The San Francisco 49ers released the first episode of the eighth season of their popular web series “Brick by Brick” on their official YouTube channel.
This latest episode provides fans with insights into the team’s offseason activities, including the NFL draft, the start of training camp, and the mindset of key players as they prepare for the new season.
Dominick Puni Has Potential To Be a Starter
The San Francisco 49ers selected offensive lineman Dominick Puni with the 86th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft on April 26. The team traded up eight spots to secure Puni, the University of Kansas product.
Puni has unexpectedly found himself working with the first-team offense due to injuries to Spencer Burford (broken hand) and Jon Feliciano (knee). The rookie quickly impressed the coaching staff with his abilities.
“He’s a strong, big body,” said Offensive Line coach Chris Foerster told SI. “He just has a lot, he’s no bigger than most of them, but he’ll set the pocket real well. 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. And with our system, it’s a little bit of a change for him. So there’s going to be a learning curve, but he’s got some real stuff to him.
The combination of Puni’s quick adaptation to the NFL, a strong showing in training camp, and the injuries to other offensive linemen have created an opportunity for Puni to be the 49ers starting right guard in the season opener.
Brock Purdy On Mindset
Brock Purdy, the 24 years young starting quarterback, looks refreshed and optimistic about the upcoming season. Purdy talked a little bit about the upcoming season to Brick by Brick saying:
“”Our mindset is you know we’re hungry. We have the right team, the right roster, and the guys in the position to go do it again and get back to that game and win it. So, we don’t just jump right to that game, we got to go earn it. You got to go take it. Nothing’s ever given and it doesn’t matter what you did last year.” -Brock Purdy
George Kittle Loves The Bay
George Kittle is no stranger to cameras. Kittle was featured in the new season of the Netflix series ‘Receiver’ along with Deebo Samuel (49ers), Justin Jefferson (Vikings), Davante Adams (Raiders) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions) released last month.
In this episode of Brick by Brick, we got an outside view of George Kittle’s million dollar home before we took the short commute to the stadium for training camp.
Fred Warner’s Mic’d Up Moments
Fred Werner, the 49ers Pro Bowl linebacker, was Mic’d Up on the first day of players wearing pads in camp aka “Pad Day”. Mic’d Up is where one player is wearing a microphone (for Brick by Brick or other shows) during practice and everything they do is filmed.
Werner was on camera talking to other players like Nick Bosa, asking Bosa if they were filming him for ‘Pass Rusher’ (Pass Rush Netflix) to which Bosa responded “There is no Pass Rusher” then asking Bosa, “You know who can move kinda good? That rookie (Dominick) Puni.”
Still to Come?
While there was no talk about Brandon Aiyuk or his contract situation in the first episode of “Brick by Brick,” Aiyuk was spotted at 49ers practice this week. It’s hard to imagine one of the top stories of the offseason being ignored here. Hopefully we will get some insight into the resolution.
Training camp is especially crucial for rookies. And the 49ers 2024 draft picks Malik Mustafa, Dominick Puni, and Renardo Green are turning heads in training camp with their play. It’s likely that we will see their evolution into starters at some point.
Watch the first episode of “Brick by Brick: Nothings Ever Given” on Youtube.
