49ers vs. Chiefs: Game preview with Niners Noise
By Matt Conner
Who are some exciting young players we should be watching from San Fran’s side that we might not know about heading into Friday’s game?
Aside from the obvious, rookies Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster, two players really standing out at training camp have been undrafted safety Lorenzo Jerome and wide receiver Trent Taylor. Jerome could see some time with the first-team unit and has been something of a turnover-generating machine in place of veteran free safety Jimmie Ward, who is out with a hamstring injury. Jerome is in a fight to make the 53-man roster, but it’s looking like he’ll do it. A strong performance this preseason should go a long way.
As for Taylor, he’s shown a knack for catching almost everything thrown his way. I’ve seen comparisons for Taylor with Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, and while it’s a long shot for Taylor to push out incumbent slot receiver Jeremy Kerley, it’s likely Taylor winds up being the guy to take over this position sooner rather than later.
The offseason drama around K.C. has a lot of media members down on their chances in 2017. Does it feel that way from your perspective as well?
I think the Chiefs are in a unique situation where they’re in win-now mode but also have the unfortunate task of playing in one of the toughest divisions in football right now. I’m curious about how well the defense will hold up to last year’s standards, but the obvious focus is going to be on quarterback Alex Smith and the offense. Smith has some tremendous weapons in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, but I’m curious to see how Smith responds to the pressure knowing he’s essentially keeping the seat warm for Patrick Mahomes. While it’s win-now time in Kansas City, it’s especially true for Smith.
What is Kyle Shanahan’s most important objective for Friday’s game?
Reps. Reps for the offense, and reps for the defense, with a bit more focus on the offense. Sounds redundant, but that’s the point. San Francisco has two new schemes in place, and Shanahan’s offense is one of the most complex in the NFL. When a good chunk of the roster has been turned over, it’s crucial new players have a chance to practice what they’ve learned in practice in actual game-time situations. The defense has a slightly easier task, as coordinator Robert Saleh’s scheme is simple. Yet there are a lot of new players vying for time here as well. Getting them all experience against someone else other than the practice units will be vital.