Golden Nuggets: Greenlaw’s Rookie Experience

In a month long series released on 49ers.com, rookie LB Dre Greenlaw has been given the opportunity to write about his experiences throughout the offseason. In it he details how LB Coach DeMeco Ryans helped him overcome the struggles of being away from home for the first time, and how the other linebackers have taken him under their wing. Part 1 is out now (linked below) and it is definitely worth a read in my opinion. You really get a sense of his intelligence and his sponge-like approach to this offseason, soaking in all the nuggets of information he can from the more experienced people around him.

I can’t help but root for the 49ers’ 5th round pick. Not only has his high character been thoroughly detailed, but reports of him taking first team reps to start the offseason really brought him to the forefront of my focus. Obviously, those first team reps came about because Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander were both out, but he took advantage of his opportunity and made the coaching staff take notice. Now with Warner and Alexander taking their rightful positions in the starting lineup, Greenlaw has been battling Niners Nation punching bag, Malcolm Smith, for that starting Sam role, and reports out of camp have been nothing but positive about the rookie.

Now on to those links...

In My Own Words Pt.1: Taking Advantage of My Opportunity (Dre Greenlaw, 49ers.com)

Unpopular Opinions: 49ers overhyped; Bills deserve more love (Adam Rank, NFL.com)

49ers 53-man roster projection 3.0: Mid-training camp edition (Kyle Madson, Niners Wire)

49ers: Nick Bosa ‘far ahead’ of where Aldon Smith was in camp (Nicholas McGee, With the First Pick)

It’s Early, But 49ers’ Nick Bosa Looks on Track to Be an Impact Player (Doug Williams, NBC Bay Area)

49ers 2019 roster bubble-watch prediction ahead of preseason Week 1 (Peter Panacy, Niner Noise)

49ers seek proper ‘pecking order’ in crowded running back battle (Nick Wagoner, ESPN.com)

How 49ers defense reminds Richard Sherman of Seahawks’ ‘Legion of Boom’ (Marcus White, NBC Sports)

Around the NFL...

Don Banks Remembered As a Trusted Scribe and a Voice of Reason (Jenny Vrentas, The MMQB)

How Stafford Managed His Wife’s Illness, Brady’s Contract Situation, More NFL Notes (Albert Breer, The MMQB)

NFL position battles to watch during training camp for all 32 teams (ESPN.com)

NFL Coaching Hot Seat Rankings: It’s already warm in Washington and Jacksonville early in 2019 (Will Brinson, CBS Sports)

Barnwell: Picking the five NFL teams most likely to improve in 2019 (Bill Barnwell, ESPN.com)