Rookie receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings impressing Trent Taylor, 49ers teammates
https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/138752-rookie-receivers-brandon-aiyuk-jennings-impressing-taylor-teammates/
The San Francisco 49ers drafted two wide receivers in April — Brandon Aiyuk in the first round and Jauan Jennings in the seventh. Both could find themselves becoming significant contributors this season.
Aiyuk and Jennings are certainly getting in some work during these early training camp practices with Deebo Samuel (foot) and Richie James Jr. (hand) sidelined. Both have impressed their new teammates.
Aiyuk had an attention-grabbing catch during Sunday's practice when he got a step past cornerback Jason Verrett and hauled in an over-the-shoulder pass along the sideline from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
"I think he's a real intelligent guy," Trent Taylor said of Aiyuk during a video conference call after practice. "He's got his head on straight, the type of guy who's never too high on the highs or too low on the lows. I think, from what we've seen so far, he's been picking everything up pretty well, and he could end up being a great piece for us."
Taylor was also asked about Jennings, who sounds just as focused.
"We ran one-on-ones for the first time today," Taylor said, "and he made some great plays, ran some filthy routes out there. And I think it shocked all of us, the type of route-running ability that he actually has.
"I think he has great patience off the line, and he's not a guy that gets too flustered when he gets caught in a bad situation in a route. I think he just keeps his head on the same level — not too high, not too low. I think he just loves the game of football, and that's what helps him out."
49ers rookie Javon Kinlaw a ‘man amongst boys,’ impressing his new teammates
https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/138746-49ers-rookie-javon-kinlaw-amongst-impressing-new-teammates/
Rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is making a good first impression on his new San Francisco 49ers teammates. The first-round pick has stood out during the team's two practices, and that isn't just because of his play during drills.
Kinlaw is just massive and easy to spot while mixed in with all the 49ers players on the practice fields at the SAP Performance Facility.
"I'm glad to have another South Carolina guy on the D-line, on the team, period," defensive tackle D.J. Jones told reporters on Sunday via a video conference call. "I think that makes three now. He's a man amongst boys. He's got so much potential. He's strong as an ox, and I can't wait to see him suit up and play."
Running back Jerick McKinnon has been impressed by what he's seen from the rookie defender and doesn't expect to see a defensive-line drop-off in 2020.
"We lost [DeForest Buckner], but we added Kinlaw, and he's probably one of the biggest humans I've ever seen," McKinnon said. "He has a big upper body, big lower body, big quads. Everything on him is just big. But that D-line is definitely the toughest in the league, by far."
Linebacker Kwon Alexander agrees. He can't wait for Monday when 49ers players finally take part in their first padded practice.
"That whole D-line is going crazy. It's still the same," Alexander said on Sunday. "The coach still got them going crazy up front. We just can't wait to get these pads on so we really can see what's going on, how those guys work together, so we can work off them."