The Good and Not So Good from Day 1 of 49ers Training Camp 2023
SANTA CLARA -- Here's who stood out Day 1 of 49ers training camp 2023. Keep in mind, the practice was short, and the players did not wear pads. The first day in pads will be Monday.
THE GOOD
1. WR Deebo Samuel.
Says he's the lightest and fastest he's been since his rookie year, and it shows. He definitely is in fantastic shape. Unfortunately for him, he caught neither of his two targets during 11 on 11s -- they were broken up by Charvarius Ward and Fred Warner, respectively (more on them in a minute). Still, Samuel's stock is back up. After practice, he spoke to the media. And when he was asked about Brock Purdy, Samuel said that the quarterback competition will be intense this year and that Trey Lance has improved a lot. Never mentioned Purdy. Quite interesting.
2. LB Fred Warner.
Broke up a beautifully thrown deep pass from Lance that was intended for Samuel. Testing Warner's coverage never is a good idea. He's the best coverage linebacker I've ever seen.
3. WR Brandon Aiyuk.
Beginning to emerge as the go-to guy on third down. Beat Isaiah Oliver over the middle for a 15-yard catch on 3d and 7, then made a leaping 10-yard catch over Deommodore Lenoir on 3rd and 8, popped up and got right in Lenoir's face to tell him about it. I give it a week before someone on the defense punches Aiyuk. He's so intense every day. I love it.
4. SS Talanoa Hufanga.
Broke up and nearly intercepted a horrendous deep pass from Sam Darnold that was intended for Danny Gray, who had beaten the cornerback. Darnold tried to look off Hufanga, but failed, and so Hufanga read the play and broke up the pass. He does that a lot.
5. RB Ty Davis-Price.
The 49ers gave Christian McCaffrey the day off, so the younger running backs got a chance to shine, and Davis-Price was the most impressive one. He ran hard, was decisive and even made a 30-yard catch. He looks like a totally different player than last year when he was a rookie.
6. CB Charvarius Ward.
Broke up a pass from Lance that was intended for Samuel, who ran a quick curl route but didn't fool Ward, who broke up the pass as Samuel fell to the ground. Ward stood over him and flexed after the play.
7. RB Khalan Laborn.
Got one carry and gained 10 yards on a shotgun stretch run to the left. Laborn clearly is explosive and fast. He just might make the 53-man roster.
THE NOT SO GOOD
1. RT Colton McKivitz.
The 49ers struggled running the ball to the right last year when they had Mike McGlinchey. Now he's gone, and his replacement is his former backup, Colton McKivitz, who is a worse run blocker than McGlinchey. So it's no surprise that the 49ers runs to the right mostly got stuffed at the line of scrimmage today. Expect the run game to be even more left handed this year than last year.
2. RB Jordan Mason.
Fumbled once (recovered it, but still), and dropped a pass. He's in fantastic shape, but so are all the running backs. Mason needs to hold onto the ball.
3. TE Cam Latu.
Got zero separation running a quick out route against safey Andrew Hawkins, who probably won't make the team. Latu doesn't seem like a tight end who can beat man-to-man coverage. The 49ers will have to scheme him open.
4. WR Danny Gray.
Caught one deep pass out of bounds, and let Talanoa Hufanga outjump him for another deep pass. Gray doesn't seem to have made strides since last year. He's a one trick pony who can't pull off his one trick.
