SANTA CLARA – Spinning in a tight spiral, Brock Purdy’s pass came with ultra-impressive velocity. It headed on target to a running back in the left flat, toward the onlooking media.
Watching Purdy pepper passes is the 49ers’ most underappreciated sight in spring practices. His right elbow was repaired just 14 months ago. He went on to set the 49ers’ single-season record with 4,280 yards and he perhaps came within a completion of Super Bowl triumph.
Not every spring pass is on the money. Just know that Purdy looks stronger than ever, and in more command than ever of Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Brandon Aiyuk’s absence and Jauan Jennings’ delayed arrival have allowed Purdy to enhance his connection with Deebo Samuel and two new targets, Ricky Pearsall and Trent Taylor.
Spring workouts are, essentially, a passing camp. The offseason program concludes with next week’s mandatory minicamp. Purdy wasn’t healthy for any of it last year. He is now.
Here are 10 other sights and sounds from this week’s access window:
1. BLINDSIDE UPDATE
It’s always unsettling when left tackle Trent Williams is absent, even though spring practices are voluntary and, in Year 15, he certainly does not need refreshers on offensive play installations. “His offseasons are his offseasons. He takes care of himself, always comes back in good shape,” offensive line coach Chris Foerster said. “I’ve learned a long time ago to never be upset whether a guy’s here or not. It’s voluntary.”
That means Jaylon Moore gets to show his growth entering his fourth season. “I really love Jaylon. I love what he does,” Foerster added. “He’s not going to jump off the screen at you. He’s not going to jump off personality-wise, but I love the guy, great guy. He has improved every year.” Developing Moore at this time is vital as he competes with veterans Brandon Parker and Chris Hubbard, the latter of whom hasn’t been spotted yet at OTAs.
2. LINEBACKER MYSTERY
As Fred Warner safely observes on the sideline, he still needles the offense and coaches up teammates, such as wailing how they needed a defender in the ‘A’ gap on a running play.
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has played Warner’s spot and done so impressively, beyond an interception of Purdy. The 49ers figured to start veteran acquisition De’Vondre Campbell until Dre Greenlaw returns from Achilles, which could be at least a month into the season. Training camp will allow “DFF” and others to see if they’re a better fit for the scheme. Campbell has lined up next to Flannigan-Fowles on the first-string unit. Campbell turns 31 on July 1; his last game was the Packers’ playoff loss at Levi’s Stadium in January.
3. KICKOFF CHAOS
No one knows how the NFL’s rule changes to kickoffs – shorter running starts before engagements, a landing zone, no fair catches – and it was refreshing to hear a coach acknowledge that. “There’s 31 other coaches like me that don’t know exactly if we’re on the right track, what it’s going to look like,” special teams coordinator Brian Schneider said. “… It’s exciting. I mean, I’m fired up.
“This is the coolest thing to happen in terms of my coaching career because it’s, what are you going to do?” Schneider added. “You have a great opportunity to do something that’s never been done before. So, it’s a race to figure it out and it’s going to be constantly adjusting.”
4. RECEIVER ROTATION
Without Brandon Aiyuk and veteran Chris Conley at practice, the 49ers are giving their other wide receiver a chance to impress, besides Samuel and the recently re-signed Jauan Jennings. Taylor is off to an impressive start in his encore from a 2017-20 tenure. Pearsall’s hands and route running look smooth, even while wearing a no-contact jersey Wednesday for an unspecified but apparently minor injury.
Needing to show more at minicamp and training camp are Jacob Cowing, Danny Gray, Ronnie Bell, Tay Martin and undrafted rookie Terique Owens. The latter is the son of former 49ers star Terrell Owens, and he seemed to slow up on a deep ball that Sam Womack easily defended.
5. OVERLOOKED CORNERBACK
Sometimes the ball bounces your way. In the Super Bowl, it bounced off Darrell Luter Jr.’s foot in punt-return coverage and led to a key fumble. On Wednesday, the ball sailed into Luter’s hands for an interception on an Allen overthrow to Owens. The 49ers defense rejoiced and rushed to congratulate Luter. He hasn’t been excommunicated for his Super Bowl gaffe, and don’t be surprised if he climbs the depth chart this summer. He’s currently behind more experienced cornerbacks in Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Isaac Yiadom, Ambry Thomas, Womack, Rock Ya-Sin, and Chase Lucas.
6. GREEN PLAYS TIGHT
Second-round pick Rendardo Green is making a compelling case to play nickel back as a rookie, which would allow the 49ers to keep Lenoir on the outside with Ward. Green is aggressive and feisty. That may draw some penalty flags for pass interference amid acceptable growing pains.
7. ODOM’S VALUE
Re-signing George Odum benefits the 49ers not only on special teams in his area of expertise but also at safety, where he’s lined up on the first unit with Ji’Ayir Brown. With Talanoa Hufanga rehabilitating from ACL surgery and Tashaun Gipson a free agent, Odum has really been an active, aggressive leader on defense.
The aforementioned kickoff rule change will impact Odum, who has been so proficient in coverage. “He was so skilled at speed, No. 1, and then weaving down the field to put them in a position as (the return) is developing,” Schneider said.
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8. RIGHT GUARD BATTLE
Possibly the biggest competition is at right guard, where Spencer Burford was last seen replacing Jon Feliciano in the Super Bowl and surrendering a critical pressure to Chris Jones on Purdy’s final incomplete pass. Challenging Feliciano and Burford is rookie Dominick Puni, a third-round pick who comes with size, range and length but needs to adapt fast to the run scheme.
“We’re just looking for that consistency,” offensive line coach Chris Foerster said. “Maybe it comes from Spencer this year. Obviously, he’s the most talented of the players. I think he’s as talented or more than Puni. Puni will push that from that. And Jon’s just a guy that is a veteran, good player that knows how to get it done.”
9. CENTER CONUNDRUM
Jake Brendel, the starting center the last two seasons, is rehabilitating a knee issue this spring, and the 49ers are scouring for a capable backup. Once the pads come on and contact is allowed at camp, evaluations ramp up for candidates including Feliciano, Ben Bartch, Nick Zakelj and undrafted rookie Drake Nugent, whose father, Terry, played at Colorado State with Foerster.
“He is the more undersized, quick guy that plays with a lot of leverage,” Foerster said of Drake Nugent. “… Really good kid. And, and personally because knowing the dad, knowing the family, I felt really good about the character of the kid as well.”
10. EXTRA GAME CHECK?
A trending storyline throughout the NFL is whether the regular season will expand to 18 games. Defensive end Leonard Floyd didn’t join the chorus of players opposing that additional game. “That’s another check, right? More games, more checks,” Floyd said.
