After a day off, the San Francisco 49ers returned to the SAP Performance Facility on Friday to continue training camp, now in its eighth day. The practice was a little lighter than the last two, but still saw some good plays. One of the players who is progressing well is rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The 49ers drafted him out of Florida in the first round of the NFL Draft. The rookie was only able to make his debut at camp earlier this week because he had injured his hamstring prior to the start of training camp.
Emergence of Trust
Pearsall spoke to reporters after Friday’s practice and talked about what helps him stay confident.
“I think it comes from all the work I put in. That’s where my confidence comes from, my preparation at the end of the day. But you always have to keep your feet on the ground, stay humble. Just be me,” Pearsall said.
Understanding the Offensive
Pearsall was also asked about the complexity of the 49ers’ offense. The receiver talked about the progress he has made in that regard.
“Yeah, I think I’ve made big strides since I got here. At first, yeah, it was a little bit difficult coming into an offense like this, which is very complex. There’s a lot of things to figure out. Learning it in one day is impossible, so I just told myself that over and over and I’ve just taken it day by day in terms of how I can get better, learning the playbook. I’ve made big strides so far,” Pearsall explained.
The rookie receiver also noted what his experience has been like so far playing with the San Francisco quarterback. He highlights how his quarterback’s skills help him.
“It’s been a pleasure. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now. So coming into a system with a quarterback like that, it’s a huge blessing for me. It makes everything easy, just being around him every day. His locker is actually right next to mine, so I get to talk to him every day. I go in and have conversations about what I can improve on and asking him questions about the playbook. Advice from the quarterback, because when you start looking at it from his perspective, it gets easier for a receiver. So just continuing to build that trust and connection with him,” Pearsall said.
Lessons from Kyle Shanahan
Pearsall told reporters about his admiration for his head coach. He explains how every time they are in a meeting he tries to learn everything his coach tells the team.
“I always have my eyes glued to what he’s teaching. Seeing how complex his offense is and him explaining it, breaking down the entire play, even running plays. It’s very impressive. I just try to take in all of his wisdom. Obviously, he’s very smart, he knows the system inside and out, and I want to be at that level and take in any information from him,” Pearsall said.
The Example of Deebo Samuel Sr.
Another person Pearsall mentions that he leans on is his position partner. He points to the leadership that Samuel Sr. has within the group.
“He sets the example. Obviously, he’s a seasoned veteran. He’s had a lot of success in his years here. As a young guy, seeing that, it’s important to me because he’s obviously setting the example for the group and seeing that, how he approaches practice, makes it a lot more fun when you’re watching a veteran next to you and having fun with him and competing every day,” Pearsall concluded.
Observations from Practice
Today in practice, Purdy started off by throwing a great pass to tight end George Kittle at middle of the field against linebacker De’Vondre Campbell Sr. Later in the game, Purdy picked up a first down on Kittle. On that same drive, he threw a great pass to wide receiver Chris Conley for another first down against tight cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. On defense, cornerback Ambry Thomas covered a long pass from quarterback Joshua Dobbs to wide receiver Danny Gray very well. Defensive lineman Javon Hargrave also picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Shanahan said offensive lineman Aaron Banks has some back discomfort but is expected to be ready soon. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings said he has some ankle issues but is expected to be available tomorrow. He added that offensive lineman Spencer Burford will not have surgery on his broken hand and is expected to return in about three weeks.
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