HOUSTON — Saturday night’s exhibition provided the next clues as to who might make and miss the 49ers final cuts. So, in overlooking roster locks such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Marquise Goodwin, here’s a progress report on others from the 16-13 loss against the host Houston Texans:
THREE STUDS
1. Trent Taylor: While Marquis Goodwin remains Garoppolo’s favorite, Taylor looks back in the fold as Option 1A. Catching a third-and-2 touchdown pass made for a nice exhibition-season debut from Taylor, who missed offseason program because of lower-back surgery to shave bone spurs. Garoppolo again went to Taylor, producing a 5-yard catch on third-and-4.
2. Offensive line: Before we gush praise, we must note that the Texans sat seven defensive starters, including pass-rushing demons J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus, as well as leading tackler Benardrick McKinney and cornerback Jonathan Joseph. That said, excellent blocking kept Garoppolo clean in the pocket. Joe Staley, Laken Tomlinson, Weston Richburg, Mike Person and Mike McGlinchey are meshing well as a reconfigured unit, although Person only played the first series before yielding to Joshua Garnett and, late in the third quarter, Jonathan Cooper.
It wasn’t all perfect, such as Richburg’s penalties and a still sub-par run game, the latter of which is impacted by Shanahan keeping the play calls vanilla and the top backs not yet turned loose.
3. Backup defensive tackles: If the 49ers didn’t already have nose tackle Earl Mitchell, they’d be in fine shape relying on Sheldon Day and D.J. Jones, who each forced a fumble. Day had five tackles and Jones three.
Jones, a sixth-round pick last season who was inactive the last six games, is down to 297 pounds after dropping 20 pounds through his offseason workouts in Greenville, South Carolina. “I’m faster, stronger and can breathe better,” Jones said. “I went home and focused on my body. I did the D.J. Jones Workout: I’d go to my old high school (Wren-Piedmont) and I’d run the bleachers.”
THREE DUDS
1. Joe Williams: Unproductive running the ball, he failed to snag Nick Mullen’s first pass and it resulted in a fourth-quarter interception. Williams had 18 yards on eight carries, and he remained on the sideline as undrafted rookie Jeff Wilson played the final drives. Williams’ roster chances are dimming, and that’s even with Alfred Morris yet to make his debut.
2. Pass rush: It was a far too quiet night, especially for Cassius Marsh as the starting “Leo” linebacker — and best edge rusher, by default. Marsh started in place of Solomon Thomas (concussion). Perhaps the 49ers will have to try Arik Armstead there once cleared, presumably by Week 1. Jeremiah Attochu isn’t pushing Marsh on the depth chart, Eli Harold isn’t doing much as outside linebacker threat, and the 49ers have pass-rush issues. How much do the Raiders want for Khalil Mack?
3. NFL helmet rule: For the second straight game, the 49ers had a player flagged for allegedly violating a new rule that forbids lowering helmet to initiate contact, and the rule is inciting debate league-wide.
A week after Elijah Lee got penalized, Raheem Mostert was the first flagged Saturday night, after delivering a great hit on punt coverage. It looked like he led with shoulder and not his helmet. Later in the second quarter, Attaochu got called for lowering his helmet into the Texans’ right tackle in a one-on-one blocking maneuver.
