As we turn the page to the second week of the preseason, let’s do a stock report for some of the San Francisco 49ers fighting for roster spots and playing time.
We saw the kids get most of the playing time, as the past couple of draft classes make up most of the depth. Here’s who helped themselves during the first preseason game, and here is who needs to dig themselves out of a hole.
Stock up
QB Kurtis Rourke
Rourke may have played himself onto the roster, at least initially, after running a smooth operation in his first real competitive football game in nearly two years.
Rourke wasn’t frazzled in the face of a blitz. He completed all three of his passes when Robert Saleh sent extra rushers with an impressive average depth of target of 14.3 yards. All three of Rourke’s completions went for first downs when he was blitzed.
He pushed the ball downfield, knew where to go with the football, and played on time, all while maintaining his aggressiveness. Rourke looked like he was good enough to be a QB2 in this league.
S Ashtyn Davis
Davis played the fourth-most defensive snaps and played on every kick coverage unit. He had only one tackle, but he played the run well and was aggressive with his run fits. Davis was where he needed to be in coverage and should’ve had an interception.
For somebody who signed in June, Davis looked the part. He’s making the roster.
OG Carver Willis
Willis was a pleasant surprise. Watching him in college, I thought his lack of arm length and ability to anchor would be an issue as a pro. While those issues could still surface, only one rep showed Willis’s arm length mattered. And for the most part, Willis looked like he had enough sand in his pants to hold his ground.
Willis earned reps with the starters based on his play in the first preseason game.
Stock Down
LT Enrique Cruz Jr.
In that video of Willis above, it’s hard not to notice Cruz Jr., and not in a complementary way. It’s as if he’s guessing what his assignment is and figuring out what to do on the fly once the ball is snapped. Week 1 was a doozy for Cruz Jr.
If you didn’t know any better, you would have thought it was the first time he’s played the sport.
CB Jakob Robinson
The door was open for Robinson, and he didn’t walk through it. He only allowed two receptions on five targets, but that was due more to errant throws than sticky coverage. On the non-targets, Robinson was often out of position. While Robinson had a run stop, he was blocked into oblivion on the first play of the game.
CB Alfred Collins
Oof. Collins was one of the players we listed as having the most to prove ahead of Week 1. Unfortunately, his struggles were on full display.
Collins was easily moved multiple times. His technique was shoddy, and he got washed out of his gap all too often. Collins is supposed to be a run-stopper.
CB Darrell Luter Jr.
Luter Jr. seems like the athlete who can jump out of the gym and beat everybody in a race as a freshman, but never lifts weights, watches film, or does what he needs to do to become a better player.
I don’t think he makes the roster. He gave up one catch for 17 yards on three targets, but was lucky the stat line wasn’t something like three catches for 45 yards. There were coverage busts on route combinations where there shouldn’t be busts. Barring a couple of stellar performances to end the preseason, Luter Jr.’s time is up.
Stock up
WR Malik Turner
Turner had a strong showing. He won at every level, competed well as a blocker, and had more nuance in his routes than arguably any other player. The box score wasn’t kind to Turner, but he held up his end of the bargain in every facet. Turner is unlikely to make the roster, but he certainly did enough to make the practice squad.
DT Bryson Eason
Aside from making plays, Eason showed the kind of IQ some four-year pros don’t have when it comes to taking on blocks. Eason had tremendous awareness. I loved that he always knew where the ball carrier was and found a way to work back toward him. Unlike Collins, Eason used different techniques, like a drop leg, to hold his ground against double teams.
DT Gracen Halton
Halton tied for the most stops of any defensive tackle with four in Week 1. He’s a finisher. Even in a preseason setting, that’s noteworthy, as the Niners’ interior struggled mightily to make plays a season ago. What was encouraging about Halton was his ability to make plays against the run. He was supposed to be a pass rush specialist.
But should we be surprised about Halton getting off to a hot start? He fell to Day 3 of the draft, but he was projected to go in the second round during the mock draft cycle. Perhaps Halton is showing his true colors and proving mock drafters right.