SANTA CLARA – An offseason’s value of anticipation lastly yields to precise game-week pleasure, and a plethora of mailbag questions from 49ers’ followers through my Instagram and Twitter rosters:
Who scores the primary landing of the season for the 49ers? (@joey_pbc)
Trey Lance, a method or one other. Both he runs it in off a zone-read keeper, or he throws for the primary rating. He did the latter a yr in the past, with a 5-yard landing cross to Trent Sherfield within the 49ers’ 41-33 win at Detroit; it was Lance’s solely cross in a four-snap cameo.
Will Lance run for 100 yards in opposition to the Bears? (@angeeelxz)
Jimmy Garoppolo ran for 182 yards in 46 video games – mixed. Solely 5 instances has a 49ers’ quarterback breached the 100-yard mark in a single recreation (Colin Kaepernick 4 instances, together with twice within the playoffs; Steve Younger as soon as). However Lance’s speeding potential makes this a respectable query. I simply doubt they should rely a lot on him or unveil a lot of that speeding side to beat the Bears.
Have they introduced who’s beginning at defensive finish reverse of Bosa? Ebukam? Jackson? (@teezo_east99)
That official announcement ought to come at 10:02 a.m., assuming the 49ers win the coin toss, kick off to the Bears, then unleash Bosa and … I’ll count on Samson Ebukam, although Drake Jackson would possibly get on the sphere first if he’s on that kickoff protection. Regardless, the 49ers have a rotation that can come sturdy after Justin Fields.
Is our secondary going to have the ability to cease huge performs this yr? (@bwaters88)
Penalties – and security Jimmie Ward’s hamstring — might dictate that. Though the 49ers allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards final season (206.5 per recreation), they allowed a league-high 367 yards on pass-interference penalties. They drew 23 such calls, and 9 went for a minimum of 20 yards. In new cornerback Charvarius Ward’s 4 years with the Chiefs, he had simply eight DPI penalties – however 15 defensive holding calls, that are 5-yard infractions.
What number of interceptions will the protection get in opposition to Da Bears? (@casiano9679)
Coaching camp and the preseason confirmed the 49ers way more proficient foragers. Justin Fields is coming off a rookie season with 10 interceptions (and 7 touchdowns). His last cross in a Dec. 31 loss to the 49ers: a 60-yard bomb, intercepted by Josh Norman.
Will we see Jimmy take the sphere in a homecoming look? He's from Illinois. (@_andrewo.o)
Sure, sure, we all know he’s from Illinois, about 20 miles away in Arlington Heights. That homecoming side performed out in victorious trend in his 49ers beginning debut in December 2017, and once more in his return go to final Halloween. The homecoming king solely comes out Sunday for warmups – and as a possible harm substitute. There isn't a set of “Jimmy G” secret performs, though he and Lance nonetheless had been sporting play-call wristbands in observe on Monday.
Will Jimmy or (Brock) Purdy be lively because the No. 2 in Chicago? (@joezinsf)
Garoppolo’s surgically repaired shoulder and system information have him prepared as Lance’s backup, Shanahan mentioned final week. The one manner Purdy is lively is that if Garoppolo (or, gulp, Lance) falls ailing or will get harm in observe.
Will we be a high-passing workforce or nonetheless heavy on the run? (@hardcore_fitness_x)
They are going to be even heavier on the run than in any of Shanahan’s previous 5 seasons, but extra explosive within the passing recreation due to Lance’s stronger arm and talent to purchase time for down-field photographs.
What number of video games will it take Shanahan to modify quarterbacks to verify we get within the playoffs? (@fabriziottone88)
I don’t anticipate the panic button being pushed, not within the first half of the season. Peter King of NBC Sports activities predicts a Week 7 quarterback change. If the 49ers are 4-5 at their Nov. 6 bye, then they could as properly journey it out with Lance, though Shanahan actually might be tempted (and never pressured by veteran leaders) to insert Garoppolo to strive replicating final season’s playoff push.
Is the protection pretty much as good as marketed? I really feel the season will rely on two issues: the offensive line holding up and the protection beginning/ending sturdy. (@SFG_soccer)
This protection is being billed as nice, not simply good. There may be higher depth, Nick Bosa is wholesome and the secondary shouldn't be so penalty susceptible. True, profitable within the trenches on each offense and protection ought to dictate any workforce’s course, however I believe Lance’s mobility can masks the road’s rising pains, considerably.
Do you count on a 60/40 ratio of 49ers/Bears followers? (@nogueyjosay)
Solider Discipline has the NFL’s smallest capability (61,500), so tickets aren’t simply there for the taking. That mentioned, the 49ers Devoted has hit highway video games in spectacular numbers the previous decade. Additionally attractive are this weekend’s different sights …
Giants/Cubs on Friday, Notre Dame on Saturday, Niners/Bears on Sunday. Recommendation? (@mattyb4949)
Hydrate. Get well. Hydrate. Get well. Hydrate. The forecast requires a 50-percent likelihood of rain, so there’ll be that hydration side to contemplate, too.
Predict the rating. (@theresabaylee)
I'll, Thursday. HInt: Niners win.
I've your binoculars. (@alec_parker22)
Ah, that is in reference to final season’s caper: “Who Stole Cam’s Binnoculars From Chicago’s Press Field?” I’m contemplating hiring safety for my return go to. I’d choose Javon Kinlaw to moonlight.