Legitimate victories can’t be counted until September. The end of the 49ers offseason program, however, offers us a chance to reveal six players who came out winners entering summer break:
1. Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback: Look, dropping his name first is one way to lure you into reading more. But this was a big offseason for Garoppolo on a couple fronts as he takes further command of the franchise. One, he really looked comfortable in a captain-type role while rallying teammates, joking with them, instructing them on the side and demanding extra work after practice. Two, he now knows the fine print of Kyle Shanahan’s playbook, and he’ll surely need training camp to further familiarize himself with it.
2. DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle: Year 3 will be a banner one. “We do think Buck is a dominant football player,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. The 49ers know they’ve got a defender ready to break out, and look for their defense to try forcing quarterbacks up in the pocket and into Buckner’s 6-foot-7 wall. He’s emerging into a leader on and off the field, although Richard Sherman’s veteran presence can take the pressure off Buckner for speaking on behalf of the defense.
3. Ahkello Witherspoon, cornerback: No one may give off more of a laid-back vibe off the field. On it, Witherspoon has ratched up his game, whether it’s making plays or strutting around like a top-notch cornerback, as you’d expect from Richard Sherman’s protégé.
4. Jerick McKinnon, running back: Oh my gosh, this guy is going to be hugely productive as a running back and receiver, the ideal tool for Shanahan’s scheme. He’s small in stature but extremely strong, from his biceps to quadriceps. He speed through the spine of the defense after catching a Garoppolo pass in the minicamp finale, and more of the same is coming. Fantasy-football players will love him.
5. Adrian Colbert, free safety: His high-intensity style and hard work have entrenched him as the free safety, and it’s an under-reported development. “I’m not going to make any guarantees, but if anyone watches the level he played at last year was very good and he got better the more he played,” Shanahan said. “We were very happy with him as our middle-third player.” As a result, Jimmie Ward has returned to cornerback.
6. Dante Pettis, wide receiver: With only top pick Mike McGlinchey (right tackle) assured a starting role, Pettis looks capable of joining the receiver rotation as a second-round selection. With Trent Taylor sidelined the past month with a back injury (bone spurs surgery), the 49ers got to see what other receivers they had, and Pettis shined most during media availability, more so than Victor Bolden and Aldrick Robinson. Kendrick Bourne impressed but let’s not yet lock him onto the roster or a Pro Bowl berth, folks.
Honorable mention:
1. Fred Warner, linebacker: This third-round pick saw a lot of reps on first- through third-string units, benefiting all offseason while the 49ers linebacker corps didn’t always have its top options available (Malcolm Smith, groin; Reuben Foster, court case; Brock Coyle, shoulder).
2. George Kittle, tight end: He looks healthy and stronger and an enticing option for Garoppolo.
3. Mike Person, guard/center: Rotated with Joshua Garnett as the first-string right guard but is the only one of them who also took snaps at center.
4. Cassius Marsh, defensive end: Fresh off a contract extension, he must prove himself more than ever after angering Patriots fans for saying players don’t have fun in New England’s system.
5. Mike McGlinchey, right tackle: He’s been a starter from Day 1 and looks like a legitimate first-round score.
6. Defensive backs: While Sherman, Jimmie Ward and safeties rehabbed injuries, several other defensive backs stepped up such as Tyvis Powell, Greg Mabin, Tarvarius Moore, D.J. Reed and undrafted rookie Terrell Williams. Actually, count Sherman among the winners, as his Achilles looks primed for his full clearance come training camp, and he picked off Kyle Shanahan in a 7-on-7 drill at minicamp Wednesday.
