The 49ers fell to the Chargers 27-24 in the preseason finale at Levi’s Stadium. Here’s what we took away from the last tune up before the start of the regular season.
49ers can scout RBs
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner do a terrific job of finding running backs through means other than free agency and the draft. Undrafted free agents Austin Walter and Jeff Wilson Jr. were excellent in the preseason finale. Wilson in particular showed out with 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Running back depth should never be an issue for San Francisco with Shanahan and Turner around.
CJ Beathard shows why 49ers love him
Beathard’s on-field performances haven’t been great in the regular season, but he’s gained a ton of respect from his teammates and coaches for his toughness. That was on display Thursday when Wilson cut a run back to the right side of the field where only Beathard stood. The quarterback raced out in front of Wilson to set a lead block that helped spring the running back for a 41-yard score.
Missed tackles are back
It’s hard to circle this as an issue for San Francisco since most of the starters were out, but the amount of missed tackles Thursday was still a bit troublesome considering how many players will likely make the roster and contribute on special teams. The hope for the 49ers is that the tackling will improve after being an issue most of last year. It’s tough to gauge in the preseason, but Thursday’s showing wasn’t great.
Secondary depth is a definite problem
Depth in the secondary was the major flaw on the 49ers’ roster going into the offseason. Minimal tweaks at that spot pushed it to the top of the team’s weaknesses, and that was illuminated Thursday when most of the starters sat out. San Francisco’s defensive backs had trouble containing the Chargers’ backup quarterback Cardale Jones. He completed 10-of-16 passes for 149 yards in one half of football. Missed tackles were an issue as well for this group. The 49ers either need improvements from players on the roster, or make additions there this offseason.
Kendrick Bourne’s playing time
Bourne wound up playing nearly the entire game after dropping the first ball thrown his way. That’s notable because Richie James and Jordan Matthews were both on the sideline for the entire second half. Both James and Matthews are locked in a battle with Bourne for a roster spot. The third-year UDFA made up for his earlier drop with a nice TD catch, but his inconsistency Thursday was a microcosm for the inconsistency that could doom him come roster cuts.
Nick Mullens’ playing time
Mullens wasn’t supposed to play according to the 49ers’ TV broadcast on KPIX in the Bay Area. After CJ Beathard played the entire first half, Mullens came out to start the second half. He played one series and completed one pass for 13 yards on three attempts. Perhaps the plan was to play him more, but he was under heavy pressure from the Chargers’ defensive front, and perhaps Shanahan didn’t want to risk an injury just before thee start of the regular season.
