2022 Offseason thread

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Jordan Matthews tore is ACL. That might be it for his NFL journey. Hate to say it, but if we had to lose a guy at this point, I'm relieved it was him and not someone else.

JORDAN MATTHEWS
TE, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

49ers TE Jordan Matthews suffered a torn ACL at Wednesday's practice and will miss the 2022 season.

Matthews will be placed on injured reserve. Now 30 years old, the former second-rounder of the Eagles made the switch to tight end from wide receiver last year. He'd reportedly made big strides in his development, but this could be a career-ender for Matthews. He's played in a combined eight games since 2018. Simply put, guys don't miss multiple years of games on the wrong side of 30 and become impact players.
SOURCE: Cam Inman on Twitter

Aug 3, 2022, 6:39 PM ET

[Pattersonca65]

Ambry Thomas has been struggling. Lenoir is the best backup at camp according to Cohn. I know its Cohn but I don't dismiss all of his observations when he isn't trying to get people worked up

[CrimsonCrew]

Ambry Thomas has been struggling. Lenoir is the best backup at camp according to Cohn. I know its Cohn but I don't dismiss all of his observations when he isn't trying to get people worked up

The reports have read a bit like Thomas' early performances last year. After the first game, when he got pretty well destroyed, he showed pretty good instincts for coverage, and pretty awful instincts for playing the ball. I found it very reminiscent of Chris Culliver. However, as he got more seasoning, Thomas' ball skills seemed to improve.

Camp reports have tended to suggest a somewhat similar progression. The couple days, he was looking pretty rough all around. Then he started to be in good position, but not playing the ball well. And now it sounds like he's improving a bit in that area. We'll have to wait and see, but I'm optimistic that he'll continue to improve as he gets more experience throughout camp. Still hopeful we won't need him to man one of the outside spots very much this year.

[CrimsonCrew]

Shortly after posting that, I read that Thomas was demoted in favor of Tariq Castro-Fields. We'll see if that's a permanent thing. Hopefully it's as much a good sign for Castro-Fields as it is a bad sign for Thomas. As we've seen these struggles from Thomas before, it's something of a concern. That said, we also saw him make some solid improvements over the course of last season, to the point that I thought he was looking more effective than Culliver ever did in terms of playing the ball, so hopefully he's undergoing a similar development now.

[arich35]

Getting more and more afraid of a big camp injury

[Jikkle]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Some insight as to how Lance is throwing during camp. Even though Warner's focus is on last season (well preseason) he still gives a little insight in what he saw when he visited camp.

What they said is pretty much within my expectations and I've always said Lance wasn't going to fix everything this past offseason and probably won't hit a mechanical ceiling for another year or two of offseason work.

I just think the focus should be on if Lance is showing improvements and the Lance we see week 18 is better than the Lance we see week 1.

I still say overall he'll be a net positive over Jimmy this season even if it's not a huge difference. While he's not Kyler or Lamarr he's still a threat with the ball in his hands that you can't ignore and he's simply going to hit more explosive plays and he'll be capable of making defenses pay that commit too hard in stopping the run.

So I expect him to open up the running game and we saw last year they don't need him to be a superhero to win games and be successful. I feel this team can win a SB with him even if he's mostly a game manager his 1st year starting. Now if they want to contend for a Super Bowl year in and year out like other teams with top 5 QBs are he'll have to get dramatically better but for this upcoming season he just need to keep his turnovers to a minimum and hit the throws that are critical.

[wco81]

I hope I'm wrong but I'm not sure Lance will be better than peak Colin Kaepernick.

[CrimsonCrew]

I hope I'm wrong but I'm not sure Lance will be better than peak Colin Kaepernick.

Peak Colin Kaepernick was pretty darn good. That said, I think Lance has a higher ceiling. I'm not sure he will ever be the open field runner that Kaepernick was, but Kaepernick never really refined his ability to read the field. That is, at least in theory, an area where Lance should shine. Especially in a quarterback friendly system like shanahan's.

[Jikkle]

I hope I'm wrong but I'm not sure Lance will be better than peak Colin Kaepernick.

Lance's ceiling is definitely higher than Kaepernick's it's just a question of if he'll reach it or not.

Lance should be stronger in the mental side of things and I haven't really seen reports that he's making the wrong decision to go with the ball it's just not placed where it needs to be all the time.

Also I do believe Lance is capable of throwing it with touch it's just a matter of him learning to do it and it seems like he's doing better this camp in taking something off his throws.

I'd be way more concerned about Lance if he was one of those highly touted high school QBs that go to those camps for QBs and a 3 or 4 year starter in college.

But given he wasn't a highly touted high school QB and has one year starting in college he's just really raw and unpolished for your typical young QB coming into the league. But it does mean he has a lot more room to grow than your typical young QB and it's just going to be a bumpy road to start until it does hit whatever ceiling he has.

[Jikkle]

Looks like it was a brutal day for Lance and the offense in general.

Sounds like Lance started great and fell off pretty hard from there with a pretty terrible pick to Fred Warner.

Given how often Jimmy threw to LBs I'm starting to wonder if there is something with Shanahan's offense that causing QBs to just throw it blindly over the middle. I mean is it something to the effect that the play design is supposed to move the LB and the QB is just throwing it counting that on happening or what?

Nothing I'd be concerned over yet because the defense is just excellent and there simply is going to be a couple of these kinds of days for the offense. It's a problem to me if it's day in and day out they look like this and that's when you feel worried about the season.

Prior to today it seems the last couple of practices have been better for the offensive line at least so it looks like that's starting to settle down and Center to me is the only position I'm concerned about.

I'm not overly concerned that some guys lose reps in 1 on 1 pass blocking or even some in team drills because they should lose reps against this defensive line. It's arguably the best defensive line in football so if they weren't struggling or losing reps that would be a whole other issue.

That's why I'm really focused on the Vikings joint practice because I do think that'll serve as a better litmus test for the offense especially. I mean the offense is currently going up against what's shaping up to be a top 5 defense this upcoming season without game-planning with a 1st year starting QB and a defense that's practiced against this same offense for years so it'll be nice to see them go against a lesser defense that's not familiar with them and see how they perform there.

[Pattersonca65]

Ambry Thomas has been struggling. Lenoir is the best backup at camp according to Cohn. I know its Cohn but I don't dismiss all of his observations when he isn't trying to get people worked up

The reports have read a bit like Thomas' early performances last year. After the first game, when he got pretty well destroyed, he showed pretty good instincts for coverage, and pretty awful instincts for playing the ball. I found it very reminiscent of Chris Culliver. However, as he got more seasoning, Thomas' ball skills seemed to improve.

Camp reports have tended to suggest a somewhat similar progression. The couple days, he was looking pretty rough all around. Then he started to be in good position, but not playing the ball well. And now it sounds like he's improving a bit in that area. We'll have to wait and see, but I'm optimistic that he'll continue to improve as he gets more experience throughout camp. Still hopeful we won't need him to man one of the outside spots very much this year.

Hate to see him slide back.

[Pattersonca65]

Looks like it was a brutal day for Lance and the offense in general.

Sounds like Lance started great and fell off pretty hard from there with a pretty terrible pick to Fred Warner.

Given how often Jimmy threw to LBs I'm starting to wonder if there is something with Shanahan's offense that causing QBs to just throw it blindly over the middle. I mean is it something to the effect that the play design is supposed to move the LB and the QB is just throwing it counting that on happening or what?

Nothing I'd be concerned over yet because the defense is just excellent and there simply is going to be a couple of these kinds of days for the offense. It's a problem to me if it's day in and day out they look like this and that's when you feel worried about the season.

Prior to today it seems the last couple of practices have been better for the offensive line at least so it looks like that's starting to settle down and Center to me is the only position I'm concerned about.

I'm not overly concerned that some guys lose reps in 1 on 1 pass blocking or even some in team drills because they should lose reps against this defensive line. It's arguably the best defensive line in football so if they weren't struggling or losing reps that would be a whole other issue.

That's why I'm really focused on the Vikings joint practice because I do think that'll serve as a better litmus test for the offense especially. I mean the offense is currently going up against what's shaping up to be a top 5 defense this upcoming season without game-planning with a 1st year starting QB and a defense that's practiced against this same offense for years so it'll be nice to see them go against a lesser defense that's not familiar with them and see how they perform there.

I don't think it has anything to do with Shanahan. Lance was inexperienced coming to the 49ers and he is still trying to learn this offense. This is a complicated offense and Lance is going to make mistakes like this from time to time. In games he played in last year he made some throws that were really fortunate where not picked off. Just part of his growing pains. Jimmy G always made a couple of these head scratching throws a game. He either forced throws or did not account for a defender.

[Jikkle]

Watch on YouTube

Bounce back day for Lance and the offense which is what you want to see after a bad day of practice. But just like I don't read much into a bad day of practice I don't read much into a good day of practice either. With training camp you just look at thing more as a whole than just one individual practice to form conclusions.

I still maintain the litmus test for the team will be the joint practices against the Vikings. The offense will finally go against a defense that isn't a top 5 defense that knows the offense inside and out and the defense will go against a different offense they don't know inside and out.

[Scoots1994]

I think Kyle will take a protect-lance approach to play calling this year and will rely even more heavily on the run game and the defense to keep them in games and try to avoid needing/asking Lance to go win a game.

I think Lance can do it, I just don't think his consistency will be there this year.

[Pattersonca65]

I think Kyle will take a protect-lance approach to play calling this year and will rely even more heavily on the run game and the defense to keep them in games and try to avoid needing/asking Lance to go win a game.

I think Lance can do it, I just don't think his consistency will be there this year.

I don't think so much. This team wants to win the super bowl now, not two years from now. Shanahan is going to game plan according to what he thinks gives the team the best chance to win. Obviously, Lance has his own strengths and weaknesses and the offense will change some over what was done with Jimmy G but I think if Shanahan felt the need for a training wheel approach right now, Lance would not be starting.

[Scoots1994]

I think Kyle will take a protect-lance approach to play calling this year and will rely even more heavily on the run game and the defense to keep them in games and try to avoid needing/asking Lance to go win a game.

I think Lance can do it, I just don't think his consistency will be there this year.

I don't think so much. This team wants to win the super bowl now, not two years from now. Shanahan is going to game plan according to what he thinks gives the team the best chance to win. Obviously, Lance has his own strengths and weaknesses and the offense will change some over what was done with Jimmy G but I think if Shanahan felt the need for a training wheel approach right now, Lance would not be starting.

I didn't say "training wheel" ... just that if the team is getting first downs running the ball and eating clock then that reduces the possible negative impact of a QB who is still learning. I expect the run rate to go up from last year ... assuming they can succeed at a reasonable rate running the ball.

[Jikkle]

1st preseason game tonight and Lance is expected to play though I'd venture to guess it's only a series or two.

With Lance and the offense in general I don't expect them to just march it down the field and score which would be a nice bonus but what I want to see is them at least look competent.

I'd actually like it if Shanahan dials up some deep shots for Lance to take just to put it on film and to see if his connections to guys like Aiyuk and Kittle translate from practice to an actual game. If Kittle actual plays that is since I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't.

But like with most preseason games the focus will be on the backups and rookies to see how they look.

Keeping an eye on the backup DBs to especially Ambry to see if they can step up and play as odds of Ward and Mosely playing a full season aren't high considering they are both out right now with issues.

Offensive line will be worth watching to see if any of the young guys look good. Hard to gauge the offensive line from training camp reports considering how good and deep the defensive line is.

Conversely it'll be worth watching the defensive line if they are really that good or are they feasting on a bad offensive line in training camp.

[Jikkle]

Read on Twitter

Means that Jimmy G to the Browns will pick up considerable steam if it's true.

Question is if the Browns want to play the waiting game and let the 9ers release Jimmy or if they want to get him in now and make some kind of trade for him.

[wco81]

Read on Twitter

Means that Jimmy G to the Browns will pick up considerable steam if it's true.

Question is if the Browns want to play the waiting game and let the 9ers release Jimmy or if they want to get him in now and make some kind of trade for him.

If the 49ers released Jimmy, wouldn't the Browns have to wait for their turn on the waiver list?

It's not like he gets to negotiate with any and every other team in the league.

Hell Zach Wilson just got injured so maybe the Jets would put a waiver claim on him and they'd be higher on the waiver list than the Browns right?

Maybe McDaniel in Miami may want him as a backup.

Or Seahawks looking to get a starter level QB for minimal money.

[Pattersonca65]

I think Kyle will take a protect-lance approach to play calling this year and will rely even more heavily on the run game and the defense to keep them in games and try to avoid needing/asking Lance to go win a game.

I think Lance can do it, I just don't think his consistency will be there this year.

I don't think so much. This team wants to win the super bowl now, not two years from now. Shanahan is going to game plan according to what he thinks gives the team the best chance to win. Obviously, Lance has his own strengths and weaknesses and the offense will change some over what was done with Jimmy G but I think if Shanahan felt the need for a training wheel approach right now, Lance would not be starting.

I didn't say "training wheel" ... just that if the team is getting first downs running the ball and eating clock then that reduces the possible negative impact of a QB who is still learning. I expect the run rate to go up from last year ... assuming they can succeed at a reasonable rate running the ball.

The problem is teams will start stacking the box as they had done before. I think different games and in-game circumstances will cause to change strategy. Lance is going to have to adapt. There are times during the season he will need to throw more and not rely on the running game.