Mac Jones quarterbacked the San Francisco 49ers for the first two drives of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jones didn’t complete a pass on the first drive after there was miscommunication with rookie running back Kaelon Black on a second down. Reading coverages in the passing game on option routes will be something Black needs to learn on the fly this season.
Jones took an aggressive shot down the field to Jordan Watkins on third down, but Watkins didn’t pick up the ball in time. Watkins also
braced for a hit on his initial kickoff return. That is not a trait the coaching staff is looking for.
Jack Jones started things off defensively with a nice open-field tackle and a near interception after jumping a slant route. His gambling mentality makes Jones a fun watch.
On that drive, rookie Jaden Dugger had a brutal miss on a tackle attempt in the open field. Dugger had an active night with 10 tackles, but only five were solo. He nearly had a sack, but he’ll want to clean up the tackling moving forward.
The second drive was a sloppy one for the defense. CJ West, Ashtyn Davis, and Eli Apple (multiple) all missed tackles. Darrell Luter Jr. avoided a block to make an impressive tackle on a screen before Siran Neal broke up a pass to end the drive.
Rookie cornerback Ephesians Prysock left with a shoulder injury on the drive.
Black benefitted from good blocking on a 14-yard run on the ensuing drive. His decisiveness shown on a 3rd & 1 run last week ended up being a mistake Jordan James made in his first action. Black gave way to James in the second quarter. On a 3rd & 1 run, James attempted to cut against the grain instead of staying on his path and picking up the first down. That’s a good learning moment for James.
James broke a run himself. He had a 17-yarder and also took a screen pass 20 yards. James isn’t flashy, but he’s the type of back to bounce off tackles and fall forward for a few extra yards. That’s what you want in a backup. He’ll learn to stick his nose in there and maximize the yardage in short-yardage situations.
Tatum Bethune intercepted No. 1 overall pick Fernandzo Mendoza.
Carver Willis played into the second quarter, as the team continued to evaluate their rookie left guard.
The most intriguing rookie may have been undrafted free agent tight end Khalil Dinkins. He’s listed at 6’4″, 226 pounds. That might be about 15 pounds too light. He played blocked with a level of intensity in limited action that is worth keeping around on the practice squad.
The score was 12-12 with two minutes to go. Eddy Pineiro nailed a 51-yarder to give the Niners a 15-12 lead. It was his fifth make in as many attempts. Pineiro also buried a 59-yard kick. Pineiro tacked on a 54-yarder with under 10 seconds to play for good measure. That made him an impressive 6-for-6. He’s in regular-season form.
The 49ers won 18-12. The preseason is over.
