The San Francisco 49ers have leaned hard on their rookie class this season, and for the most part, these first-year players have delivered. Sure, there are always some growing pains with rookies, that’s just how it goes, but this draft class is showing some real potential, with a few looking like long-term starters already after five weeks of action.
The Waiting Game and the Designated Rusher
We’re still a while out from seeing wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling on the field, maybe another month and a half at the earliest. It’s a bummer, because everyone who saw him in preseason knows the kind of impact he could make. It’s not a total loss, though. He’ll get that final month of the season to find his rhythm in the offense, and the hope is he’s a regular contributor by the time the playoffs roll around. That’s a lot of pressure for a rookie coming off injury.
Then there’s Romello Height, who was drafted to be that designated pass rusher. So far, he’s spent 62% of his snaps doing just that, mostly staying on the edge, with 88% of his snaps coming from there. He’s only got three solo tackles on the year and a modest 7.2% pressure rate. He’s basically a designated looper, with over half, 52%, of his pass rushes being stunts. But here’s the kicker: he’s winning at a high clip, 13.3%. That’s a seriously good sign, suggesting the production is bound to catch up. Raheem Morris has got this kid on the move, and it’s paying off.
Backfield Struggles and a Defensive Surprise
Now, Kaelon Black, the rookie running back, has had a rough start. After looking like he’d be a major part of the offense in Week 1, his snaps have dropped off a cliff, playing only about 11% of the time. His explosive play rate is a measly 2.6%, and he’s got a negative 0.10 EPA per touch with just one impact play. He was touted as a great pass-blocker in the draft, but he’s barely used in that role, only 1.3% of the time. Kyle Shanahan isn’t giving away any secrets when Black is in the game either, splitting his usage almost evenly between runs (47%) and pass routes (41%). His yards per carry are 2.6 in the red zone, jumping to 3.9 outside of it. He’s bouncing off tackles and falling forward, getting yards after contact, which is good. But he’s also getting stuffed behind the line, not forcing missed tackles, and he struggles with bouncing runs that should stay inside or stopping his feet in the backfield. In those one-on-one situations, he’s indecisive when he needs to be aggressive. That’s a tough look for a rookie back.
But hey, there’s Gracen Halton on the defensive line, and he just snagged his first sack of the season. He’s sitting at 26th among all defensive tackles in the NFL for impact plays, with 13 total. What’s wild is he’s got just one less impact play than Osa Odighizuwa, despite playing 91 fewer snaps. He also has as many tackles for loss as DeForest Buckner and Zach Allen. His awareness is off the charts, too. Honestly, he’s a much better run defender than anyone expected, and he’s the kind of player who causes problems.
For the 49ers, the hope is Stribling gets healthy fast and Romello Height’s win rate turns into real sack numbers. Kaelon Black needs to find his aggression, and if Halton keeps up this run-stuffing clinic, that defense is going to be even tougher than anticipated. They’re certainly looking for those rookies to keep showing up in the big moments.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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