SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 12: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) warms up before playing the Green Bay Packers during their NFL pre-season game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA – An offseason’s worth of anticipation finally yields to actual game-week excitement, and a plethora of mailbag questions from 49ers’ fans via my Instagram and Twitter rosters:
Who scores the first touchdown of the season for the 49ers? (@joey_pbc)
Trey Lance, one way or another. Either he runs it in off a zone-read keeper, or he throws for the first score. He did the latter a year ago, with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Trent Sherfield in the 49ers’ 41-33 win at Detroit; it was Lance’s only pass in a four-snap cameo.
Will Lance run for 100 yards against the Bears? (@angeeelxz)
Jimmy Garoppolo ran for 182 yards in 46 games – combined. Only five times have a 49ers’ quarterback breached the 100-yard mark in a single game (Colin Kaepernick four times, including twice in the playoffs; Steve Young once). But Lance’s rushing potential makes this a legitimate question. I just doubt they need to rely so much on him or unveil so much of that rushing-game aspect to beat the Bears.
Have they announced who’s starting at defensive end opposite of Bosa? Ebukam? Jackson? (@teezo_east99)
That official announcement should come at 10:02 a.m., assuming the 49ers win the coin toss, kick off to the Bears, then unleash Bosa and … I’ll expect Samson Ebukam, though Drake Jackson might get on the field first if he’s on that kickoff coverage. Regardless, the 49ers have a rotation that will come strong after Justin Fields.
Is our secondary going to be able to stop big plays this year? (@bwaters88)
Penalties – and safety Jimmie Ward’s hamstring — could dictate that. Although the 49ers allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards last season (206.5 per game), they allowed a league-high 367 yards on pass-interference penalties. They drew 23 such calls, and nine went for at least 20 yards. In new cornerback Charvarius Ward’s four years with the Chiefs, he had just eight DPI penalties – but 15 defensive holding calls, which are 5-yard infractions.
How many interceptions will the defense get against Da Bears? (@casiano9679)
Training camp and the preseason showed the 49ers much more proficient foragers. Justin Fields is coming off a rookie season with 10 interceptions (and seven touchdowns). His final pass in a Dec. 31 loss to the 49ers: a 60-yard bomb, intercepted by Josh Norman.
Do we see Jimmy take the field in a homecoming appearance? He is from Illinois. (@_andrewo.o)
Yes, yes, we know he’s from Illinois, about 20 miles away in Arlington Heights. That homecoming aspect played out in victorious fashion in his 49ers starting debut in December 2017, and again in his return visit last Halloween. The homecoming king only comes out Sunday for warmups – and as a potential injury replacement. There is no set of “Jimmy G” secret plays, although he and Lance still were wearing play-call wristbands in practice on Monday.
Will Jimmy or (Brock) Purdy be active as the No. 2 in Chicago? (@joezinsf)
Garoppolo’s surgically repaired shoulder and system knowledge have him ready as Lance’s backup, Shanahan said last week. The only way Purdy is active is if Garoppolo (or, gulp, Lance) falls ill or gets hurt in practice.
Will we be a high-passing team or still heavy on the run? (@hardcore_fitness_x)
They will be even heavier on the run than in any of Shanahan’s past five seasons, yet more explosive in the passing game thanks to Lance’s stronger arm and ability to buy time for down-field shots.
How many games will it take Shanahan to switch quarterbacks to make sure we get in the playoffs? (@fabriziottone88)
I don’t anticipate the panic button being pushed, not in the first half of the season. Peter King of NBC Sports predicts a Week 7 quarterback change. If the 49ers are 4-5 at their Nov. 6 bye, then they may as well ride it out with Lance, although Shanahan certainly could be tempted (and not pressured by veteran leaders) to insert Garoppolo to try replicating last season’s playoff push.
Is the defense as good as advertised? I feel the season will depend on two things: the offensive line holding up and the defense starting/ending strong. (@SFG_soccer)
This defense is being billed as great, not just good. There is greater depth, Nick Bosa is healthy and the secondary should not be so penalty prone. True, winning in the trenches on both offense and defense should dictate any team’s direction, but I think Lance’s mobility can mask the line’s growing pains, somewhat.
Do you expect a 60/40 ratio of 49ers/Bears fans? (@nogueyjosay)
Solider Field has the NFL’s smallest capacity (61,500), so tickets aren’t just there for the taking. That said, the 49ers Faithful has hit road games in impressive numbers the past decade. Also enticing are this weekend’s other attractions …
Giants/Cubs on Friday, Notre Dame on Saturday, Niners/Bears on Sunday. Advice? (@mattyb4949)
Hydrate. Recover. Hydrate. Recover. Hydrate. The forecast calls for a 50-percent chance of rain, so there’ll be that hydration aspect to consider, too.
Predict the score. (@theresabaylee)
I will, Thursday. HInt: Niners win.
I have your binoculars. (@alec_parker22)
Ah, this is in reference to last season’s caper: “Who Stole Cam’s Binnoculars From Chicago’s Press Box?” I’m considering hiring security for my return visit. I’d pick Javon Kinlaw to moonlight.
Originally published at Cam Inman