Is the risk worth the reward? Unlikely.
The San Francisco 49ers must make a few difficult roster decisions by the end of the month. Head coach Kyle Shanahan needs to examine the bottom of the roster, specifically the players who will be on special teams.
Tackling was a concern in Week 1 of the preseason. Shanahan had a quote on Tuesday that stood out relating to the depth and why there were so many missed tackles:
“But there are a lot of guys out there trying to make the team that haven’t necessarily yet. And when you miss a lot of tackles, it’s a lot harder to make the team.”
The 49ers have 24 missed tackles this preseason and the lowest tackling grade, per Pro Football Focus. Seventeen players make up that number. It’s noteworthy that missed tackles aren’t the end-all for lousy defense. But that doesn’t excuse what we’ve seen in two games, which is why the coaching staff will get one final look at the 2s and 3s in game action.
With that in mind, how much should the starters play on Friday night? Quarterback Brock Purdy had to use his legs more than anybody would have liked to see in Week 2. Purdy was pressured on 71 percent of his dropbacks, sacked once, and hit another time as he was throwing.
But Shanahan said the plan is for Brock to suit up. An 11-play drive that ends in a touchdown would make for a short evening. It’ll be another game without Trent Williams and Aaron Banks. Then again, skills players like Deebo Samuel and George Kittle could make life easier on the offense.
Everything has stayed the same from last week on the other side of the ball. If Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Javon Hargrave, and the rest of the starters haven’t suited up yet, why would that change now?
The coaching staff doesn’t need to evaluate those players. The same holds true for the offense. The risk is far greater than the reward, and you’re putting players on the field in an uncontrolled environment amid a training camp where you’re already banged up as a team.
Put your coaching hat on and in Shanahan’s shoes. How long would you play the starters?