Kyle Shanahan was straight-up “pissed” at his kicker, Eddy Pineiro, after the Niners’ August preseason finale. Shanahan was mad Pineiro decided to defer to the second half, and while that was months ago, those early cracks and unexpected bright spots from their final tune-up actually tell us a lot about what we’re seeing on the field now. That game didn’t even have a single touchdown scored, which is wild, but it put some key special teams players and rookies under the spotlight for evaluation.
Pineiro and Waitman Showed Up When It Counted
Pineiro might’ve started rough, kicking a touchback on the opening kick right after Shanahan laid into him, but the dude flipped a switch. After that one blunder, Pineiro nailed all six of his field goal attempts. We’re talking three kicks from 50+ yards out, including a ridiculous 59-yarder where the ball barely moved, showing he had room to spare. And honestly, that’s not what you want to see if you bleed green and blue like we do. Then there’s Corliss Waitman, who looks like he could be a sneaky good addition for them. In that August game, he had four punts with a net average of 46.5 yards, with every single one landing inside the 20. Two of those were fair caught, and the other two didn’t even gain any yards after the catch. His long was 53 yards. Anytime you can pin an opponent deep like that, making them go 80+ yards, your punter is absolutely doing his job. It’s frustrating to watch a rival’s special teams look that locked in.
Jack Jones and the Defensive Line Questions
Looking back at that August game, Jack Jones barely played, logging only six snaps. He did give up a 14-yard curl route, but then he jumped a Brock Bowers route and almost snagged an interception, which is the kind of play their cornerbacks haven’t been in position to make for years. Jones also made an open-field tackle and was a willing run defender in his limited action. He’s a different type of corner for them, and honestly, that could be a problem for opposing offenses if he keeps that up. What *was* good for us to see, though, was their defensive line. The big names like Sam Okuayinonu, Osa Odighizuwa, Nick Bosa, or Romello Height didn’t even play. Alfred Collins, their second-round pick, was out there way too long, playing late into the third quarter. Shanahan tried to spin it as “rust,” but the reality is Collins just hasn’t been effective. That defensive line depth, especially with starters out, looked shaky.
Khalil Dinkins: The George Kittle of the Practice Squad?
Here’s a name we saw pop up that’s worth keeping an eye on: Khalil Dinkins. This kid’s got some serious potential, especially as a blocker. On only his second snap, they trusted him in pass protection, where he helped right tackle Brandon Parker with a defensive lineman. On the very next play, Dinkins drove a safety a full seven yards. Later, on Jordan James’ 17-yard run, Dinkins worked to the linebacker and secured him, completely paving the way. Shanahan’s regime loves sixth-round prospects like him. Who knows if Dinkins ever becomes a big pass catcher, but his aggression is palpable, and he blocks with an intent George Kittle himself would admire. This kid’s a keeper for their practice squad, and that kind of raw blocking power from a late-round guy is never a good sign for us.
Heading into the regular season, that August finale gave us a snapshot. While we might grit our teeth watching guys like Pineiro and Waitman perform, those defensive line questions, especially around Collins, give us something to watch. Every snap, every player evaluation from those early days contributes to the overall picture for our rivals. We’ll be watching closely as their season unfolds, hoping those early issues surface when it matters most.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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