49ers Notebook: Shanahan not sweating Jake Moody’s missed kicks; Ambry Thomas “a different player”; Jimmy G in silver and black

Usually it takes hours to dig through the amount of content that comes out after a 49ers game, but that was far from the case after the team's preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. There was less than 15 minutes of player and coach press conference soundbites after the game, with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan making it clear what the team really wanted to do after spending the last few days in Las Vegas.

"We're trying to get out of here," Shanahan said. "We want to go back home. We've been here too long."

The lack of interviews after Sunday's game didn't stop us from scraping together enough stuff for the first 49ers Notebook of the 2023 preseason, however. It's a quicker one than usual, but there's still some interesting notes to check out on rookie kicker Jake Moody and cornerback Ambry Thomas, as well as a quick check-in on former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Plus the 49ers fans were out in full force on Sunday, as one might expect. Let's get into it.

No makes, no worries

There's a lot riding on the 49ers' decision to hand this season's kicking duties over to rookie and third-round draft pick Jake Moody. So naturally, the scrutiny on him is much higher than usual for a kicker during the preseason.

Moody didn't deliver as expected on Sunday, missing both of his two field goal attempts against the Raiders. The first miss came from 40 yards as time expired at the end of the first half, then the 49ers tested Moody's leg in the third quarter by having him attempt a field goal from 58 yards, which he also missed.

But, seeing as how preseason games have little impact on what will happen in the regular season, one shouldn't take Moody's misses too seriously. Shanahan wasn't about to do so when the topic came up after the game.

"It's unfortunate because I know the pressure's on him when everyone's looking, and I know he missed those two today, but he's been great in practice," Shanahan said.

Looking on the bright side, Sunday's game gave Moody a chance to get a dose of NFL experience attempting a field goal at a crucial moment without having to worry about the consequences. And it gave Shanahan a chance to try a longer-than-normal field goal without it impacting a real game, which was good for a quick moment of amusement in an otherwise lousy game.

"I was just excited to attempt a long one, which was fun, but until it was missed," Shanahan said. "But he's been great. He handles himself well. So no issues here with me."

Shanahan also said Moody's misses had nothing to do with the team's decision to go for a first down in certain fourth-and-short situations.

"They're both fourth and ones, and the first one, I think, was third and six, and I told the offense, you guys got two plays here," Shanahan said. "But it was frustrating. I wanted us to finish that drive and get more reps for the guys, especially the quarterback, and we didn't convert on that fourth and one."

Moody told reporters Sunday he was happy to get these misses out of the way.

"I'm glad it happened now," Moody said. "There's a lot to learn from it."

Making strides

Third-year cornerback Ambry Thomas is a player under the microscope this preseason as he attempts to re-establish himself as part of the team's future at the cornerback position. Thomas made one of the best plays of the day for the 49ers' defense on Sunday, tackling Raiders running back Zamir White in the backfield for a loss to force a turnover on downs early in the second quarter.

Thomas looked like a big part of the team's future after finishing his rookie year strong, but he fell back to the pack in 2022. Shanahan made it sound after the game like Thomas is making steps in the right direction in year three.

"I thought he did a good job," Shanahan said. "Starting off in OTAs and all the way to training camp, he's come back a different player than he was last year. And it looked like that from the sidelines. I thought he flew around, made a couple of tackles, and I'm excited to watch him on the plane when I see the film."

With Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir expected to start at cornerback and Isaiah Oliver the front runner to man the nickelback position, Thomas is competing for a spot with second-year corner Samuel Womack, undrafted rookie D'Shawn Jamison, and currently injured fifth-round draft pick Darrell Luter, among others.

Lance's view of the lone touchdown

The best moment of Sunday's game for the 49ers almost turned out to be the worst when a pass from quarterback Trey Lance bounced off the hands of defensive back Duke Shelley and improbably landed in the hands of tight end Ross Dwelley for a touchdown.

It was a bit of a scary moment for Lance, but it shows up as a touchdown in the box score nonetheless. Lance was asked after the game if he reacted to the touchdown in a "no-no-yes" way.

"It was a yes, yes, no, yes situation," Lance said. "Dwelley ended up making a great play. The defense made a great play. I didn't think he'd be able to get to it."

Shanahan gave Dwelley some praise of his own after the game.

"(Dwelley) made a hell of a play on the touchdown," Shanahan said. "I know it was almost a hell of a play for them with the pick, but that was the last guy on a bootleg. It flashed, and he put it on him, and that guy came in and tipped it and made a good play, but fortunately, Ross Dwelley was there."

Hello old friend

Former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo didn't take any snaps for the Raiders on Sunday, but the game did mark the first time Garoppolo was seen in gameday gear for his new team.

Garoppolo, who signed with the Raiders in the offseason after six memorable years with the 49ers, was seen after the game greeting his former teammates and coaches, including quarterback Brock Purdy.

Rookie Aidan O'Connell got the start for the Raiders on Sunday and finished 15-of-18 for 141 yards and one touchdown.

Faithful in midseason form

Just a preseason game? Maybe not for the bunches of 49ers fans who took over Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

The Faithful have established a reputation for filling opposing stadiums with red, and on Sunday they did the same.

Based on what 49ers fans have done on the road in recent years, Sunday won't be the last time they make a 49ers road game feel like home this season.