Why Sorensen wanted to ‘challenge’ rookie Green during 49ers camp

Why Sorensen wanted to ‘challenge’ rookie Green during 49ers camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Renardo Green hasn’t wasted a second of his first 49ers training camp.

The rookie cornerback has thrived thus far with a real shot at playing key minutes in San Francisco’s Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets. The 49ers selected Green at No. 64 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

First-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen admires the Florida State product’s development. This summer, Sorensen challenged Green to see what he was capable of, and he was pleased to discuss the rookie’s itinerary Wednesday with reporters.

“Both spots,” Sorensen said about Green playing on the inside or outside. “That was kind of the plan. I wanted to give him the harder stuff early, because he hadn’t played in there. It’s always easier, I think, to move back out to what you’re used to, than to try something really new.

“If we did it later, it would have been like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ blow your mind. We gave him the hard stuff early, then he handled it while also playing corner. So now you focus on playing outside and see if it clears your mind … just play. Now he just kind of has to know both.”

Green has had a productive preseason and is surviving his new coordinator’s developmental gauntlet.

The rookie limited Chris Olave to one 19-yard reception over 32 snaps entirely at cornerback in San Francisco’s preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.

Sorensen acknowledged Green’s “challenge” is difficult and requires on-the-fly brain power, and the youngster certainly isn’t the first player to intentionally be tested.

“It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s like moving an O-lineman to a different position,” Sorensen added about Green. “Anytime you do any of that, it’s harder than you think.

“It may sound not that hard on paper when you just talk about it, but it is. It’s a big difference. So yeah, it definitely cleared him…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-sorensen-wanted-challenge-rookie-003558755.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-08-22 00:35:58

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