Have you found yourself missing the energy-free atmosphere and pervasive meaninglessness of the fourth preseason game since it was eliminated ahead of last season?
Well, you were in luck Saturday night, as the 49ers and Vikings each held out 27 players — and almost all of their starters — for their respective second preseason games.
It was a sleepy affair, even as far as preseason games go, but there were a few lessons delivered:
Men vs. Boys
— When you have so many backups and soon-to-be-cut players are in a game, you are looking for a clear separation between the top players and the rest.
Yes, even at the NFL level, you’re looking for players that look like men against boys.
The Niners found this level of separation in two players Saturday.
The first was Javon Kinlaw, who shined in the interior of the defensive line, demanding double teams and punishing the Vikings when they went one-on-one. It was an encouraging performance for a Niners team that’s waiting for Kinlaw to live up to his potential for three years.
Kinlaw still needs to perform like he did Saturday against top-flight competition, but it was so clear that he was an outlier on the field against the Vikings — that he didn’t belong on that field (in a good way) — that it’s hard to imagine him not putting in a good shift if he remains healthy.
The second player — and this came as a bit of a surprise — was defensive end Drake Jackson.
The Niners’ first draft pick from this most recent draft, it’s not surprising that Jackson flashed — his physical talent is impressive, and that can’t help but appear in situations like this.
No, the surprise was simply how often Jackson demanded one’s attention on Saturday.
The USC product was everywhere, all the time — he can make an easy case that he was the best player on the field Saturday.
In looking for men amongst boys, the 21-year-old must be placed in the former category.
The strength, the bend, the motor? At this weight, 275 pounds, Jackson has the makings of a Pro Bowl-caliber player.
It’ll probably take Jackson half a season to figure out how to manifest that talent against top-flight competition, but Saturday was a taste of what he should be able to do in due time.
Line dance
— The possibilities that Kinlaw and Jackson presented Saturday become even more exciting amid a defensive line that must be the deepest in the NFL.
Kinlaw should free Arik Armstead for one-on-ones this season. Jackson, rushing opposite of Nick Bosa? That’s enough to turn offensive line coaches and offensive coordinators into insomniacs.
But what will truly challenge opposing coaches is how relentless the Niners’ defensive line is. I loved the shift defensive end Jordan Willis turned in against the Vikings. Fellow end Charles Omenihu looked good, too. As did DE Kemoko Turay.
This team has a lot of solid defensive ends, as well as arguably the best in the game.
Just be solid in the middle, and this team will stop the run at a high rate and reach the quarterback at one that’s even higher.
Backup plans
— Shanahan fed a bit more gas to something that had been stewing on a side burner throughout camp: the Niners’ backup quarterback battle.
Brock Purdy has now played well in two preseason games, and he provides far more of a spark than Nate Sudfeld, the presumed No. 2 on the depth chart to Trey Lance.
So who will be the No. 2 for the Niners?
“There’s nothing done yet, Shanahan said after the game.
Sudfeld can move a bit and has a strong arm, but he practices way better than he plays in games.
Purdy can move a bit less and does not have a strong arm (by NFL standards), but he seems like a gamer — he plays better in games than he practices.
But the answer is that Sudfeld will be the backup. It’s not because he’s the better quarterback, but instead because the Niners gave him $2 million in guaranteed money to return to the team this year. Purdy, the last pick in the draft, can be cut and would likely be a Niners’ practice squad player.
It is interesting that this subject is something Shanahan was marginally coy about Saturday. Good for Purdy.
Here’s another bit of truth: The Niners aren’t winning games with either quarterback. Sudfeld is a worse version of Jimmy Garoppolo and Purdy is the second coming of Nick Mullens.
Shanahan has a type. Lance, it appears, is a change-up to it — and that’s a good thing. And so long as No. 5 stays healthy, the Niners have a chance to do something special this year.
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