Let me tell you something that’s been gnawing at me since I watched the 49ers’ preseason opener against the Titans: this game wasn’t just a showcase of talent—it was a masterclass in what not to do when you’re trying to evaluate your roster. I mean, how do you miss the obvious? The 49ers’ backups looked like they were auditioning for a horror movie, and the Titans’ kicker? He was playing chess while the rest of the team was still learning the rules.
If you take a step back and think about it, this game was less about football and more about watching a team test its depth in the most brutal way possible. The 49ers’ starting QBs, Purdy and Jones, were conspicuously absent, which immediately set the tone. Why? Because when you bench your starters in a preseason game, you’re not just testing backups—you’re exposing them. And what did we see? A defensive line that couldn’t stop a high school team from running through them, and a QB named Kurtis Rourke who looked like he was trying to juggle three jobs at once.
Here’s what really bugged me: the 49ers’ run defense. I’ve seen teams struggle in preseason before, but this was textbook incompetence. The Titans’ RBs were running through gaps like they were on a playground, and the defensive linemen—except for Gracen Halton—were basically spectators. It’s not just about talent; it’s about preparation. What makes this particularly fascinating is that these players are supposed to be starters. If they can’t handle a second-string offense, how will they handle real games? I’m not saying they’re doomed, but this is a red flag that screams ‘rework the playbook’ or ‘hire better coaches.’
Then there’s De’Zhaun Stribling. The guy caught seven passes for 62 yards, and yet, I couldn’t help but think: why is he getting the ball so close to the line of scrimmage? I’ve watched enough NFL games to know that receivers who thrive near the line are usually specialists. Stribling’s a good player, but if the 49ers aren’t trying to stretch the field with him, they’re missing out on a key weapon. What many people don’t realize is that a receiver’s value isn’t just about yards—it’s about creating space for everyone else. If Stribling’s only getting short passes, he’s not maximizing his potential.
And let’s talk about Rourke’s injury. This is the part that makes me question the entire philosophy of preseason games. He took a hit on a quarterback draw from the 4-yard line, and boom—questionable to return. If this is how backups are treated in practice, what’s the point? Preseason is supposed to be a pressure-free environment for development. Instead, it’s a minefield where one bad decision (like calling that play) can derail an entire evaluation process. I’ve seen teams get creative with drills, but this felt like a training camp gone rogue.
The Titans, meanwhile, were the antithesis of chaos. Their kicker, Joey Slye, was a beast. Three field goals, including a 55-yarder at the end of the half? That’s not just skill—it’s confidence. And when your kicker is making clutch kicks while your QB is throwing interceptions, you know something’s off. I find it interesting that the Titans’ offense looked like a group of players who had never heard of the word ‘aggression.’ Will Levis was so tentative, it was like watching a toddler learn to walk. But here’s the kicker: the 49ers’ backups outplayed him. That’s not a compliment—it’s a wake-up call.
What this game really suggests is that the 49ers are in for a long season if they don’t address their depth issues. The starters are obviously talented, but when your backups look like they’re playing in a different league, it raises questions about the entire system. Are the coaches too focused on protecting the stars? Are the players too complacent? Or is this just the price of having a superstar QB who’s too valuable to risk in preseason?
One thing that immediately stands out to me is how this game highlights the absurdity of preseason evaluations. You’re supposed to see what players can do, but when your starters are MIA and your backups are getting hurt, what does that even mean? It’s like trying to judge a car’s performance by letting a mechanic drive it in a parking lot. If the 49ers want to be contenders, they need to stop treating preseason like a dress rehearsal and start treating it like a trial by fire. Otherwise, they’ll keep ending up with the same problem: a team that looks great on paper but collapses under pressure.
In my opinion, this game was a microcosm of the NFL’s biggest challenge: balancing the need to protect stars with the need to develop depth. The 49ers are teetering on that edge, and unless they make some bold moves, they’ll keep finding themselves in situations where their backups are the only ones who can save them. And if that’s the case, maybe it’s time to ask: what’s the point of having a superstar if the rest of the team can’t carry the weight?
