Garoppolo showing touch on deep balls
Garoppolo hits deep strike as team begins practicing in full pads
When it comes to the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl blunders, two plays stand out more than others, and haunting questions about them are being addressed at training camp.
First is Jimmy Garoppolo’s deep ball. Second is cornerback Emmanuel Moseley’s mentality.
Overthrowing Emmanuel Sanders on a potential Super Bowl-saving touchdown should not define Garoppolo’s season and sensational comeback from knee reconstruction. But honestly, everyone is looking hard at any pass over 20 yards, and after a couple overthrows early in camp he’s hit deep passes.
After a sweet strike to Brandon Aiyuk for a 50-yard touchdown on Sunday, Garoppolo connected with Kendrick Bourne for a 40-yard completion against safety Jimmie Ward late in Monday’s first padded practice of camp.
“The more opportunities we get, obviously the better they’ll be. Hopefully we can generate a lot more of that in camp,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Then you see what coverages are Week 1 all the way through 16, and you attack them, because we aren’t going to avoid any part of the field. We’re going to take the part they give us.”
The Chiefs seized the Super Bowl out from under the 49ers with a fourth-quarter rally, keyed by a third-and-15 completion in which Moseley took a wrong path in coverage. Moseley has “definitely thought” about the play and rewatched it in the six-plus months since then.
“I use it as learning and move on to the next season,” Moseley said. “Took it as motivation while I was training, work on my eye mechanics and just be ready for this year.”
Moseley is the favorite to start at right cornerback, and although the 49ers will give looks to Jason Verrett and Ahkello Witherspoon, Moseley has a staunch supporter in All-Pro
Richard Sherman.
“Sherm has helped my game a lot and it will continue to improve,” Moseley said. “We talk a lot on and off the field. He’s been a big brother to me.”
Other observations from Monday’s 90-minute practice which was over by noon with temperatures in the low 90s:
COVID CONCERNS » Dre Greenlaw, a second-year linebacker, expressed concerns before camp on how the NFL would pull off a season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He is impressed at the precautions taken by the 49ers and league.
“I feel very comfortable here in training camp. The organization has done a good job to wipe everything done and make sure we’re safe,” Greenlaw said. “There are still worries going into the season but it’s less stressful with the protocols set up around us. You never know what can happen in the future, especially going against guys.” BRUNSKILL’S ROLES » Daniel Brunskill, whose versatility last season made him a first-year gem, is rotating at right guard and center with Tom Compton and Ben Garland, respectively.
Would-be center Weston Richburg remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list (knee) and could remain there the first six weeks of the season, so getting Brunskill up to speed at center is an obvious priority this camp, as opposed to last year when he merely made cameos there.
“This year I’m focused more on technique while trying to be perfect with the snaps and IDs,” Brunskill said. “It’s helped me at guard as well. … I know where everything is going and makes me ID what I need to do a lot faster.”
Complicating his challenge is the imposing presence of Javon Kinlaw, the 49ers’ No. 1 draft pick and 319-pound defensive tackle.
“He’s a very big guy, a lot harder to move,” Brunskill said. “There’s a few times I’ve gone vs. him in pass pro and it’s like hitting a wall. He’s a massive human and is going to be a heck of a player for us.”
PASS RUSH VS. TACKLES » Offensive tackles Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey fared better in team action against Dee Ford and Nick Bosa, though no one is truly going full speed, yet. Of that heralded quartet, Ford’s status was most concerning after his offseason surgery to alleviate knee pain.
“He’s got more energy in these first three practices, coming off the ball better than this time last year in
camp,” Shanahan said. “… He’s in a much better spot. That’s great for him. It allows him to practice hard to get better.”
The Williams-Bosa competition promises daily entertainment, matching arguably the league’s best at their positions.
PICK FINISH » Safety Marcell Harris’ second interception in as many days, this one against Nick Mullens, put an end to Monday’s practice. Harris is vying for a backup role behind entrenched starter Jaquiski Tartt.
INJURY UPDATE » Aside from the big news about wide receiver Jalen Hurd’s knee injury that will likely cost him this season, the 49ers do have other issues. Nickel back K’Waun Williams (calf) missed his second straight practice. Defensive tackle Arik Armstead (back) suited up for the first time this camp and did individual work with a trainer. Tight end Jordan Reed continues to draw a light workload to upgrade his conditioning before facing defenders, Shanahan said.
TOUCHDOWN TIME » The 49ers did their first red zone session and it produced touchdown catches by Kendrick Bourne (two), George Kittle, Raheem Mostert and Shawn Poindexter.