Six Takeaways from the 49ers Win vs. Denver

The 49ers gutted out a win where many players had great moments and bad ones, making it a tough task for the coaching staff to sort out who to start, keep, and cut. The coaches are going to need Friday’s exhibition game against the Chargers to provide some clarity.

1. There are no clean solutions for the secondary.

Isaiah Oliver had his second bad game and has lost his starting job. Deommodore Lenoir played well at nickel. The debate is about what to do outside at DB2.

Ambry Thomas has played well for the most part, but vs. Denver and in some plays at camp his man beat him deep by over a yard. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has said one of his goals for the defense is to not give up the big plays they did last year. If that’s the top priority, Thomas cannot start.

Samuel Womack played well with two pass breakups, but he can be vulnerable against the run, which is another key priority for Wilks. Qwuantrezz Knight had great plays against both the run and the pass but needs more reps before he could start at nickel. Tayler Hawkins also continues to do a solid job at safety

Charvarius Ward and Womack outside, with Lenoir inside, seems to be the best trio at the moment, it’s putting the best cover corners on the field, and not giving up the big play. But it does leave the Niners more vulnerable to the run with Lenoir and Womack giving up some size. Knight needs to see a higher number of reps against the Chargers, and in the big picture, the Niners need Darrell Luter Jr. back.

Oliver’s fall has left the secondary uncertain with the opener three weeks away.

2. An easy day for Brock Purdy and a complex one for Sam Darnold and Trey Lance.

Purdy had the team in a rhythm and built his confidence going forward. That needs to be balanced with the scheme creating wide-open throws. Where Purdy deserves credit is when he chose not to throw the check down to Brandon Aiyuk and saw a clean opening to Jajuan Jennings with defenders close. Smart decision and pass.

Unlike camp, Kyle Shanahan decided not to challenge Purdy with intermediate to deep sideline throws. He chose to build confidence and succeeded.

Darnold had solid if unspectacular stats: 11-14 for 109 yards, a touchdown to undrafted free agent fullback Jack Colletto, and a tipped interception off Ronnie Bell’s hands.

In the larger context though, Darnold didn’t move the team, had trouble evading pressure, and struggled on 3rd down. He had success with some intermediate throws, but the Niners punted on all three of his first-half possessions.

Lance is like the young NBA backup that comes off the bench and can’t hit the water from a rowboat, then catches fire and carries the team late. Lance’s ramp-up was ugly, a low trajectory screen pass tipped and intercepted, a back foot throw nearly picked.

Then in his last three possessions, the Niners scored 13 points with Lance evading the rush, running well, hitting six straight, and making 20-yard throws into tight coverage. Lance proved that when he's in a rhythm he can be elite.

The good version of Trey Lance can make throws no one else on this team can, but that requires warming up shaky Trey Lance to get there. More reps would cut down the ramp-up, but they’re not made available.

3. The front seven isn’t stopping the run and has three sacks in two games. Might be time to get a deal done with Nick Bosa.

Denver averaged 6.6 yards per carry. The Niner front seven isn’t shedding blocks. While it would certainly help to have Dre Greenlaw on the field, the Niners are making plays too far from the line of scrimmage, they’re losing upfront, both run and pass.

Javon Hargrave had one tackle and no sacks. He needs talent around him as he did in Philadelphia. The absence of Nick Bosa is not just about his own numbers, but what he creates for the rest of the defensive line, particularly Hargrave.

Two players demanding double teams or chip help is very hard to stop. It's how Hargrave and his teammates got 70 sacks last year, the volume of pressure across the line. That’s what the Niners had in mind in signing Hargrave, without Bosa it falls apart.

4. Stock watch up on most of the rookies, down yet again on the offensive line.

Tight end Cameron Latu faced do or die and did, three catches on four targets including a touchdown from Lance and a critical 3rd down conversion. Linebacker Jalen Graham was one of a handful of backup defenders that played well, including a forced fumble.

Receiver/Returner Ronnie Bell had seven catches for 114 yards. However, for the second week in a row, a tipped interception was on him, going through his hands. Bell has a high motor, he competes in every play. I think with this game he makes the team, including when Ray-Ray McDonald returns.

Nick Zakelj. Offensive line coach Chris Foerster said before the Raider game Zakelj wasn’t ready. Yup. Making matters worse, the one backup lineman considered to be quality in Jon Feliciano laid an egg, whipped for a sack, plus a costly holding penalty.

The Niners brought in three tackles for workouts but didn’t sign any of them. Time for more invites at every offensive line position. If the Niners don’t shop for offensive linemen on waivers after final roster cutdowns it would be malpractice. They need talent from outside the organization on the O-Line.

Linebacker Dee Winters is playing for a roster slot and had a few tackles and a clutch forced fumble, but also overran a receiver to give up a touchdown.

Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill had a sack beating Denver's starting left guard Ben Powers but struggled against the run.

5. Special Teams aren’t.

Jake Moody didn’t account for the wind on a missed PAT. Mitch Wishnowsky averaged under 32 yards a kick on three punts. D’Shawn Jamison’s muffed punt return set up a Denver touchdown on the next play. The kick coverage team gave up a 44-yard return. This was a bad outing in all facets.

6. The view from 10,000 feet is concerning.

Execution is lacking in too many groups. Both trenches are getting beat, frequently. The front seven is getting blocked and not coming off them. The secondary is in flux. Special teams aren't ready. Purdy and the starters looked good on offense, but that’s about it. This team needs Nick Bosa or the blueprint for the front four doesn’t work.

Steve Wilks showed sound judgment in helping to make the draft picks on defense. Jalen Graham is a steal and Ji’Ayir Brown continues to make smart plays. However, Wilks also hand-picked Oliver and Myles Hartsfield, and neither one is contributing.

I’m not claiming the sky is falling, but I am saying there’s a lot that needs fixing in the next three weeks.