After defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason opener, the new-look San Francisco 49ers were dismantled by the Denver Broncos last Saturday in a game marred by turnovers and penalties.
The 49ers’ performance against the Broncos slowed the positive buzz surrounding Kyle Shanahan’s squad, and served as a hearty reminder that the franchise’s efforts to rebuild won’t be completed overnight.
On Sunday evening, the 49ers travel to Minnesota to battle the Vikings in the all-important third preseason game, which is perhaps the best preseason measuring stick for the progress San Francisco has made thus far under Shanahan. The first-year head coach said his starters will play at least the duration of the first half, and indicated he may leave his starters in the game into the third quarter.
Sunday’s contest affords the 49ers to make a collective statement as a team, but perhaps more importantly, it offers a significant number of individual players the opportunity to prove why Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have placed their faith in them.
With that in mind, here are the five players with the most to prove on Sunday night.
1. Eli Harold (SAM Linebacker)
One of the biggest shakeups Shanahan and Lynch have made to the 49ers’ roster since taking over this spring came just this week, as the 49ers announced their decision to release nine-year NFL veteran Ahmad Brooks. The coaching staff picked Harold over Brooks at the SAM linebacker position, and elected to cut ties with one of the most productive defensive players in franchise history in the process. Harold is significantly younger and far less expensive than Brooks, but the 49ers have insisted the decision isn’t financially motivated. They believe Harold is better suited to help the team immediately, and now, it’s up to Harold to validate his coaching staff’s decision with his on-field performance.
2. Tank Carradine (Defensive end)
This spring, the 49ers used the third overall pick in the NFL Draft on Stanford product Solomon Thomas, who projected to upgrade the team’s defensive line right away. Yet with time running out in the preseason, it appears Thomas won’t begin the season as a member of the starting 11. This isn’t about Thomas being a disappointment, either, but rather about Carradine thriving in his new role in the team’s 4-3 scheme. Carradine wasn’t a great fit for the 3-4 the 49ers have run in previous seasons, but new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has offered enthusiastic praise for Carradine, who he said will rank among the best six-techniques in the NFL. If the 49ers do wind up starting Carradine over Thomas, and all signs point to that becoming a reality, he’ll need to show that he’s able to rebound from a few disappointing seasons and control the strong side of the line of scrimmage along the defensive front.
3. Erik Magnuson (Offensive line)
An undrafted offensive guard out of Michigan, Magnuson took a few snaps with the first-team offensive line earlier this week. Shanahan offered additional perspective on Magnuson’s rise up the depth chart, and said that though he wasn’t a member of the starting unit, he has worked in with the starters when San Francisco has substituted at practice. The reason I included Magnuson on this list is not because he has a lot left to prove –he’s already demonstrated he’s more talented than the 49ers anticipated– but rather because I want to see Magnuson perform for an extended period on Sunday evening against a tough Vikings’ front. If Magnuson proves he belongs on the 49ers’ 53-man roster as a depth option, his play against the Vikings should go a long way in helping him earn a spot.
4. George Kittle (Tight end)
Vance McDonald is still ahead of Kittle on the 49ers’ depth chart, but the fifth round pick out of Iowa has intriguing potential and could wind up as the No. 1 tight end on the 49ers’ roster at some point this season. In the second game of the preseason, the 49ers were clearly attempting to work McDonald into the offensive gameplan early on. It was met with mixed results, as quarterback Brian Hoyer and McDonald didn’t show the same type of chemistry that Hoyer has developed with other options in the passing game. The 49ers’ offense is still a work in progress, and it’s possible that McDonald will emerge as the team’s most reliable tight end this season, but Kittle is clearly ready to challenge him. Kittle scored his first preseason touchdown last week and showed excellent post-catch instincts, and if he performs well again on Sunday, there’s going to be a legitimate shot for Kittle to steal first-team reps early in the season.
5. Brian Hoyer (quarterback)/Carlos Hyde (running back)
It should be obvious that Hoyer and Hyde need to perform well on Sunday, but nevertheless, I list them here because they need to prove that they can click at the same time. So much of Hoyer’s success as a passer this season will depend on Hyde’s ability to pound the ball between the tackles in Shanahan’s offense, and so far this preseason, Hyde hasn’t demonstrated he’s an ideal fit for this scheme. The 49ers insist that they’re close to a breakthrough in the run game, and if they can achieve that this week, they’ll be in a much better position to succeed at the outset of the season. An effective Hyde sets up Shanahan’s play-action concepts, and last week, many of Hoyer and backup quarterback C.J. Beathard’s best passes came on play-action fakes. We know based on his track record that Hoyer isn’t going to set the league on fire on his own, but if the 49ers develop a strong rushing attack, San Francisco should have a chance to surprise a few defenses based on the balance the team’s offense can achieve.