49ers training camp: Position-by-position forecast on Lance-led offense
SANTA CLARA — More power runs. More down-field passes. More yards, points, and all-around offense.
Do the 49ers have your attention? They should by the Sept. 11 season opener in Chicago.
Training camp, which opens Tuesday, offers Kyle Shanahan time to rev up his most expansive offense in six seasons as coach.
Quarterback Trey Lance is expected to lead the offensive transformation, albeit at age 22, with barely 2 ½ games under his NFL belt from a redshirt rookie year.
He can sling the ball toward all boundaries of the field. He can wiggle into the open field as a runner. He can lead, and the 49ers are counting on him to earn teammates’ trust in the same regard of his predecessor, Jimmy Garoppolo.
Paying up Deebo Samuel will underscore his importance among the YAC Bros. – Yards After Catch – while cohorts George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and a few newcomers reap receiving rewards, too.
Yet this could be an even more run-oriented attack if the 49ers indeed establish a more power-rushing approach, all to keep defenses guessing instead of anticipating the Shanahan staple of outside-zone runs.
Here is how the offense looks heading into Wednesday’s first of 11 practices open to ticketed fans (*projected starter):
QUARTERBACK
Who’s here: *Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, Nate Sudfeld, Brock Purdy
Forecast: We have liftoff of the Lance era. There won’t be a quarterback competition for the starting role, and there might not be any sign of Garoppolo, who reportedly won’t be fully throwing until mid-August (be it here or elsewhere in the NFL). Sudfeld, by virtue of his $2 million guarantee deal, is the backup, unless he bombs and opens the door for this past draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant” – Purdy, the final pick at No. 262.
RUNNING BACK
Who’s here: *Elijah Mitchell, *Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Jeff Wilson Jr., Trey Sermon, Ty Davis-Price, JaMycal Hasty, Jordan Mason, Josh Hokit (FB)
Forecast: Mitchell will finally practice on a knee that required offseason surgery, but there’s no need to overextend him. The biggest mystery is what Sermon will show after a benign rookie year. Wilson was the lead back in offseason workouts. Davis-Price figures to serve as a power rusher as a rookie, and he is coming off a spring-camp injury so camp will offer a better glimpse of his abilities, including as a blocker and receiver for third-down futures.
WIDE RECEIVER
Who’s here: *Deebo Samuel, *Brandon Aiyuk, Ray-Ray McCloud, Jauan Jennings, Danny Gray, Malik Turner, KeeSean Johnson, Marcus Johnson, Austin Mack, Taysir Mack, Tay Martin
Forecast: Hamstrings better be ready for an onslaught of routes this camp. The 49ers must hope Samuel, after skipping their offseason program, reports in prime shape (see: 2021, not 2020), unless he’s a “camp hold-in” while awaiting a contract extension. Aiyuk and Jennings already are in a groove with Lance, so this camp is vital for McCloud to get down his timing from the slot and for Gray to open up the down-field passing game with his blazing speed out of SMU. Don’t dismiss the candidates for the No. 6 role – because they’re just a hamstring away from climbing the depth chart.
TIGHT END
Who’s here: *George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, Jordan Matthews, Tyler Kroft, Tanner Hudson, Troy Fumagalli
Forecast: Kittle’s (precautionary) absence from offseason practices allowed the 49ers to scour for receiving help among his backups. Matthews’ conversion from wide receiver isn’t a novelty act so keep an eye on him. Can someone steal Dwelley’s spot before he enters Year 5, after 40 catches in four seasons? Hudson, Kroft and Fumagalli could surprise. Woerner, who rose to the No. 2 role last season, didn’t practice in the spring but should be OK for camp.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Who’s here: *LT Trent Williams, *LG Aaron Banks, *C Jake Brendel, *RG Daniel Brunskill, *RT Mike McGlinchey, Colton McKivitz, Justin Skule, Jaylon Moore, Spencer Burford, Nick Zakelj, Keaton Sutherland, Alfredo Gutierrez, Dohnovan West, Jason Poe, Sam Schlueter
Forecast: Competitions at guard and center should be among this camp’s fiercest, with no starting spots assured, although Brunskill figures to remain in the lineup either at right guard or if they prefer him at center over Brendel and others. Banks, a second-round ghost last season, took first-team snaps at left guard after Laken Tomlinson left in free agency, but camp will offer more contact and competition against the 49ers’ stout defensive linemen, meaning he’ll have to earn that starting job. McGlinchey, nor Brunskill, practiced in the spring so their return to action will be worth watching closely.