Which 49ers rookies impressed in OTAs, and which UDFA might make the team? Mailbag
“So I don’t feel nearly as insightful about the spring season as I have in previous years.
Having said that, it was interesting to see Jaden Dugger line up as the strongside linebacker. He got that opportunity because the regular strongside ‘backer, Luke Gifford, got a concussion when he collided with Mike Evans (yikes!) early in OTAs…..Receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and running back Kaelon Black flashed in at least one
of the practices I watched, and I’ve heard coaches liked what they saw from cornerback Ephesians Prysock. The linemen? As always, we have to wait until the pads come on in training camp to assess that group.”
Who is the 49ers’ most important role player?
“Mykel Williams, Ricky Pearsall, Alfred Collins, and Renardo Green don’t count as role players in my book. You used first and second-rounders on those players. Those four should be among the core players that are the reason you will be among the best teams in the league.
I’m thinking more along the lines of an Upton Stout, a Romello Height, a Jacob Cowing, or a Jordan James.
Stout, playing in a Raheem Morris scheme, should be utilized heavily as a blitzer. Height is walking into a dream scenario as the fourth pass rusher. Cowing, along with Jordan Watkins, can be the “splash” play wideouts who can also flip the field as returners.
But I’m going with Jordan James, for obvious reasons. There’s the injury concern with Christian McCaffrey after his workload last season. James didn’t get much run last year as a rookie, but he seems like the more natural runner than rookie Kaelon Black — who is likely the third-down back if McCaffrey does indeed go down.
The Niners aren’t going to overload a rookie, unless Black gives them no choice but to put him on the field. While James doesn’t have the top-end speed, pass-game impact, or playmaking of Black, his vision, contact balance, and overall feel as a running back will keep the 49ers’ offense ahead of the chains. That was an issue last season. The ground game struggled mightily for multiple reasons, but one of those was due to their backup lacking what it took to succeed as a runner.”
