With three exhibition games down and just over two weeks to go until Game 1 of the regular season, two main concerns hover over the 49ers offense.
The first is the team’s starting offensive line, which again looked shaky in San Francisco’s 19-12 loss to the Broncos in Denver Saturday night, allowing two sacks.
The second is quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s effectiveness as a passer behind that shaky offensive front.
Kaepernick finished the night just 2-of-5 for 13 yards, with no interceptions or touchdowns. Over three games this preseason, he’s only 5-of-13 for 40 yards with no TDs or picks. (Then again, he showed his marvelous ability to create plays with his feet, running three times for 53 yards, including a 34-yard scramble.)
For Kaepernick, coming off an offseason program with Kurt Warner in which he fine-tuned his throwing mechanics, it’s not the big step forward that many 49ers fans no doubt were hoping to see before the start of the regular season.
Of course, the preseason is the preseason. Front-line receivers and running backs are held out and game plans are simple. Plus, head coach Jim Tomsula and his staff were experimenting again on the offensive line Saturday, putting Marcus Martin back at center (after playing him at right guard) and starting rookie sixth-round pick Ian Silberman at right guard.
Both Silberman and right tackle Erik Pears gave up sacks in the first half, and Kaepernick consistently was pressured while he was in the game.
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At this point in training camp, the offensive line is still a unit in flux, with questions in particular about who will start at center and right guard, and the effectiveness of former Buffalo Bill Pears at right tacke.
The 49ers have little time until their next – and final – summer test, an exhibition game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium this Thursday night at 7. Opening night is Monday, Sept. 14, against the Minnesota Vikings.
