“But the 49ers’ selection of Green addressed a need at cornerback, especially with Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir both free agents next season.
Green is an absolute tactician at the cornerback spot. He has outstanding preparation that is buoyed by natural athleticism. He is sticky in coverage, staying in lock-step with receivers consistently. He had an outstanding game against the best 1-2 receiver pairing in the country in LSU’s Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.”
“He has a high pass protection floor, and impressive length and strength in the run game.
He looked excellent at the Senior Bowl, though his height could be taken advantage of, with a lack of bend. It’s understandable given that he’s used to staying outside. He has that length and strength to seriously redirect players in the run game….One knock on Puni is his mediocre speed, but it’s not damning, and is more than made up for by elite short area quickness and explosive talent. He pummels some players in the run game, and should, if the pick is worthwhile, start for the 49ers at right guard this season.”
“Green is wired right for the position and clamps down in coverage with his awareness and physicality, which consistently allows him to compete for throwing lanes. However, he tends to get overaggressive with his contact at the top of routes (lacks top-tier athletic traits for easy recoveries) and is inconsistent turning to find the football.
Overall, Green is a polarizing prospect among NFL teams, because he doesn’t have desired size, speed or ball-tracking skills and won’t be a fit for every scheme. But his play personality and ability to quickly find his balance mid-coverage helps him stay connected and will give him a chance to earn a meaningful role in an NFL secondary.”
“The 49ers appeared surprised by the high volume of man coverage that Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dialed up in order to slow down Purdy and the passing game.
Purdy, who completed 69.4 percent of his pass attempts during the regular season, connected on 23 of 38 passes (60.5 percent) for 255 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
That is why the 49ers went with Pearsall in the first round of the draft, rather than addressing needs in the defensive backfield or the offensive line. San Francisco was correct to assume it is going to see more man coverage in the future.
Pearsall has good speed and athleticism while continuing to work on the nuances of route-running and creating separation against all coverages.”
“A two-year starter at Kansas, Puni started at left tackle in former offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s balanced scheme. After four years at Central Missouri, he made the unlikely jump from Division II to the FBS and played at a high level at both tackle and guard in Lawrence (25 straight starts, zero sacks allowed).
Puni runs his feet and steers defenders in the run game with a mauling, yet measured mentality to make split-second adjustments on the move. Though he has some limitations in space as a pass blocker, he plays stout and mobile to answer different types of rushers.
Overall, Puni will get himself in trouble bending at the waist or letting his pads rise, but he plays big, and powerful and sends a harsh message with his hands while staying controlled through contact. He can play tackle, if needed, but projects best as an NFL starting guard or center.”
““Puni entered the year with ample NFL excitement and talent as a tackle/guard prospect, but he’s continued to impress all season,” wrote Ryan Galko of CBS Sports. ”His play against a versatile, highly talented Illinois defensive front seven will be a key tape NFL scouts and decision makers go back to watch when deciding how early to draft Puni. It’s to find versatile, balanced and strong offensive linemen like Puni, and he’s proving to be among the best in the country this season so far.”
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