“I thought he did great”, Kubiak said of Siemian. Same thing through early summer and through the middle of this month.
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If you saw someone singing Justin Bieber near the Santa Monica Pier recently, there’s a good chance it was Mark Sanchez.
So when the San Francisco 49ers square off against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field on Saturday, August 20, fans and coaches should be treated to a close resemblance of NFL football.
It’s not that Lynch has been magnificent over two preseason games; it’s just that if he is indeed the future – which he certainly is – and if he is on a relatively even keel with Sanchez and Siemian – which he has been so far – then, what the heck? Lynch was the most exciting of the three quarterbacks against the 49ers – although we should maintain the perspective that less was expected of him.
The third preseason game, normally reserved to be the dress rehearsal game should be PFL’s opportunity to start the game and play with the first team.
One thing the other two quarterbacks have shown is that they won’t be ideal either, so if there are going to be the mistakes, it may as well be with the player that has the most talent.
“I feel like I squandered an opportunity to separate myself”, Sanchez told reporters after Saturday’s 31-24 loss to the 49ers. “It might be one (QB) for 16 (games)”. He has been sacked three times behind what has been a awful makeshift offensive line. John Elway might have to give Peyton Manning a call. “That’s something that coming out of tonight wasn’t good enough”. Against San Francisco on Saturday, Siemian performed well, save for a pick six.
After looking like a lost rookie in his first two possessions – two incompletes and two sacks – Lynch’s ability to scramble out of a sack was the key moment in a 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on his next series. These pre season games are important, the 49ers are a rebuilding team and the more game tape on players the better. The three headed monster that is Siemian, Sanchez, and Lynch all had their ups and downs throughout the evening, going a combined 35-of-57 (61.4%) for a total of 308 yards, and four turnovers. Then came those fumbles, both coming late in the first half with the Broncos in the red zone.
He is a rookie, after all, and will play like a rookie.
Me? I start Siemian against the Rams and have Lynch play much of the second half.
Mark Sanchez, who started the Broncos’ exhibition opener last week, relieved Siemian and led a drive ending in a field goal but struggled overall, with three sacks and fumbling twice.
“I knew that I was going to get my shot at the end of the game no matter what happened”, he explained.
And unless Trevor Siemian goes ballistic this coming Saturday at home against the Rams – a tough task because of the aggressive Rams defense and Denver’s awful offensive line – I can’t see him as the starting QB on opening night.
And even the rookie, Lynch, who was a clear No. 3 when camp started, now may factor into the mix.
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In Paxton we trust?
