Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers came back to win late against the Las Vegas Raiders. Some players who’ll rely on raised some eyebrows, while others who could hear their name called showed they may not be ready for the bright lights. Let’s get into the winners and losers from Week 2 of the preseason.
Lucas played the most snaps of any defender. Lucas has gone from a player potentially stealing a roster spot to a player threatening to start. Lucas was targeted four times and only allowed 16 yards in coverage. He jumped a route that led to an interception, had a sack, and two other run stops. Lucas missed a tackle, but I think his presence around the ball should be viewed as a positive. There isn’t a player on the 49ers’ roster who has done more with his opportunities than Lucas.
The only target Pearsall didn’t catch was due to a rookie we’ll discuss later. Pearsall looked crisp on his first target, savvy on his second, and was the beneficiary of quality quarterback play on the third target. If those three routes were any indication of what Pearsall brings to the table this season, the 49ers are in good hands with their second-year pro.
It was a B+ day for Purdy. He doesn’t get an A because he stared at Demarcus Robinson when he was open and didn’t throw it, then threw a fastball to Robinson when a change-up would have sufficed.
Other than that, there wasn’t much to be mad about. Purdy played on time and kept the offense ahead of schedule. His 3rd & 18 pass to Pearsall was a thing of beauty and the play you point to as a reason the Niners extended him. You could say the same for a couple of scrambles that didn’t necessarily lead to any explosive plays, but kept the offense out of losing yards. Unfortunately, it looks like this season could be a year where Purdy’s legs will be needed.
Connor Colby’s potential dress rehearsal as a starter did not go as planned. He allowed a couple of run stops and was overpowered on a few reps. On the final third down of the first drive, former first-round pick Tyree Wilson walked Colby into Purdy’s lap with a bull rush, which ultimately ruined the play. Colby had a similar rep early in the drive on a running play, where the defensive tackle easily crossed his face.
On the first play of the second drive, Colby falls to the ground off contact. It looked like strength was an issue there as well. There were two plays where Colby’s pass set was too wide, and he stayed engaged with a defender while the Raiders ran a stunt and came free up the middle. He’s a seventh-rounder after all, but Colby didn’t look like he’s ready to start if Ben Bartch’s injury sidelines him in the...
