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Why Foerster believes ‘special’ Puni can thrive in NFL originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — Chris Foerster has spent 26 seasons coaching NFL offensive lines , meaning he knows exactly what to look for when evaluating a young player’s sustainability in the league.
One player who has earned Foerster’s praises early in 49ers training camp? Rookie guard Dominick Puni, who San Francisco selected No. 86 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The only on-field work Puni has gotten as a 49er has been in the offseason program and the first three practices of camp, so what exactly has the rookie done to garner Foerster’s admiration in such a short period of time since being drafted in April?
Technique and intelligence were among the key traits Foerster highlighted while raving about Puni’s potential, but the rookie also boasts physical attributes that has his position coach excited about his future prospects.
“He’s a strong, big body. He just has a lot, he’s no bigger than most of them, but he’ll set the pocket real well,” Foerster said before Friday’s practice. “He plays with great anchor. He’s extremely intelligent. He’s really a good player. He’s a special guy and he’s just not done the position for very long.”
Puni measured in at 6-foot-five, 315 pounds, offering an athletic profile that makes Foerster confident the rookie can have a similar size advantage as left guard Aaron Banks, who has blossomed into an exceptional offensive lineman after a slow start early in his NFL career.
Despite Foerster’s excitement about Puni’s potential, the 49ers’ offensive line coach acknolwedged there likely will be a learning curve as the rookie guard acclimates to San Francisco’s scheme.
“And with our system, it’s a little bit of a change for him,” Foerster said. “So there’s going to be a learning curve, but he’s got some real stuff to him. A lot of our guards in our system, they tend to be quicker. That’s where Banks is a great advantage. He is. Those bigger guys inside…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-foerster-believes-special-puni-031743403.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-07-27 03:17:43
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