49ers mailbag: How was Jimmy Garoppolo in training camp? Who will start Week 1?

Training camp is over and Week 1 is just less than two weeks away.

So what better time for another 49ers mailbag? Let’s get to it!

Alycia asks: Hey Chris. Can you summarize jimmy g’s camp performance? Does he look improved and if so in what way(s)?

I think Garoppolo does look a little bit better. He has a better understanding of the complexities of the offense and he’s been more decisive, which has been pointed out by coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

And ditching the brace on his surgically repaired left knee is no small thing. Garoppolo said before last season he might have to wear the brace for the rest of his career. The fact it’s gone indicates, to me, Garoppolo is in a far better place physically than this time last year. He told me once he had “re-learn how to run” during the 2019 offseason. That wasn’t the case this year.

However, training camp can sometimes be smoke and mirrors. The circumstances are entirely different than games and there isn’t always a correlation to how well a quarterback practices to how well he plays.

Shanahan said as much Monday.

“We’ve had some of the best Friday practices ever followed by the worst Sunday game imaginable. Then we’ve been horrible on Friday, where I don’t even think we can line up on Sunday, and then we throw for 400 yards on offense,” he said.

He also pointed out players can get used to going against the same defensive looks over and over again throughout the summer.

“We’ve had enough of that,” Shanahan said. “We’re ready for that to end. So, the quicker we can go against some other people, we’ll see how it’s panned off.”

There’s also context to consider. Garoppolo went through the majority of camp without his top two receivers, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle for a spell. He’s worked with three different centers — Ben Garland, Daniel Brunskill and Hroniss Grasu — and there have been issues with snaps throughout camp.

Box Kev asks: Taking injuries into account, COVID list and training camp, who are the Week 1 starters on offense and defense?

Here are my best guesses.

On offense: Garoppolo, Kittle, FB Kyle Juszczyk, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Brandon Aiyuk, LT Trent Williams, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Ben Garland, RG Daniel Brunskill and RT Mike McGlinchey.

I’m under the assumption Deebo Samuel will be held out of Week 1, though that could change. We’ll see if he hits the practice field next week for the first time since breaking his foot. At center, I’m only guessing Garland will be available after spraining his ankle in August. Same with Aiyuk and his hamstring injury. And congratulations to Mostert, who will be making his first career start (I think).

On defense: DE Nick Bosa, DT D.J. Jones, DT Javon Kinlaw, DE Arik Armstead, LB Fred Warner, LB Kwon Alexander, LB Dre Greenlaw, CB Richard Sherman, CB Emmanuel Moseley, SS Jaquiski Tartt and FS Jimmie Ward.

That’s if the 49ers start in their base personnel. If they open in nickel against Arizona, which is certainly a possibility, I’d sub in Dee Ford for Javon Kinlaw and K’Waun Williams for Dre Greenlaw.

Suffice to say, I don’t expect the leg ailments Bosa and Ford are dealing with to keep them out of Week 1. And this is also hoping Warner is okay and healthy after getting placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week. The earliest he could return is Thursday, if he passes three straight coronavirus tests.

High Voltage asks: Has Kinlaw been as underwhelming as reported or is it being overblown?

He’s certainly been underwhelming as a pass rusher. Tomlinson hasn’t had much of a problem holding up against him in one-on-ones and Kinlaw hasn’t made many splashy plays in full-team drills. I think he’s the rookie hurt by the lost offseason more than anyone (which makes Aiyuk’s quick ascension even more impressive).

I’m expecting Kinlaw to be a rotational player at the jump, at least until he gets his feet underneath him. He’s a load for offensive linemen in the running game. Once he gets his pad level down and hones his hand placement to get better leverage, he could be a really good player. He’s just not there yet.

I think it’s too early to sound the alarm bells yet. I’m expecting Kinlaw to play a lot this season. I just don’t expect him to be able to replace DeForest Buckner on his own. I think that will be a group effort for him, Solomon Thomas, D.J. Jones and Kentavius Street. The last three have all played well during training camp.

Phani asks: Hey Chris any chance JaMichael Hasty makes the roster and Tevin Coleman does not?

I had Hasty making the cut in my one and only 53-man roster projection of the summer. But it was over Jeff Wilson Jr., not Coleman.

I think Coleman is still the most trusted running back in the group by the coaching staff. He might not be as explosive as Mostert or Jerick McKinnon, but he can do a little bit of everything, including pick up blitzes and handle short yardage better than those guys.

Hasty is intriguing to me because he looked better than expected as a pass catcher out of the back field. Wilson, of course, made a few notable catches last season, but he’s not quite as dynamic in space as Hasty, in my opinion. But I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the halfback group was Mostert, Coleman, McKinnon and Wilson with Hasty going to the practice squad.

For the Niners asks: How has Tim Harris been? Cannot find much on him anywhere.

There’s good reason for that. Harris worked primarily with the backups throughout camp while Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jason Verrett split time with the starters opposite Richard Sherman.

I didn’t have Harris making the 53-man roster because the 49ers seem likely to keep five cornerbacks (Sherman, K’Waun Williams, Moseley, Witherspoon and Verrett), leaving Harris with a strong chance at further developing on the practice squad.

Physically, Harris looks like he belongs. He moves well and is a bigger body at the position. It just looks like he needs more seasoning and the 49ers are taking a shot with the former first-round pick in Verrett, who appears healthy, for now.

Mike asks: What undrafted player do you see making an impact this year?

I mentioned Hasty above. I think he’ll either make the team or be the first guy promoted from the practice squad if (when?) a running back suffers an injury.

But another guy that’s been impressive is nose tackle Darrion Daniels. He’s been tough to block for 49ers offensive linemen, though that might not be saying a whole given San Francisco’s reserves on the O-line haven’t looked great.

I think Daniels is in the same boat as Hasty in that he could get promoted to the active roster, assuming he lands on the practice squad, if an interior guy gets hurt.

Also, don’t sleep on safety Jared Mayden. He had four interceptions at Alabama last year and has made a few in camp this year. He can play both safety spots, which might come in handy given Ward and Tartt’s lengthy injury histories.