Evaluating The Roster: Quarter 1
Stock up and stock down for key players, statistics to back them up, and moves that the 49ers can make at the EDGE.
San Francisco 49ers/YouTube
With a quarter of the season already over, we now are starting to get a general outlook on each player and their respective play. While the 49ers are just a disappointing 2-2, they have been bitten badly with the injury bug. Sunday vs. the Dolphins will mark the 1st day of a fully healthy offense with the exception of Weston Richburg, who continues to rehab his injury from last season.
With that being said: while there is plenty of time for guys to turn it around or lose momentum, we can now begin to look at how each player has done so far, and their corresponding “stock”.
Stock Up:
George Kittle
Is it possible that… he may have gotten better? It certainly seems so. Kittle is just 26 years old and unquestionably the best all-around TE in the game. He is on his way to Canton, and yet he is still improving. Kittle, despite only playing in just one and a half games this season is one of the leaders in contested catches this season. That was the area to improve on for him - can he become that vertical threat, the goal-line “go up and get it” target? So far? He has done exactly that, and in lesser games than others.
Javon Kinlaw
I’ll admit - I had some skepticism about Kinlaw. The camp reports were not good at all for the rookie out of South Carolina, and his tape in college showed a raw, physical specimen with not much technique. But he has dispelled those concerns in his career so far: Kinlaw has been one of our best players on defense - and while it is unreasonable to expect him to be a Buckner or Bosa type contributor in year 1 - his instant contribution while being thrust into a starting role has been admirable. Kinlaw has been shocking with his sudden improvement in technique, and how he constantly is adding more to his game.
Brandon Aiyuk
John Lynch won executive of the year last season. But his draft class this season might just be better. Two hits in the 1st round is hard to do, two hits at two of the hardest positions to evaluate is even harder. But Aiyuk has been nothing short of electrifying in his rookie season - from breaking every other tackle to hurdling defenders with no touch, Aiyuk has been arguably the best 49ers WR on the team. Even with Deebo Samuel making his return to the lineup: Aiyuk is more of a pure WR than Deebo. Aiyuk’s route running, speed, hands, and explosiveness are just on another level - while Deebo is more experienced, Aiyuk has the ability to be a top 10, top 5 WR in the league. The 49ers need to recognize just how explosive Aiyuk is, and feed him like they do with Samuel.
Jason Verrett
The injury-prone corner had again got injured early this season - and many 49ers fans had already written him off as any sort of contributor. He was supposed to just be a depth piece. But Robert Saleh and the rest of the 49ers coaching staff continued to believe in Verrett - and eventually, an opportunity presented itself. With Sherman, Moseley, and Witherspoon all injured over the past couple games, Verrett was thrusted into the spotlight as the #1 CB - and delivered. Showcasing the quick twitch, speed, and shadowing ability that made him a premier corner almost 5 years ago, Verrett being healthy has been a massive boon to a team that has started Dontae Johnson opposite of him. Verrett may have a small sample size, but when all of our corners are healthy, there is a chance that he retains his spot next to Richard Sherman. The 49ers made it clear that they preferred him over the other corners during camp. He’s proven it, over the inconsistent Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley. While he is nowhere near his peak of play, Verrett is fast improving and will be an incredible addition to this already talented defense if he stays healthy.
Stock Down:
Mike McGlinchey
The 3rd year offensive tackle has been disappointing to say the least. While he is an elite run blocker, maybe a top 5 run blocking OT in the league - you cannot ignore that McGlinchey has regressed in the pass blocking department. While Shanahan’s offense asks a lot of the OTs, and it’s hard to quantify an OL’s performance, there is no question that McGlinchey has consistently gotten worse at pass blocking from his rookie season. Why is he regressing? Nobody knows. McGlinchey seems to have lowered on his weight, which can affect his strength, but he is getting beat on the EDGEs and by speed as well. The eye-test, the advanced stats, it all lines up - and while in no measure is McGlinchey a liability, he is beginning to approach that territory. McGlinchey’s play as a pass protector along with Daniel Brunskill also being equally terrible is a main factor in this stat: The 49ers have allowed the most QB hits in the league.
Trent Taylor
Taylor has been nothing short of non-existent in his time on the field. Despite getting a high snap count, Taylor has been outplayed by nearly every WR - with just 37 yards on the season. His punt returning is also bad, as his speed has been sapped by multiple injuries. Taylor, who was a camp star, just seems to have lost his quickness and ability to separate - which is the only thing he had. Jimmy Garoppolo rarely looks for him, and with Aiyuk and Samuel handling the lion’s share of targets, there is not much left for Taylor. Add Kendrick Bourne into the equation, and it makes sense that Taylor has not been a contributor. It’s a sad sight, but Taylor has lost what he had. People like to say: “But he is better than Dante Pettis?!” - Pettis has not got almost any snaps since Week 1. Trent Taylor got 37 snaps on Sunday and had zero catches. He is performing at a similar level, if for different reasons.
Dee Ford
Ford might be the biggest disappointment of this season - and not because of his play. It’s because he did not play. With Nick Bosa out for the season (and Solomon Thomas), the 49ers looked to Dee Ford to help anchor the pass rush and bring what he brought last season. Instead, the 29 year old looked slow, out of shape, and weak in his only game that he played vs. the weak Cardinals OL + before being diagnosed with a back injury. He is now out indefinitely, with zero timetable or updates in over a week. With his massive contract, the 49ers cannot just get rid of him. But at 29 years old, the chances of Ford ever recovering to what he previously was are next to none. He has already exited his athletic prime. And even when “healthy”, since his initial injury last season, Ford has looked like a completely different, worse player.
Jimmie Ward
While Ward was outstanding last season as the starting FS on the best passing defense in the league, that does not seem to be the case this season. Ward has allowed a 76.5% completion percentage for 122 yards in just 4 games with only 1 pass defended to show for it. While this could be dismissed as an anomaly and not accurate due to his role, in comparison, Ward last season surrendered just 172 yards total through the entire season, while surrendering a 58.1% completion. Additionally, while Ward has been known to be an elite tackler, and a sure one at that - Ward has a missed tackle percentage of 9.1% this season, a massive jump from last year’s 4.4%. Aside from the stats, Ward also has a PFF Grade of just 39.1, one of the worst in the league - and while that might seem overly much, especially since PFF is a contextual stat - Ward had an 84.1 grade last season. Ward has allowed 13 receptions already this season (tied for most in the league) in just 4 games, vs. 13 in the entire 2019 season. The eye-test matches the stats: Ward seems to have either lost a step or is a step slow in processing. Costly penalties, missed tackles, and more have plagued Ward in the first 4 games. But there is plenty of time, and a small sample size at the moment. Either way, his stock is down.
With these weaknesses and strengths in mind, what are some moves the 49ers can make?
Terrell Suggs
Suggs despite being old is still a very good player and a situational pass rusher. Notching 6.5 sacks and a whopping 4 forced fumbles in just 13 games, Suggs played outstanding. He also produced elsewhere, with 40 tackles, 9 TFLs, 9 QB Hits, and 17 pressures - he can still play, and at a high level. You won’t find a better veteran player than Suggs on the market right now… with the exception of a few.
Clay Matthews
The long-time Packers pass rusher has bounced around since then, and is currently a free agent. With that being said, Matthews can still play as an elite situational pass rusher - he notched 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 37 tackles in the same 13 game sample size as Suggs. 11 QB hits, 9 TFLs, and 28 pressures, Matthews was great, although he benefited from Aaron Donald lining up in the middle of that Rams DL. Matthews also brings added versatility as a guy who can line up at MLB if need be - which the 49ers could use, considering that Mark Nzeocha is out long term.
Tim Williams
While Cameron Wake also qualifies, maybe the 49ers want to get younger - and Williams fits the bill. While he could not quite stick with the Ravens, Williams is a talented, speedy EDGE rusher from Alabama - with an elite first step and get off. It would be a bet, but Williams could pay massive dividends in the future.
Leave a like and comment to support us if you like the article and our content, or if you have criticism, or simply for discussion. Check out our best content, including Part 1 and Part 2 of an in-depth look into Jimmy Garoppolo, where we look at what his issues were last season, and a in-depth look into the Kittle vs. Kelce argument.
If you want to submit your own fanposts, email us! Check our about page for details! Spread the word about For The Niners if you like our content and mission here!
If you want daily email updates with our best articles, click the button below to subscribe to our daily newsletter.
Under the Stock Up category we could pencil in Kerry Hyder. He has done quite well and kept the pass rush alive
Tim Williams has joined the Packers; he is no longer available