No Huddle: The 49ers’ Biggest Challengers In The NFC →

Preseason Observations: Dorsey and Pickett Hit Their Marks

Aug 15, 2004 at 12:00 AM


Those who say the preseason doesn't matter are living world replete with misconceptions and skewed realities. Is it any coincidence that last season, only 4 teams went undefeated in the preseason. Three of the four made the playoffs. Two of them were the Panthers and the Patriots.

The preseason games serve as a way to examine the depth a team has. As anyone watching football over the last few years knows, depth wins championships. The Panthers would not have been able to get to the big dance without DeShaun Foster, Stephen Davis' back up. Last season the Falcons hopes for another playoff run were broken with Michael Vick's leg. If a team can't get production out of its second unit, if a team can't make a substitution because the level of play drops off dramatically, the 16-game marathon becomes almost impossible to endure.

How do the 49ers look so far this preseason? They look, well...blah. Here are a few highlights and lowlights from a 33-30 loss to the Raiders:      


1) It took me three quarters, but I finally figured out the 49ers new offensive strategy. It's diabolically simple, yet incredibly effective.

Throw the ball anywhere near a receiver, and pray for defensive contact.

That was the most effective thing the 49ers did all day against a Raider team that kept this game close because of a plethora of penalties; 215 yards worth of penalties to be exact. On Brandon Doman's touchdown scoring drive, he took the team 87 yards; of which 47 were handed over by the Raiders via defensive penalties.

The new "rule enforcement," as it has been dubbed, definitely helps this new strategy. Really, some of the calls the referees made on the Raider defensive backs were ridiculous. It seemed like if the defensive back's shadow touched the receiver the yellow laundry came out.

2) The 3-4 defense looks to be the base defense for the 49ers this season. Although Coach Erickson repeatedly said that it will be a tool the 49ers utilize, the first string defense spent a majority of the snaps in a 3-4 alignment.

Despite the new defensive wrinkles, Tyrone Wheatley still averaged 6.6 yards on the first team defense. Rich Gannon seemed to move the Raider offense with ease through the 49er defense, dominating the time of possession in the first quarter. As I watched, flashed of Minnesota kept materializing in my head. Then I remembered that the defense is still missing a couple starters, namely Ahmed Plummer, Anthony Adams, and Julian Peterson. Brandon Whiting will also be a great addition, especially in the 3-4 defense given his size. Given the missing personnel, Saturday's performance was respectable.

3) Kevan Barlow looks to be the real deal. In limited action he averaged 4.8 yards per carry. In the first quarter Barlow sliced through the defense on an 18-yard run providing flashes of the quick feet and quick bursts that will make him an elite rusher in this league.

On the topic of the rushing attack: Kwame Harris is definitely coming along as a left tackle. He absolutely manhandled a defensive end on a Kevan Barlow sweep. With the addition of Justin Smiley, the line becomes more athletic, meaning more sweeps where guards pull to the outside. The rushing game will definitely be a bright spot this season.

4) The tight end will be a huge part of the offense this season. Even with a cast on, Johnson managed 47 yards on two catches. The tight end of the evening, however, was third-stringer Gabe Crecion. He caught 3 passes for 79 yards and one touchdown.

Almost each pass caught by the tight ends, including the touchdown, was on a seam pattern up the middle of the field. The seam pattern was a staple of the 49ers when Brent Jones ran the route to perfection in the 1980's. With an emerging tight end corps, opposing defenses may not be able to key in on Lloyd, which can only bode well for the 49er's offensive success.

5) Cody Pickett will beat Brandon Doman for the third quarterback spot. His passes were crisp, accurate, and more importantly, effective. Of the three quarterbacks that played in Saturday's exhibition, Pickett was the best. Yes, he was even better than Dorsey. In the end, Picket went 5 for 7 for 89 yards and one touchdown.

Dorsey was efficient in his two series. Although he did show some jitters, overthrown passes being the most evident manifestation, each time he took the reigns of the offense he produced points. Sure, he had to settle for field goals, but they were points scored on the first team defense. Dorsey finished 8 for 12 for 94 yards. When Rattay comes back, he will have to impress in order to avoid a quarterback controversy.

Play of the Game: Arnaz Battle showcased his elusiveness on a 61-yard punt return for a score early in the 4th quarter. He ran into a pile, bounced of four defenders, spun 360 degrees (involuntarily), managed to keep his balance and sprinted down the right sideline. He then cut inside, eluding two defenders, then, upon realizing he couldn't reach the corner, cut to the right again splitting two Raider defenders for the score.

Player(s) of the Game: The Referees. Without the 215 yards called against the Raiders, the game would have been over in the second quarter.

Cody Pickett: He kept the 49ers in the game until the end with well timed passes that ate up big chunks of yards. He managed the game well and always seemed to find the open man. He looked more relaxed than Dorsey at times.

Winborn Watch: Yes, Jaime Winborn is back...again; flying all over the field making tackle after tackle. He was the defensive star while the first team defense was on the field.

Overall, the team showed some resilience, answering the Raiders every time they needed to. The Raiders second and third units handles the 49ers corresponding units well, reminding me that the 49ers are definitely in the middle of a process. What that process is, exactly, will be revealed by season's end.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.


0 Comments

  • No Comments

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



49ers keep SoFi their house: 17 quick observations from the game

By Marc Adams
Sep 18

It wasn't the blowout many San Francisco 49ers fans believed it would be, but in the end, the 49ers outlasted the Los Angeles Rams in a week two divisional matchup. With the win, the 49ers start the season 2-0 and currently sit one game up in the NFC West. Although it may not have been a blowout on the field, it was in the stands. The fanbase ratio wasn't even close. There were many more 49ers fans in the stands than there were Rams fans. But that didn't surprise anyone, except the Rams content creator I interviewed last week. He thought it would be 50/50. He was wrong. It was more like 70/30—if even that close. Every week during the season, I share my



PFF's highest- and lowest-graded 49ers players vs. Rams, plus snap counts

By David Bonilla
Sep 18

The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 2-0 after a 30-23 win against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades from the game. Which Niners played well, and who has more work to do? Below are Pro Football Focus' five highest-graded 49ers players on offense against the Rams. George Kittle, TE, 84.8, 55 snaps Trent Williams, LT, 83.4, 57 snaps Jauan Jennings, WR, 77.5, 27 snaps Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 72.3, 30 snaps Deebo Samuel, WR, 71.7, 51 snaps Below are the five highest-graded 49ers players on defense. Nick Bosa, DE, 93.0, 63 snaps Javon Kinlaw, DT, 83.8, 29 snaps Fred Warner, LB, 74.7, 80 snaps Tashaun Gipson



49ers practice and media schedule leading to Week 3 matchup vs. Giants

By Site Staff
Sep 18

The San Francisco 49ers will hold one full practice, a late Tuesday session, this week as the team prepares for its Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants. While it isn't specifically noted below, there will likely be a walk-though on Wednesday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and quarterback Brock Purdy are scheduled to speak with the media. The 49ers will make the press conferences available at 49ers.com, on the team's official mobile app, and YouTube page. The schedule, which is subject to



One reason why Deebo Samuel and the 49ers love Brock Purdy

By David Bonilla
Sep 19

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy wasn't perfect on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, yet the team was talented and disciplined enough to beat its division rivals 30-23. Purdy had arguably his worst game as a starter. The second-year quarterback earned an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 65.1, his lowest regular-season mark since Week 13 of 2022. He finished the game 17-of-25 for 206 yards and a passer rating of 93.1, a new regular-season career-low as a starter. The stat line might have been better had Purdy connected on a few passes to open receivers that were overthrown. After the game, when asked about the offense's shortcomings against the Rams, Purdy


Featured

More by Oscar Aparicio

More Articles

Share 49ersWebzone