3 takeaways from 49ers joint practice with Broncos
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – A mostly civil practice unfolded on the Denver Broncos practice fields Friday as the 49ers made their first visit since 2016. Here are the top three takeaways from the two-hour session:
Offensive line concerns An injury-riddled training camp has another apparent casualty: Mike Person, the starting right guard. After participating throughout practice, Person emerged from the 49ers locker room on crutches with an orthopedic boot on his left foot, and he was driven away by a cart.
The 49ers interior offensive line might be most cause for concern three weeks into camp and three weeks from the season opener. Center Weston Richburg (quadriceps) remains on the physically unable to perform list, and guard Joshua Garnett has been out since undergoing surgery about two weeks ago on his right hand’s ring finger
Person started all 16 games last season at right guard. Ben Garland is a potential option there but he’s been the first-string center in place of Richburg. Other candidates: Najee Toran, Ross Reynolds, Justin Skule and Dillon Day.
Garoppolo rebounds after five INTS
Last seen getting five passes intercepted by the 49ers defense Wednesday, Jimmy Garoppolo started hot against the Broncos (4-of-4) and finished 9-of 14.
He had only one pass intercepted in team drills, and it is worth analyzing. Broncos pass rusher Von Miller came charging hard around the right side past tight end Ross Dwelley. Rather than step into the throw with Miller lurching toward his legs, Garoppolo threw almost flat-footed toward Marquise Goodwin, and Simmons snared what almost was a jump ball.
Garoppolo said he didn’t know Miller was coming low, and “I just left it a little short and didn’t get enough air on it.” Asked if he needs an initial hit to get over any mental hurdle with his reconstructed left knee, Garoppolo said: “That will just come with time. As a quarterback, you’re not trying to get hit, obviously, but that stuff will come naturally.”
As for the five-interception fiasco, Garoppolo said he was “pretty ticked” about “five bad decisions,” though he credited the defense for getting the best of him, adding: “It’s only going to lead to a better football team.”
Pettis taunted amid bad day The Broncos defense repeatedly taunted wide receiver Dante Pettis, starting when he a 50-yard pass from C.J. Beathard went off Pettis’ fingertips early. As Pettis returned from the play, Broncos safety Will Parks, who was not practicing, asked Pettis how he dropped it as a first-round pick (Pettis was a 2018 second-round choice). Pettis earlier dropped a pass in a red-zone, one-on-one drill, and later got pancaked by safety Justin Simmons while trying to block for Tevin Coleman.
Veteran Jordan Matthews also got heckled on a couple incompletions and in a special-teams drill.