In the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason opening against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, the majority of starters are not expected to play, so we will have to wait at least a week to see Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa in action.
On the offensive line, though, the team will make an exception because it wants to see at least part of its best five players together on Saturday. Among them is youngster Dominick Puni, who has been practicing with the first team at right guard and has grown stronger in one-on-one drills as training camp has gone on.
Among the best five 49ers players to watch on Saturday night is Puni. Let us go over everything on the list.
LB Dee Winters
The second-year linebacker, who started out as a safety in high school before becoming a superb blitzing ‘backer at TCU, has emerged over the past few months as a promising player in the NFL against the run, particularly on plays that extend the perimeter.
Star linebacker Fred Warner claimed in June that Winters may have had the best OTA session of any 49ers player.
“He came in great shape this OTA, so he set himself up to have a great training camp,” Warner said.
That has in fact come to pass. In one-on-one coverage drills last week, Winters defeated Christian McCaffrey to knock the ball away, which is no minor feat—though he may have been a little grabby on the rep. Working mainly with the second team, he has established a noticeable presence on the second level. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles’s recent injury has allowed for some first-team reps, and Winters has not looked out of place in those situations either.
However, during practice the 49ers do not tackle to the ground. The game on Saturday is our first chance to do that in months, and it can help us determine how far forward Winters is as a player.
Rookie linebackers are under intense scrutiny during preseason games and must prove their tackling skills. However, running backs are also examined in their first genuine opportunity to break tackles.
Schrader was hard to stop jogging while he was a college student in Missouri. Schrader was not a particularly good back, but he still won the SEC running title in 2023. Some of the former 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. may have been inspired by his relentless and vicious running style.
Can Schrader achieve something more than just a physical feat? His position coach, Bobby Turner, is eager to learn the knowledge that comes from playing a real game.
“That’s huge,” Turner said on Monday. “Even though we’re practicing fast, putting the pads back on and breaking tackles for a running back, that’s a must. That’s going to be huge, not just for Cody but for all our running backs.”
The second-year edge rusher, who joined the NFL weighing 247 pounds and recorded a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds, has gained weight to weigh about 260 pounds in order to successfully stop the run. The 49ers believe he still possesses enough burst to pose a nuisance to opposing offensive lines in ball rush situations.
There is a chance to win the penultimate slot in the team’s in-game rotation, which is the fourth and last defensive end berth on the roster. Beal is competing for the job. He oversaw a productive workout on Thursday with two possible sacks.
Beyond that, Beal’s size and quickness might be a plus on special teams, particularly on the new kickoff play that seems like a good fit for a player of his size. Beal is a player to keep an eye on in two distinct game phases.
Robert Beal Jr. has a chance to earn the No. 4 edge rusher role — and have a prominent presence on special teams. (Sergio Estrada / USA Today)
The rookie cornerback from Florida State has not back down from a challenge during his first NFL training camp. Early on, he faced off against strong wide receiver Jauan Jennings multiple times and even won one of their red zone confrontations. Recently, Green has collected pass breakups while covering two receivers: Ronnie Bell and Danny Gray.
Since Isaac Yiadom, the seasoned cornerback, missed a few practices this week, Green has even played with the starting squad. On Thursday, he pretended to be Deommodore Lenoir, who was off on a veteran’s day. In nickel situations, Green moved to slot cornerback and played outside in foundation formations. Playing inside first and then receiving reps as an outside cornerback, Green showed the versatility that the 49ers have been attempting to establish in him since OTAs.
Lenoir and Charvarius Ward are both going into their final year of contracts. Not only do the 49ers have good depth at the corner position, but they are also looking for players who might eventually be starters. Green can make progress toward that goal this preseason.
At the beginning of training, 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster noted that Puni was a stronger pass protector than a run blocker. This is not your usual offensive lineman that coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have chosen in the past.
Puni transferred from Division II Central Missouri, which resulted in a marked boost in competition. During his two years at Kansas, Puni did not give up a sack. Another major transition from the Big-12 to the NFL is the one Puni appears to be managing masterfully once again. He defeated defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Kalia Davis in one-on-one exercises on Thursday, and he has not seemed to be outmatched in team drills either.
The play of Spencer Burford, Jon Feliciano, and Colton McKivitz helped the 49ers’ offensive line in the previous season, but they had trouble protecting passes. They have struggled in that area under Shanahan’s leadership as the team’s coach. Puni can move closer to perhaps making his 49ers debut on Saturday night in 2024. They were hoping for a change of heart when they drafted him.
(Top photo of Dee Winters: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)
