How 49ers safety Hufanga used injury downtime to improve his game

How 49ers safety Hufanga used injury downtime to improve his game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SANTA CLARA — Talanoa Hufanga earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors during the 2022 NFL season, but looking back at his play, the 49ers safety now believes his performance was not up to par.

While working his way back from a season-ending ACL injury, Hufanga had unlimited time to pour over his own game film with a fine-tooth comb. Now, the defensive back sees his play very differently.

“It’s actually funny because I look back to my second year, All-Pro, Pro Bowl,” Hufanga said Thursday in the 49ers’ locker room. “But to me, it was really mediocre in a sense. I really like to look at it that way, and I’ve got to criticize myself to that standard. For myself, I’ve got to be better for this team, more communicative.”

During the offseason, Hufanga usually trains in San Diego with Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu. But this year, the safety chose to stay close to the team facility while going through his rehab process. When Hufanga couldn’t work out physically, he focused on his mind.

“It’s crazy because part of this process is the volume aspect of it,” Hufanga said. “You can never put too much volume early on, not a lot of running aspect to it. So a lot of it was just me watching film. I pride myself on watching film already, but on top of that, I watched hours and hours of film and really just correcting my mistakes.”

From the outside, someone might think that the USC product is being too hard on himself. But for Hufanga, it was the silver lining of his injury. The eye-opening journey is one that will help the safety be a better player during his return, expected to come this weekend.

“Even the plays that I have made, how can I be better on those?” Hufanga continued. “Why did it take me three times to see the same play? And it happens across the league. I’m not saying I’m the only person, but I like to hold myself to that standard. If…

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Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-09-20 02:50:53

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