Defense ‘picks’ up morale boost
SANTA CLARA >> Intercepting five consecutive passes Jimmy Garoppolo seemed like an Apple store heist, and not because of who was in charge of the merchandise, but rather the unsuspecting bandits.
Yes, Wednesday was a great day for 49ers defensive backs, stacking confidence after each interception and distancing themselves light years away from their NFL-record, two-interception total in 2018.
Defenders’ confidence soared so much that some even barked or stared down the franchise quarterback after incompletions. One hollered as if this should go down as “The Oprah Practice,” as in: “You get a pick! And you get a pick! And you get a pick!”
For Garoppolo, he saved his worst outing of training camp for the last official practice on 49ers grounds. Up next are joint practices in Denver on Friday and Saturday before he makes his exhibition debut in a Monday night cameo.
“I was a defensive coach today, so I was pumped,” coach Kyle Shanahan said, jokingly. “No, the defense did great today, and obviously he struggled.” The interception parade: No. 1: Safety Jacquiski Tartt cut in front of a deflected pass intended for tight end Ross Dwelley, who was tightly covered by Kwon Alexander over the middle.
No. 2: Safety Tarvarius Moore easily tracked down a 35-yard pass intended for Matt Breida down the right sideline.
No. 3: Cornerback Richard Sherman picked off Garoppolo for the second time this camp, and this one was intended for Dwelley on the right side, too.
No. 4: Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was all
alone in the end zone as he grabbed a back-shoulder fade as Dante Pettis failed to stop his route.
No. 5: After a couple reps by Nick Mullens, Garoppolo took back over in the goal-line drill, only to have Moore catch his pass in the end zone and return it in pick-six style.
“You want it so badly to make it up the next play, but you still have to make the right decisions and get what the defense gives you,” Shanahan said. “Sometimes it’s hard to make the right decisions when you’re fired up and competitive. Usually when you make a bad play, it makes your mind go a little bit sideways.”
Garoppolo snapped the interception streak with a touchdown toss to Jalen Hurd, and about eight throws later, he finished practice with a touchdown to Jordan Matthews, although it went through Tartt’s hands at the goal line.
“It feels like we’re getting in a rhythm,” Sherman said of the defense as he walked off the practice field.
What does it all mean? This should not crush Garoppolo’s confidence, although he was heated after a couple of the picks. Instead, it serves as a reminder the 49ers’ offense is far from a finished product.
And if the 49ers’ defense treats each interception as if it just won a free car, have at it, as long as the group knows its interception stock doesn’t truly vest until regular season.
• Left tackle Joe Staley will have a sore pectoral muscle examined in Denver after exiting Wednesday’s practice as a precaution, Shanahan said.
• Defensive end Nick Bosa, a week after spraining his right ankle, did individual conditioning on the side with trainers. He was out of his orthopedic boot and didn’t appear to favor his leg while slowly walking off the field. He won’t play in any exhibitions but looks on track for the Sept. 8 opener.
• Safety Jimmie Ward has been cleared from a collarbone injury but was kept out of team drills Wednesday as a precautionary measure, as will likely be the case Monday against the Broncos, Shanahan said. Ward donned pads and participated in individual drills, but watched Wednesday’s 11-on-11 action from the sideline.
“Coming off a collarbone, we’re trying to ease him into when he can hit.” Shanahan said. “If you know Jimmie, he’s going to hit every single second he has a chance to. So, we’ve got to protect him from himself a little bit.”
• Quarterback C.J. Beathard returned to practice after he sat out Tuesday’s drills with a wrap on his right thumb. Beathard banged his thumb into a helmet on his final play of Saturday night’s exhibition opener.
• Tight end George Kittle remained out of practice Wednesday with calf tightness and remains day-to-day.
• Shanahan said defensive end Dee Ford (knee) is getting closer to a return. Ford won’t play against the Broncos on Monday, but could practice again in the days leading up to the 49ers’ game against Kansas City on Aug. 24.
• Defensive lineman Jullian Taylor had back stiffness Wednesday and was kept out of practice. ... Linebacker Dre Greenlaw had a stinger, believed to have occurred Tuesday, and was in a non-contact blue jersey.
• Tight end Levine Toilolo was out with shoulder soreness for the second straight day. Shanahan said it is unlikely Toilolo would practice in Denver.
• Also out were cornerback K’Waun Williams (knee), guard Joshua Garnett (finger) and linebacker Elijah Lee (hand).
• Defensive end Ronald Blair (groin) returned to position drills.