SANTA CLARA — Section 138, Row 10, Seat 1.
That’s where I sat Friday for the 49ers’ first and only training-camp practice at Levi’s Stadium — a 50-yard line view that nobody will have this season unless Santa Clara County and the team lift the ban on fans.
It wasn’t so much what I saw from this seat. It was more about what I heard, and it was a lot: Coach Kyle Shanahan’s vocal dismay with the sloppiness of his first-string offense; quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s before-snap signals; assistant coaches’ loud reminders to their charges on the field; and defenders’ playful taunts how they’d be stout “All Day!”
Shanahan, it’s worth noting, said his frustration was run-of-the-mill stuff the players are accustomed to hearing. “The way I focus is I get irritated at everything. I’m mad whenever a play doesn’t work,” Shanahan said.
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OK, but, with no noise filter on the field, won’t the opposition be able to hear everything that is said? The Arizona Cardinals are her in two weeks for the season opener.
“Not too much of a concern,” Shanahan said. “I’m more concerned about saying the wrong type of word and having it be on TV more than coaches hearing us on the other side. It’s awkward to play football in a silent place.
“I don’t think it will be a big advantage or disadvantage. It’s guys getting used to it. Even since high school, when the crowd is small, there’s still noise. We’ll see how it goes.”
Garoppolo agreed, saying: “It was definitely different. … Having you guys, reporters, there is probably the most fans will have at home this year. It’s something you have to get used to.”
Here are the highs and lows from Friday’s session under sunny and smoky skies, with a 75-degree temperature that — no surprise — seemed hotter from those Levi’s Stadium seats:
FIRST-STRING WOES
After a “fluid” first drive, Shanahan generously described the first-string offense’s ensuing series as “inconsistent,” so much so that he at one point ordered the unit off the field. Worth noting, they did not have tight end George Kittle (hamstring), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (hamstring), center Ben Garland (ankle) nor wide receivers Deebo Samuel (foot) or Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring).
Garoppolo had no passes intercepted — a positive after Wednesday’s three-interception, red-zone sequence — but was off the mark too often and had glaring overthrows. He was 15-of-27, highlighted by a 20-yard completion over the middle to Dante Pettis. Garoppolo ended on a high note with a fourth-and-5, touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Reed in a two-minute drill.
On back-to-back snaps, the 49ers yielded a would-be sack to Arik Armstead, then center Daniel Brunskill snapped the ball over Garoppolo’s head and into the end zone for a would-be safety. Brunskill’s snaps went low and high on the first series, which ended with a 19-yard touchdown run by Raheem Mostert.
“We had our flashes but overall we have to be more consistent,” said Garoppolo, wearing a personalized mask (“Feels great, baby” that is being sold by CityTeam for COVID-19 relief and Bay Area families fighting poverty.
KITTLE TEST RESULTS
Kittle’s hamstring issue is not severe, having been pulled out of Wednesday’s practice with tightness. “He’s good with all the testing,” Shanahan said. “Nothing pulled or strained. Just tightness. The way George moves and goes, there’s only one way he goes. So when he’s tight, we’ll protect him from himself.”
Kittle watched Friday’s practice from the sideline with other injured players.
SOLOMON THOMAS AND DEPTH
Shanahan feels good about his defensive line’s depth, and that’s a positive when on the sidelines were a sunglass-wearing Nick Bosa (leg strain) and fellow defensive end Dee Ford (calf).
Solomon Thomas had perhaps his best practice in what’s been a comeback camp with a noticeably bulkier, 282-pound frame. Shanahan confirmed that Thomas will be an exclusive, interior lineman unless others’ injuries prompt them to move him outside
“He had a heck of an offseason putting on weight, and it’s showed in run and passing game,” Shanahan said. “I’m real happy for him because he’s earned it and deserved it.”
Also faring well on that line were Kerry Hyder, Kevin Givens, Kentavius Street and undrafted rookie Darrion Daniels.
Such prowess among the reserves means the 49ers won’t have to rush back Ronald Blair, who is coming off knee reconstruction and remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Shanahan said he is hoping Blair could be cleared for the season opener and that more will be learned in the next week.
TEVIN COLEMAN’S TOUGH CALL
Last time the 49ers were on their home field, running back Tevin Coleman separated his shoulder in the playoff win over the Packers. He now looks fully recovered from surgery on that shoulder, and his mind is at ease after a tough call to leave his family out of state as a precaution amid COVID-19.
“I’m here alone. My family is back home,” Coleman said. “My wife is taking care of (their kids), getting them right and that sits really well with me that I have an amazing woman that can take care of my kids when I’m not there. It makes me comfortable being here playing football. But it was definitely a tough decision for me.”
JORDAN REED’S PROGRESS
Limited to individual conditioning the first eight practices, Reed has come on strong, though Shanahan slowplayed praise for him after a five-reception practice in which Reed took his most reps. “He made some good plays, the obvious ones you saw, and he missed a couple, also,” Shanahan said.
“Jordan had a great day today. he can do things in space and make guys miss,” Garoppolo said.
DANTE PETTIS’ MUFFS RETURN
Dante Pettis’ bobbled his bid to reclaim the punt returner role he briefly held as a 2018 rookie. Specifically, Pettis muffed a return at the 15-yard line on Mitch Wishnowsky’s first punt Friday. Pettis made a fair catch on his next opportunity, and rather than give 2017-18 returner Trent Taylor the next chance, Pettis was summoned back on the field and tracked a punt well to make the catch at the 5-yard line.
RATING GAROPPOLO’S BACKUPS
Nick Mullens (6-of-9, one interception) was first in line to relieve Garoppolo, and C.J. Beathard (8-of-11, one touchdown) got in more throws.
“Both are tied at 2,” Shanahan said of how they rank on the depth chart. “Both have done good and I feel fortunate with our quarterbacks. They’ve been thrown in tough situations first two years and did some good things and bad things. That’s so valuable for QBs to get that. For them not to fold and come back, they get better each day. I’ve been very impressed by both of them and they’re further along than last year.”
VERRETT FINISH
Cornerback Jason Verrett broke up a pair of Beathard passes over the final three snaps, showing the athleticism and aggressive nature the 49ers have expected from him. He’s shown enough to win a roster spot but Emmanuel Moseley remains the projected starter opposite Richard Sherman, with Ahkello Witherspoon and Jamar Taylor other likely reserves. Tim Harris, another candidate, gave up a touchdown to an uncovered Tavon Austin without safety help,
