SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers have been practicing for a week in their first training camp under coach Chip Kelly. One week certainly isn't enough time to make any broad, sweeping generalizations about any team and how it might fare when the real games start.

But it is enough time to examine how things are progressing as we head toward the first preseason game set for Aug. 14 against the Houston Texans. With that in mind, here are five things the 49ers will be spending their time trying to figure out as camp continues:

Chip Kelly has said that the preseason games may be a place where you see some separation between the 49ers' quarterbacks. John Hefti/USA TODAY Sports

1. When will the quarterback competition gain clarity?: From the first day of training camp, Kelly has been very open about the battle between Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick. He's been genuinely open to letting things play out and doesn't want to put any sort of timetable on making a decision.

"I think it's a real healthy competition," Kelly said. "I believe you need to have at least two quarterbacks in this league, just because of the physicality that goes on at that position. So, you better have some depth because very rarely does one guy make it through an entire season."

Kelly has repeatedly pointed to the preseason games as a good barometer of where the quarterbacks are and a potential point of separation. Logically, the same can be said of upcoming practices against the Texans and Denver Broncos. Those opportunities will be important in determining a winner here and they will be coming sooner than later with Houston in town for practice on Friday. We won't get a definitive answer then but we'll at least have more tangible information.

2. How will the defensive line look?: Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil hasn't been afraid to mix and match his defenders during training camp. In fact, the only place he's had real stability is in the secondary (save for the nickel cornerback spot, which could still take myriad forms). But the defensive line has probably seen the most rotation.

The good news is that many of the 49ers defensive linemen have performed well in camp, to the point that Kelly has acknowledged the work that group has done as one of the bright spots. Second-year end Arik Armstead has earned praise from teammates and rookie DeForest Buckner has been getting more and more time with the first team while veteran Quinton Dial has been his usual, reliable self bouncing from spot to spot. But O'Neil also hasn't been afraid to shake things up, using Mike Purcell at nose tackle in what appears to be more of a run-oriented trio.

There's still a long way to go, though, and Glenn Dorsey figures to be a factor before this camp is over as well.

3. Who will be second starting inside linebacker?: Speaking of rotations, the 49ers have been keeping a steady mix of the same three guys working with the first-team defense next to NaVorro Bowman throughout camp. Michael Wilhoite, Gerald Hodges and Ray-Ray Armstrong are all getting looks for the second inside linebacker spot and, so far, nobody has separated.

O'Neil intimated the battle for that spot could be the hardest to figure out.

“We probably talk about that more as a defensive staff than anything else right now because we have three really good players competing for that job," O'Neil said. "If all three of them deserve to play, then they all will. If somebody clearly separates themselves, then that'll be the guy that we go with.

"There's a lot of factors that go into it. We probably overthink it a little bit too much. I think at some point, it's going to pop off the tape or it won't and if one guy just doesn't pop off the tape, then we'll play with all three of them."

4. Is it a strong secondary, a weak receiver corps or something in between?: Even the most casual of observers watching practice would probably tell you that the 49ers secondary has mostly gotten the better of the 49ers receivers in the early going. But such conversations are always confounding because you then have the debate of whether it's a strong effort from that group or a rough one on the other side. The answer, usually, is somewhere in between.

As noted earlier, the 49ers have some stability in the secondary with Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid at safety and Tramaine Brock and Jimmie Ward at cornerback. Behind that group, there have been others who have flashed potential as well, particularly cornerbacks Rashard Robinson, Keith Reaser and Dontae Johnson.

Meanwhile, the receiver group is still searching for traction. Torrey Smith is clearly the top guy but there hasn't been a consistent threat emerge alongside him yet. There have been highs and lows for the rest of the group but it's still not a unit that will strike fear in opponents.

In an ideal world, the 49ers secondary really is that good and will only make the receivers better as camp goes on. We won't be able to tell for sure until there's a different team on the other side.

5. Who are some sleepers that might surprise this year?: To my eye, one guy who looks to have some promise that might be flying under the radar is defensive lineman Ronald Blair. The fifth-round pick out of Appalachian State is opening some eyes with his athleticism and has a chance to contribute in multiple ways.

"His versatility will allow him to play everywhere across the front," O'Neil said. "He's a guy we'll probably create some packages for. You can't ignore his playmaking ability out here at practice so far. He makes plays wherever he's aligned along the front.

"He's a big part of our plans in the next couple weeks."