An inside scoop on the Niners-Raiders preseason game.
The Good, the Bad, the Missing
S.F. 49ERS
The Good
No turnovers: The Niners had plenty of problems last year, but turning the ball over was never one of them. Early indications hint at a repeat of that. With so many starters injured and so many new faces for the first preseason game, a fumble here or an interception there would’ve been understandable. It never happened.
Tight ends: After missing all of last season, Eric Johnson looked like he hadn’t missed a beat – hauling in a pair of passes for 47 yards. Anonymous Gabe Crecion, battling for a spot on the depth chart, also impressed while compiling 76 yards on three catches, including a 21-yard touchdown grab.
Cody Pickett: When the game turned into a shootout, the former University of Washington quarterback kept his team in it (5-of-7 passing, 89 yards and a near-perfect 153.3 passer rating).
The Bad
Ken Dorsey: His performance wasn’t horrible, especially considering he hadn’t played in a game in nearly a year. But his stat line (8-of-12, 94 yards) included both high passes and horribly wobbly ones, including one that somehow resulted in 31 yards. Tim Rattay returns to practice this week.
Closing the deal: The Niners were in Oakland territory for most of the game, but settled for just offensive touchdowns. “We didn’t finish them off,” head coach Dennis Erickson said. “We have to get points instead of field goals.”
Secondary and pass rush: Oh, where art thou, Julian Peterson?
The Missing
Rattay (right arm/groin), CB Ahmed Plummer (groin) and WR Rashaun Woods (hamstring) all missed the game, but are expected back to practice soon … The news isn’t so good for All-Pro fullback Fred Beasley, who suffered a high ankle sprain on the first drive and is questionable for the regular season opener against Atlanta … Center Jeremy Newberry (knee) isn’t expected to see action until that Sept. 12 opener, either … Safety Dwaine Carpenter (sprained MCL) hopes to be back by the end of the preseason … Peterson (holdout) hopes to get a pay raise by the end of the preseason.
Oakland Raiders
The Good
RB Tyrone Wheatley: Oakland has numerous campers looking to replace Charlie Garner, but Wheatley looks like he’s dividing himself from the pack. He averaged nearly seven yards a carry and when he plowed over Niner safety Tony Parrish, he certainly looked fit for Norv Turner’s “power running game.”
WR Carlos Francis: Maybe the Raiders knew something when they let Tim Brown go. The rookie from Texas Tech impressed with a 36-yard touchdown catch and an 87-yard kickoff return. “He’s really emerged,” Turner said.
QB Marques Tuiasosopo: Meanwhile, the guy with the confusing last name is apparently trying to stake his claim as the best third-string quarterback in the NFL. He looked sharp while completing 10-of-16 passes for 191 yards.
The Bad
All those flags: Now this was just downright absurd. The Raiders committed 21 penalties, which cost them 215 yards. If this had been the regular season, both would’ve been franchise records. They even got an unsportsmanlike conduct after TE Teyo Johnson decided to do a few push-ups on the field after a long pass play.
Special teams’ flashback: New coach Joe Avazzano will have the coverage units corrected before long, but there wasn’t much noticeable improvement against the Niners. After Arnaz Battle was nearly down, he somehow returned a punt 61 yards for a TD. Attempts to tackle him were atrocious.
The Missing
RB Amos Zereoue left the game with a leg contusion. His status is uncertain … Guards Ron Stone (hamstring) and Mo Collins (knee) are expected back at practice this week … MLB Napoleon Harris (knee surgery) is still hoping to return for the regular-season opener at Pittsburgh … CB Charles Woodson (holdout) is still hoping for a bigger contract.
Brett Edgerton
