SANTA CLARA - Kaelon Black has spent his first preseason doing what a 49ers running back has to do in Kyle Shanahan’s offense: read the lane fast, plant hard, and punish whoever’s waiting at the end of it.
The rookie from Indiana has already started to fit that mold. In Thursday’s win over the Chargers, Black carried the ball eight times for 33 yards, a line that matched the kind of steady, physical production he built over four seasons at James Madison and Indiana, where he totaled 2,261 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“I would definitely say it’s about the time put in and just being focused on the details,” Black said Saturday. “I ran a lot of zone in Indiana, and even at James Madison with the same coach … but you’re on a different level now, this is the pro leagues, so you have to stick your foot in the ground and have to get vertical and impose your will.”
That’s the part that has stood out. Black’s game has always been built around bruising runs, and at 208 pounds he brings enough size to keep that style intact at the next level. But in San Francisco, the conversation has also turned to the less glamorous work - pass protection - and that’s where Black says he’s been pushing himself since arriving.
Longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner has been a central voice in that process.
“He’s very hard on me and making sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing on the field,” Black said. “He has very high expectations for me.”
Black isn’t trying to do it alone, either. The 49ers’ backfield is starting to come into focus with Patrick Taylor on injured reserve, Isaac Guerendo still on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Christian McCaffrey expected to be ready by the time the regular season opens in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams, Sincere McCormick carving out a role, and Jordan James back at practice after dealing with a rib injury. Black is now part of that mix.
The 49ers’ next chance to see him comes Thursday in Las Vegas against the Raiders, and that matchup will also put him opposite his Indiana teammate Fernando Mendoza in the preseason finale.
On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris pointed to progress from two rookies who are still trying to find their footing.
Fifth-round pick Jaden Dugger, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound linebacker from Louisiana, has been asked to move around and learn multiple spots. He finished Thursday’s game with two tackles and a pass defensed.
“He’s finding his role, he’s finding his niche and he’s doing some really good things,” Morris said. “He’s one of the people who rushed the passer before in college, and you’ve seen him off the ball cover in college … you’ve seen him in the secondary. We’ve seen him do a bunch of different things in college, and he’s (going to try to) translate that skillset into what we’ve taught him.”
Edge rusher Romello Height still hasn’t logged a sack or pressure, but Morris said the 25-year-old rookie took a step forward from his debut. Height did record a tackle for loss against the Chargers.
“He showed a little bit of flash in the first game, showed a little bit more this game, and he’s got more left out there, so there’s more meat on the bone,” Morris said.
Saturday also brought a handful of injury updates. Starting cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling were listed as day-to-day with shoulder injuries. Defensive tackle CJ West and offensive lineman Dominick Puni returned from concussions.
Rookie Carver Willis worked with the first team at right guard, and Jordan James was back in action with the second unit after missing time with a rib injury.
As for who did not practice, the list included Renardo Green, Malik Mustapha, Kurtis Rourke, Wesley Grimes, Nate Hobbs, Zamir White, Jalen Graham, Kyle Juszczyk, Nick Martin, Austen Pleasants, Robert Jones, Vederian Lowe, Brett Toth and Malik Turner.
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