After a Week of Bad News, How Will The 49ers React?

Two sub-par scrimmages against the Raiders, lots of picks by Brock Purdy, Jimmy Garoppolo marching on the Niner defense, Nick Bosa still unsigned, and Jed York accused of insider trading. Not a good week.

The first opportunity to respond will be the first exhibition game against the Raiders. However, with few starters playing it’s more about the roster bubble battles at wide receiver, defensive line, and linebacker. Special teams play takes on heightened importance to earn those slots on the active roster. Trey Lance will get an opportunity if he has a clean pocket.

It’s too early to worry, opening day is four weeks out, but there’s much work to be done. Brock Purdy needs time to heal fully and find a rhythm. Picks on a given day aren’t a concern, but a camp pattern of picks and poor pass protection is.

This team has a history of starting slow on offense and giving the ball up in the early games. Pittsburgh with a talented pass rush and one of the league’s best ballhawks in Minkah Fitzpatrick presents a challenge. Purdy will need to balance aggression in the red zone and 3rd down with protecting the ball. He did that exceptionally well last year, it’ll be a key to winning the opener.

In the Niners' four early defeats last year, they lost turnovers 11-3. Protecting the ball is paramount.

Not signing Bosa yet is starting to become a concern, the defensive line needs to build continuity and develop a feel for playing together. John Lynch also said a player needs three weeks to get into playing shape so that soft deadline is approaching.

My guess is that one, Bosa is fine working out at home and has proven he’ll be ready when he arrives. Two, the Niners have a history of trying to avoid setting new precedents in contract negotiations that can lead to an expensive domino effect.

I’d expect Bosa to be asking for more guaranteed money than the Niners are comfortable paying because it will set a new precedent. It’s Bosa, the wrecking ball DPOY, he's earned the money, but agents can then use his deal to leverage more guaranteed money for their clients. In my view, that's the delay in signing him, but Lynch’s deadline is approaching.

One positive coming out of camp is the Niners appear to have succeeded in one of their primary off-season goals, to develop an interior pass rush, Javon Hargrave played well in the Raider scrimmages, Javon Kinlaw is poised for a breakout year, and Arik Armstead is back to full health.

Unlike in recent years, it won’t be all on Bosa to create opportunities for the rest of the line. The more ways you can win, the more ways you do win. That’ll give Bosa some room to ramp up.

Some argue practice and camp don’t matter. In the big picture, they’re mainly right. The thing is though, camp and the opening run of the season are connected. Recent years have shown that the Niners under Shanahan look sluggish in camp and then struggle coming out of the gate.

So far, familiar patterns are repeating. An underwhelming camp at quarterback and the offensive line. The defensive starters getting worked by the Raiders in the scrimmages. Some players stand out to create hope, Brandon Aiyuk in particular.

The Niners are a rhythm offense and a rhythm team. They have four weeks to find it.