Eddy Pineiro absolutely buried a 51-yard field goal with two minutes left against the Las Vegas Raiders, punching in the 49ers’ game-winning 15-12 lead. And get this: it was his FIFTH make in as many attempts. As if that wasn’t enough, Pineiro also buried a ridiculous 59-yard kick earlier in the game, then tacked on a 54-yarder. That kind of leg is a serious weapon, and it’s emerging early in the season as a complete game-changer for the 49ers.
Offense: Rookie Rough Patches and Learning Moments
The rest of the game wasn’t quite as smooth, especially for the offense. Mac Jones quarterbacked the first two drives, but didn’t complete a pass on the first one, thanks to some miscommunication with rookie running back Kaelon Black. Black’s gonna have to learn to read coverages on option routes quickly. Jones took an aggressive shot downfield to Jordan Watkins, but Watkins didn’t pick up the ball in time. Watkins also braced for a hit on his initial kickoff return, which is definitely not a trait the coaching staff wants to see. Black did show some flashes, though, benefiting from good blocking on a 14-yard run later.
Jordan James took over for Black in the second quarter and had his own learning moment, trying to cut against the grain on a 3rd & 1 run instead of just staying on path for the first down. He’s not flashy, but James broke a 17-yard run and took a screen pass 20 yards, showing he’s the type of back who can bounce off tackles and fall forward. That’s what you want in a backup, but he’ll need to learn to maximize those short-yardage situations. Undrafted free agent tight end Khalil Dinkins, listed at 6’4″, 226 pounds, showed intensity blocking in limited action, even if he might be about 15 pounds too light. He’s worth keeping around on the practice squad.
Defense: Tackling Troubles and Interceptions
Defensively, it was a mixed bag. Jack Jones started with a nice open-field tackle and almost had an interception after jumping a slant route, showing off that gambling mentality that makes him fun to watch. But rookie Jaden Dugger had a brutal miss on a tackle attempt in the open field. He had an active night with 10 tackles, but only five were solo, and he nearly had a sack. Still, he’s gotta clean up the tackling.
The second defensive drive was just plain sloppy. CJ West, Ashtyn Davis, and Eli Apple all missed multiple tackles. Darrell Luter Jr. did avoid a block to make an impressive tackle on a screen, and Siran Neal broke up a pass to end that drive. Unfortunately, rookie cornerback Ephesians Prysock left that same drive with a shoulder injury. But hey, Tatum Bethune stepped up big time, intercepting number one overall pick Fernandzo Mendoza.
The 49ers have some serious work ahead, especially with those tackling issues and a lot of rookies finding their footing. But with a kicker like Eddy Pineiro suddenly a legitimate long-range threat, this team has a secret weapon that could win them some nail-biters. They’ve gotta tighten things up across the board, and the next few games will be crucial to see if they can build on these emerging early trends.
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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