WCF Film Room: 49ers preseason week 2 risers
Today we look at 3 stars from the preseason game versus the Saints.
The 49ers turned the page on week two of the preseason this past Sunday with a 16-10 win over the Saints in Santa Clara. They have a quick turnaround in week three as they get set to face the Raiders in Las Vegas on Friday night to end the preseason. So let's quickly get into the week 2 standouts and in a separate article, we’ll get to the week two fallers.
First, I have no idea why Kyle Shanahan decided to run Brock out there without most of the first team missing. Jake Brendel and Colton McKivitz were the only regular starters who played on offense. Brock Purdy was throwing to backups all over the field.
Shanahan ultimately said he felt comfortable with the group they ran out there with Brock (who was hit a few times) so they went with it. Shanahan also said Brock wanted to play. He did confirm that Brock will play in week three versus the Raiders.
Dominick Puni continues to thrive
I wrote about Dominick Puni in my week 1 standouts article but he continued to impress on Sunday night. He should be the week 1 starter over Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford. Kyle Shanahan gets paid to make tough decisions but there’s no easier decision than this one right here. He also may have inadvertently claimed that Puni is the starter in his weekly radio spot on KNBR this week too.
In the run game, the offense didn’t run many calls to his side but he still had a couple of solid reps. In the first play, he got to the 2nd level and helped seal off the backside linebacker, who over ran the play, after he replaced the linebacker on the run blitz. Running back Cody Schrader cut through the crease that both Puni and left tackle Jaylon Moore created on the left side of the offense.
In the second clip, he held up Chase Young long enough for him to not make the stop at the line of scrimmage. As the puller here on the counter run to the left, Puni needs to kick out the defensive end as the run cuts just behind him.
His aim point should be Chase Young’s chest and he doesn’t quite get there as Young executes a “wrong arm” technique block destruction. Young still got credit for the tackle assist because he got a hand on Schrader but the play was not dead because of it.
On the third rep here, he buried veteran defensive tackle and starter for the Saints Nathan Shepherd on a run inside the 5-yard line.
In pass protection, he was equally effective, putting several good reps on tape in 1-on-1 situations, showing an ability to anchor effectively, good hand placement, good awareness and vision with his eyes to see more of the rush and find extra work, and good feel for inside stunts.
He could clean up some of the footwork with his inside foot taking steps backward on some reps, causing him to give up some space to his inside in the A-gap, but what he’s shown regardless so far has many believing they have found a potential long term starter at guard.
Jacob Cowing makes his debut
Jacob Cowing was the 135th pick in the draft in the 4th round out of the University of Arizona and made his preseason debut in week two after missing week one with a minor injury. He made up for his lack of playing time with a big performance in week two. He also slotted in as the primary punt returner after Trent Taylor’s lackluster performance back there in week one.
Cowing caught four passes for 51 yards and was the leading receiver for the 49ers on Sunday night. This includes a broken screen play that he caught that lost five yards. He lined up out wide on 28 of his 36 passing snaps, according to charting by Jason Aponte at Niners Nation, and caught an under thrown deep ball for 38 yards that he made a beautiful adjustment on from quarterback Josh Dobbs.
Cowing is lined up outside as the outermost receiver in the stack to the right running a double move out and up that Dobbs pump faked on. The corner bit on the out portion of the stem as Cowing turned up field.
The double move allowed him to gain separation on the corner, only to have the corner recover as the pass arrived due to having to slow down to make a difficult adjustment on the pass on the sideline. It cannot be understated how difficult this adjustment is along the sideline that far downfield.
He also had their longest run from scrimmage in the game, a 19 yard jet sweep down the left sideline. For a player who missed a ton of practice time in training camp and finally suited up, he sure made his presence felt on the field. At this point he does seem like a lock to make the cut as receiver.
Curtis Robinson turns in 2nd outstanding preseason performance
Linebacker Curtis Robinson has spent the last 3 seasons with the 49ers on the practice squad. He’s registered four total tackles with the 49ers, three of them last season, with two of them on special teams. He’s only played three total defensive snaps as a member of the active roster.
And yet, in preseason, he’s getting reps at the SAM and MIKE linebacker positions over the rookies and other veterans with Dre Greenlaw still out and Fred Warner and De’Vondre Campbell not playing as well. He has started both preseason games, indicating that he will likely make the roster as a linebacker backup to Fred Warner or Dre Greenlaw.
He’s been good in the open field, showing an ability to navigate through bodies to the ball carrier and make the tackle in open space.
In week two, he had a nice tackle for a loss against the Saints.
The Saints are running a wide zone sideline toss play to their right. Robinson is the SAM linebacker and is the “spill” defender in the lever-spill-lever run fits. As the spill player, he should fit into the D-gap outside Taysom Hill and track the ball carrier’s inside hip. He knifes through the block in the D-gap, forces the running back to bounce outside and brings him down for a loss.
He also had a tipped pass and pressure on the play above. He seems to be all over the defense making plays. He has the traits and looks to be putting it together to earn himself a roster spot come week one.
In the next article, we’ll take a look at three players who’s stock is falling.