Santa Clara Brawl: 49ers Training Camp Day 6 Breakdown (Defense)

The San Francisco 49ers had their second padded practice on Tuesday, and with it came their second 1-on-1 session between receivers and defensive backs, as well as the first battle between offensive and defensive linemen. Additionally, there were three 11-on-11 sessions, which was one more session than the other practices so far.

Defense

Defensive Line

Rookie Drake Jackson stood out for the second consecutive day, and third time so far in camp, recording four pressures and two sacks, as well as a tackle for loss. Jackson consistently beat tackle Alfredo Gutierrez on the edge.

Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw returned to practice and had a nice pass-rushing rep, although he was, once again, limited on the day.

Defensive linemen Samson Ebukam and Robert Nkemdiche each had a batted pass, while edge rusher Nick Bosa continued his dominance, getting a sack on a rep against left tackle Trent Williams where defensive tackle Kevin Givens beat right guard Spencer Burford and Ebukam beat right tackle Jaylon Moore to immediately get to quarterback Trey Lance.

Bosa had another successful rep, this one against fullback Kyle Juszczyk, which forced a Lance throwaway. Overall, the defensive line benefitted on Tuesday from stellar coverage, as there were a number of coverage sacks on the day.

Linebackers

Linebacker Fred Warner had an eventful day, twice getting into a scuffle with receiver Brandon Aiyuk, once after Aiyuk took exception to Warner pestering him after a play, and once after Aiyuk took exception to Warner laying one on Marcus Johnson, squaring up against the All-Pro.

Azeez Al-Shaair also had an eventful day, stopping Tyrion Davis-Price for a two-yard gain, drawing an incompletion in coverage against George Kittle, and earning a sack on a blitz off the edge. Al-Shaair also won a 1-on-1 rep against running back JaMycal Hasty, although he allowed a catch to running back Trey Sermon during the period as well.

One of the more notable reps during the 1-on-1 session was Marcelino McCrary-Ball against Davis-Price. McCrary-Ball covered the halfback well, but didn't turn his head around, and would have likely drawn a pass interference penalty.

Curtis Robinson appeared shaken up after a running back (I believe was Tyrion Davis-Price) delivered a blow, but the linebacker appeared later in the day.

Cornerbacks

Top cornerback Charvarius Ward did not practice on Tuesday. He has definitely earned a rest day following his stellar beginning to training camp.

Surprisingly, third-string cornerback Ka'Darr Hollman took the first-team reps opposite Emmanuel Moseley, as backups Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas remained with the second-team defense.

Thomas continued his up-and-down trend in training camp, allowing two catches to receiver Danny Gray, being burned for deep plays on both routes, while also being the cornerback in soft coverage on Gray's 12-yard slant catch, although safety George Odum was the closest defender at the catch point.

Thomas went 1/2 on the 1-on-1s that I saw, winning against Malik Turner on one rep, while losing to Tay Martin on a separate rep.

Darqueze Dennard continued to see all the action in the slot with the first-team defense and looked solid on his 1-on-1 reps, which were both against receiver Jauan Jennings. Dennard was originally beaten on the first play, but Jennings dropped the pass. Dennard then won his next rep against Jennings.

A side note: cornerback Jason Verrett, who had only been seen in street clothes, was out early before practice on Tuesday getting some conditioning in. He's recovering from a torn ACL that he sustained last season.

Safeties

Jimmie Ward was finally defeated during a 1-on-1 session, as receiver Brandon Aiyuk bested him on a deep route that included a nice deep ball from quarterback Trey Lance. However, Ward had a nice rep against undrafted free agent Taysir Mack during the period as well.

Talanoa Hufanga had a solid performance on Tuesday, first winning a rep against tight end George Kittle with a pass deflection near the beginning of 1-on-1s, while later getting beat by tight end Tanner Hudson on a rep.

Hufanga did give up a 20-yard catch to George Kittle during the scrimmage session, but played against the run well, stopping Trey Lance and Trey Sermon for three-yard gains on respective plays.

Dontae Johnson got his ankles broken during the 1-on-1 periods, as Austin Mack ran a good route against the veteran safety, stopping him in his tracks.

In the sole rep that I caught from Leon O'Neal during the 1-on-1 period on Tuesday, the rookie safety was beaten by tight end Tyler Kroft.

Stay tuned for Wednesday's coverage!

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