The San Francisco 49ers have completed over half of their scheduled training camp practices, with pads on for the last two days, meaning it's time to delve into overall observations that could impact how their season could entail.
Of course, much of the eyes are on the quarterbacks, as Brock Purdy is returning to practice, while Trey Lance and Sam Darnold are competing for the top backup spot, but there's much more that goes on than meets the eye.
With that said, what are some of my random observations over the first week of training camp?
Steve Wilks
Over the first week of practices, it's clear that Steve Wilks is a hands-on coach.
He's consistently instructing players during drills, even taking them aside to talk things through, and has worked extensively with top cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.
However, those hands-on duties will be taken away when Wilks goes up into the coaching booth to call plays this season, a fact he shared earlier this offseason.
Wilks's argument for doing so is justified, as the birds-eye view provides a clearer picture of the field, down and distance, and how plays develop.
But, is that worth losing out on the valuable coaching he provides face-to-face?
Wilks was on the field last season, due to his head coaching responsibilities, and is a clear leader when out on the field.
He's not as energetic as DeMeco Ryans or Robert Saleh necessarily, but could be as impactful with his coaching style down on the sidelines.
I wonder if Wilks and head coach Kyle Shanahan revisit that strategy, or continue as is and put more faith in their players.
Kris Kocurek
Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has been a gem for the 49ers ever since his arrival from the Miami Dolphins in 2018, consistently developing defensive linemen and generating the most talent out of that position compared to any coach in the NFL.
While the focus is obviously on the players during training camp, Kocurek makes it hard not to keep up eyes on him with his coaching style.
He's consistently up in players' faces, teaching technique and pouring energy into his coaching, which was seen on a rep Tuesday when he jumped into the picture as the offense was huddling up to give newly-signed Taco Charlton some tips before marching back to the sidelines.
Kocurek is a true defensive line coach, and it's clear why he's as well-respected as he is with the energy he exerts in his job.
You'll almost always see him in a shirt filled with sweat at the end of practice. My observation: he'd be the perfect coach for Hard Knocks.