49ers coach raves glowingly about rookie OL Dominick Puni

Aug 5, 2024, 9:12 AM | Updated: 9:12 am

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 04: Dominick Puni #77 of the San Francisco 49ers works out during mini camp on June 04, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The San Francisco 49ers have been known to find hidden gems in the middle of drafts under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Early reports indicate that they’ve done it again with rookie Dominick Puni.

The first-year offensive lineman has been rock steady since 49ers 2024 Training Camp began in late July. Hailed as a tackle in college, Puni’s NFL adjustment has been more so on the interior at guard, where he is giving the incumbents a run for their money currently.

Through the first two weeks of camp, the Kansas Jayhawk has climbed the proverbial depth chart to be the team’s starting right guard for the past four consecutive practices. Sure, SF is trying to get their young lineman some needed reps with the starters. Yes, fellow RG Spencer Burford is now sidelined with a broken hand. But for Puni to immediately jump the line into the first-team: That says it all, with his coaches pleasantly surprised early on.

“Awesome. As good as one of the better rookies. I’m not ready to crown him yet as far as one of the better rookies, but he is one of the better rookies,” 49ers run-game coordinator Chris Foerster said about Dominick Puni Friday.

Chris Foerster loves what he sees from rookie Dominick Puni 👀 pic.twitter.com/8nBVt17bpA
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 3, 2024

Puni’s preparation goes beyond just training camp however, jumping head first into the 49ers’ playbook from the minute he got drafted.

After being selected in the third round last April, the OL reached out to the 49ers’ video assistants to get ahold of his new coaches’ installs before rookie minicamp two weeks later. While most rookies would celebrate being drafted to the NFL in more lavish ways, Puni went to work in the film room, learning all of the nuisances and tactics of the 49ers’ run game before he even stepped foot in Santa Clara.

“Right after we drafted him, the video guy said that he called right away when he got his iPad… He said, ‘where do I get all of coaches teaching meetings?’ We record everything. He wanted every single meeting,” Forester explained. “By the time he showed up for rookie minicamp, which I think was two weeks after the Draft, he’d watched all of my install meetings from Phase One, Phase Two, and everything we’d done to that point. He’d watched them all. And he answers every question right.”

The 49ers have long been about pairing physical talent and raw athletic prowess of prospects, with the intellect and creativity of the team’s coaching staff. Dominick Puni has a little bit of all that, plus the willingness to be molded by the regime. But that’s mattered the most is how he’s performed, looking the part of starting guard during both 1-on-1 and team drills this summer.

While the true litmus test will come in the preseason, the rookie’s ability to be ready to go from the jump has made 49ers’ coaches, like Foerster, re-think their lineups and formations. And that’s a good thing because let’s face it: The 49ers’ offensive line needs to get better on the interior.

Puni might be the answer to that in Year 1.

“He is a very intelligent kid. Doesn’t say a word. Very, very smart. Very tough. Strong. And he doesn’t sway. He is just steady Eddie. But he works extremely hard and he’s very diligent…I don’t think I’ve had an offensive lineman, I know I couldn’t sit through all those meetings, He grabbed them and ate them up. So good for him,” his coach stated.