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| Daniel Leroux. 6th September, 2010 - 5:09 pm
 One of the reasons I do not spend a ton of time watching the NFL preseason is that it gets my hopes up for certain players, much like the first few weeks of the college football season.
However, they can be helpful in determining the quality of the depth on a team even if the outcome (in terms of a win or loss) is immaterial. Over the course of the 49ers? four pre-season games, we have learned substantially more about the Second 22, meaning the primary backup for each starter.
A general rule I use in the NFL is that while starters win most games for teams, the Second 22 can lose a whole lot of them. This occurs because the NFL is a sport where injuries are an inevitability, unlike pro baseball and basketball, due to the nature of the physical contact. The other reason the Second 22 matter is that pro football uses reserves in a different way than the other major sports since back-ups often play either special teams and/or in rotations while also acting as the stand-in starter should that need arise.
Over the last few seasons, the Niners have done a better job shoring up the starters. Talent like Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, and Joe Staley stand as meaningful contributors on just about every team in the league. The improvement of the group of players who support them has been a more recent development. One remarkable stat is that all eight players San Francisco drafted in 2010 made the 53-man roster. While there is some worry initially that a stat like that could be fueled by a GM who wants to make himself look good, the rookies have played extremely well thus far.
Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis coming on strong for the offensive line (especially Iupati, who is a beast) has given the Niners more depth by pushing guys like Adam Snyder and Tony Wragge down the chart a little. Coach Mike Singletary gave a strong endorsement to NaVorro Bowman by cutting Matt Wilhelm, who was the other interior linebacker of note who was expected to make the team.
The biggest revelation has been Anthony Dixon, who took firm grasp of the #3 running back slot despite being a sixth round pick. Dixon has an interesting set of skills because he has a big frame (listed at 6?1? and 233 lbs, and looked bigger than that in person) yet still has very good footwork. In fact, Coach Singletary made a point of talking about how good his feet were in his post-game press conference, saying ?coming out of college he was always a guy that had great feet,? though he also mentioned that Dixon sometimes uses too many moves, which was the case at different points in the pre-season and should be corrected with good coaching. On top of that, Singletary seemed to make it clear that there is a role for Dixon on this team, which is encouraging.
While the rookies have helped fuel the improvement of the second twenty-two, they are far from the only people to do so. The injured Ahmad Brooks, who Singletary said could be back for Week 1 (?It?s got to be day-to-day this week and hopefully we get some good news?) provided a pass rush spark last season with six sacks and five forced fumbles. Hopefully Bay Area native Travis LaBoy can have a similar impact since one way San Francisco?s defense can kick it into another gear is by putting more heat on the opposing QB. The secondary added three rookies this season, with Taylor Mays being the most notable addition. He had a very nice interception of Billy Volek on Thursday (?I thought he made a nice play? ? Singletary) and has the physical tools to get far better with a few seasons of NFL coaching and experience.
On the offensive end, Brian Westbrook should be a player who is an asset to a developing QB like Alex Smith while Ted Ginn Jr and Kyle Williams should help both the receiving corps and a return game that has needed improvement for more seasons than I?d like to remember. The offensive line has more depth and versatility now as Adam Snyder can play both guard and tackle while David Baas is a natural guard playing at center while Eric Heitmann recovers from a broken leg.
The biggest upside to the increased depth is that the injuries that happen over the course of any NFL season have a lower chance of sinking the season. Of course losing a major contributor would have a substantial effect- nothing can change that. However, having someone to step in and contribute during the more short-term injuries (turned ankles, wind knocked out, etc) without the team losing momentum is a major plus, especially since a vast majority of the second twenty-two are players who still have a good deal of improvement before hitting their ceiling.
If the 49ers are going to make the playoffs this season, the depth of their quality should play a major part.
Feel free to e-mail Daniel at Daniel.Leroux@realgm.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyLeroux |
