In a different version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the San Francisco 49ers have wide receivers, linebackers and safeties when it comes to the upcoming training camp.
Unrelated comedies notwithstanding, the 49ers will head into camp with few questions left unanswered. The offensive line is the best in football, Colin Kaepernick is the veritable voice of football’s future and perennial All-Pro Patrick Willis still quarterbacks the defense.
All that said, the men sporting the Red and Gold aren’t immune to change. Players are acquired, personnel development intensifies and competition is the pertinent M.O. of head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke.
The final component of the 49ers offseason program will be a breeding ground of said competition.
Let’s check out the top-five relevant in-team battles.
5. Scott Tolzien vs. B.J. Daniels
Competition for the No. 3 quarterback position can actually be quite intriguing.
Tolzien is a veteran of the 49ers practice squad and a highly intelligent football man. He made said squad one after playing for the San Diego Chargers for the entirety of the 2011 offseason. Merely digesting the playbook after synthesizing a completely different version is thoroughly impressive in and of itself.
Unfortunately, that does not preclude Tolzien from vying for a roster spot.
Daniels is a former South Florida second-string quarterback who developed into one of the most talented players on the gridiron. He totaled over 10,000 yards from scrimmage with 52 touchdown passes and 25 touchdown runs during his collegiate career.
Such versatile success prompted Harbaugh to utilize him as a running back, wide receiver and kick returner in addition to his quarterback duties during offseason workouts. His jack-of-all-trades abilities will push Tolzien to the brink and make the third-string QB battle one worth noting.
4. Lawrence Okoye vs. Vacated Roster Spot
Okoye is an incredible specimen at 6’6’’, 304 pounds. He ran a 4.78-40 and recorded a 10’5’’ broad jump and 35’’ vertical leap at the NFL South Regional Combine before the draft.
The only problem? He has never played the game of football.
Okoye is a former Olympic discuss record-holder from Great Britain. He is a great rugby player, but has zero experience with its football counterpart. And it has shown thus far in 49ers offseason workouts.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and defensive line guru Jim Tomsula have worked extensively with Okoye on proper form, technique and execution, not to mention just how to purely study the game from the d-line position. He is way behind the curve, but his immense talent alone is worth the intrigue.
Now that the 49ers will don pads at training camp, Okoye is well deserving of your attention as he battles for a roster spot.
3. Backup Outside Linebacker
What was once a depth-deficient position in 2012 has soon become a thoroughly stacked contingent.
Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks return as the starting outside backers. The men operating behind them, however, are swarming amidst a very much contested positional battle.
San Francisco selected the highly talented Corey Lemonier in the third round of the NFL draft. He’ll have to make the switch to 3-4 outside linebacker, but will immediately bring pressure on the returning incumbents. He has a knack for disrupting ball-carriers in the backfield.
Returning players include veteran Parys Haralson and 2012 draftees Darius Fleming and Cam Johnson.
Haralson has appeared in 86 career games (68 starts) for the 49ers, registering 21.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles in that time. He is a limited pass-rusher and is coming of a lost season due to injury. But he possesses the veteran savvy and all-around ability needed at the position.
Fleming has practiced both inside and out at linebacker this offseason. He remains a backup threat at each spot. Johnson, meanwhile, will combine with Lemonier to bring the most pressure for playing time as dynamic outside pass-rushers. He has more knowledge of the 49ers playbook as well.
Stay especially tuned for this battle come training camp.
2. Backup Defensive Backs
Like the No. 3 quarterback spot, backup defensive backs do not normally offer compelling storylines. Things are different in 49er land, however.
Starters Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown are locked in at cornerback, as well as No. 3 man Chris Culliver. Safeties Eric Reid and Donte Whitner and top backup Craig Dahl are also roster guarantees.
But what about the collection of secondary personnel behind them?
Nnamdi Asomugha is a 10-year veteran and former All-Pro who brings great size and physicality at 6’3’’, 215 pounds. He unfortunately produced two lackluster seasons in Philadelphia and is considered by some as a liability in coverage. That said, his track record, physical attributes and football intelligence make him a noteworthy option as the No. 4 CB.
Another intriguing option is Perrish Cox. He has knowledge of the 49ers system and can play both on the outside and in the slot. He also brings versatility as a returner on special teams. Both Asomugha and Cox will vie very much competitively for the backup corner spot.
Players battling for safety are C.J. Spillman, Trenton Robinson, Darcel McBath and Michael Thomas.
Spillman is one of the team’s top special teamer’s, but has little active experience in the secondary. Robinson is a 2012 sixth-round draft pick who has excelled in the defensive backfield over the offseason. McBath is another primary special teams’ gunner while Thomas has played both safety and nickel DB this year.
Robinson and Thomas, in our eyes, are the most intrigue-worthy backup candidates.
1. Wide Receiver
When leading wideout Michael Crabtree suffered a near season-ending Achilles tear, the receiver position battle became wide open.
Anquan Boldin, despite behind better suited for the slot, is the team’s clear new No. 1 guy. His 10,000-plus career receiving yards, 58 touchdowns and Super Bowl-winning pedigree make him well qualified for the position.
Now, this is when things get interesting. Mario Manningham’s career production and standing with the team deem him next up for the No. 2 spot. Unfortunately, he likely remains headed for the PUP list for the start of the season while recovering from multiple knee surgeries.
That brings Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins, Quinton Patton and Ricardo Lockette into the fold. Williams is the most accomplished of the bunch, brings playoff experience and has a rapport—however brief—with Kaepernick from last season. Jenkins is the 49ers first-round draft pick from 2012 and has made monumental strides over the offseason after contributing nothing in his rookie campaign.
Patton is a fourth-round selection from this year’s draft and brings pro-ready route-running and sure handedness to the team. Lockette, for his part, is a downfield outside threat with his 6’2’’ length and 4.35 speed.
Most interesting of all, however, is Vernon Davis being used on the outside. One of the league’s best creators of mismatches at tight end has been flexed out wide in Harbaugh and coordinator Greg Roman’s constantly evolving offense.
So aside from Boldin, wide receiver is the least solidified position for the 49ers. We can’t wait to see how it all pans out.
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