with the 3s which is expected. He could be a huge upgrade to the OL.
- Jaquiski Tartt has been placed on the active/NFI list with a pulled quad after not passing the medical test on Saturday. He is expected to return within a few days. Glenn Dorsey and Will Redmond who were possible PUP or NFI candidates both practiced, Redmond even worked during 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s and had a nice PBU on a pass thrown by Jeff Driskel.
- There is a fair QB competition between Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick. The QBs took an exactly even amount of reps with the 1s and 2s. Just to make sure there wasn’t a pecking order, the QBs even took turns who was first to take the reps with the 1s. Overall feel for the day, Gabbert looked a little bit sharper, got rid of the ball a little faster and didn’t throw a pick or hit the screens like he had in during OTAs. Kaepernick had some nice throws but threw the only interception of the day which was made by Keith Reaser during 7-on-7 drills.
- The OL for the 1s consisted of Joe Staley, Zane Beadles, Daniel Kilgore, Andrew Tiller and Trent Brown. 2s included Erik Pears, Ian Silberman, Marcus Martin Brandon Thomas and John Theus. This, of course could change significantly with the return of Anthony Davis and the learning curve of Joshua Garnett who both worked in with the 3s along with Colin Kelly, Fahn Cooper and Alex Balducci.
- The QBs did better against the screens, with only one pass by Jeff Driskel falling victim to the encroaching “bug men.”
- Carlos Hyde is the clear number one RB on the the team. Other reps were split between Shaun Draughn, DuJuan Harris and Mike Davis. Kelvin Taylor worked mostly with the 3s.
- Defense had a nice day, Reaser didn’t only have an INT but a PBU as well and there other PBUs from Rashard Robinson, Dontae Johnson, Ray Ray Armstrong, Shayne Skov and swatted down passes by Will Redmond and Tony Jerod-Eddie. NaVorro Bowman almost had an interception but couldn’t hold onto the ball.
- Of all of the young wide receivers DiAndre Campbell probably had the best day which was made note of by Gabbert. He also mentioned that the receivers are on a kind of ‘pitch count’ rotating in and out to save their legs.
- Bruce Miller continues to work on his new role as a TE catching two passes, one from Gabbert, one from Thad Lewis so he’s getting time in with the 1s, 2s and 3s.
- Jeff Driskel was working with special teams like he did during OTAs. He was calling audibles behind the line but never had the ball snapped to him to throw a pass.
- Bradley Pinion had two punts in a row go wide right out of bounds before one was catchable in bounds. The following punt went wide left. Bryce Treggs, Bruce Ellington and DeAndrew White were the players fielding the punts.