DeMeco Ryans Raves about Talanoa Hufanga after Wednesday’s Practice

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans was his usual smiling self Wednesday during the team’s media session, and for good reason.

After his unit suffered a devastating collapse in the second half of Week 1 at Chicago, the 49ers’ elite defense bounced back in a big way in Week 2. Pitching an almost shutout on the Seahawks (albeit a flukey botched field goal returned for a touchdown) gave Ryans and his staff a lot to smile about all week.

The catalyst of Sunday’s dominance started on the backend, with safeties Tashaun Gipson Sr. and Talanoa Hufanga setting the tone early. Hufanga has been the team’s best defensive player to start the season.

Breaking out with an impressive 11-tackle performance in Week 1, “Huf” built on that in Week 2, posting six tackles and two PBUs against the Seahawks. A lesser-known commodity for the Faithful before the season, Talanoa Hufanga is quickly climbing the ranks of this stout defensive unit.

“You see that show up on game-day, just a guy who plays with his hair on fire. He’s everywhere all over the field, making plays. Probably everybody’s favorite player just because of the plays that he’s making. He’s definitely a spark of energy for our entire team, just because of the way he’s playing these past two weeks,” Ryans said.

It goes beyond his play on the field though as Talanoa Hufanga has put in countless hours of preparation over the offseason for this exact moment. From being the first guy out on the practice field during training camp every day to going to visit quarterback Trey Lance in the hospital, Huf’s growth, on and off the field, is starting to come into focus.

This is what a leader looks like. Good on Huf for visiting his quarterback👏🏽 #49ers https://t.co/DmrFf2C7DL

— Amiliano “Amil” Fragoso (@AmilianoFragoso) September 21, 2022

“His biggest improvement overall, I think is his communication and his confidence,” Ryans explained. “I think just being out there and playing, like you have to play the game to gain that confidence. And he’s gotten a lot of reps throughout the offseason and working with everybody on our defense and it means a lot to him. That’s why he’s gotten better. He’s staying out [on the practice field] when everybody else is in the locker room, he’s out. He’s grinding you know, always grinding, always working and it shows on Sunday. When you see guys show up on Sundays it’s because of the preparation that they’re doing behind the scenes and Huf is one of the best guys in prep throughout the week that I’ve been around.”

PFF’s 5 top-graded safeties in the NFL to start this 2022 season…

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick
2. Talanoa Hufanga, 49ers
3. Mike Edwards
4. Jamal Adams
5. Tashaun Gipson Sr., 49ers

👀

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 20, 2022

Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson is filling in for the injured Jimmie Ward (hamstring). A surprise to make the 53-man roster after struggling to find a home in the offseason, “Gip” has flashed the pedigree of a former pro bowl player, coming up with a pick in his second game with the Red & Gold Sunday.

“Gip has come in, he’s a veteran, so he’s seen a lot of ball,” Ryans said. “But the thing that sticks out with him, he’s a very smart player and he has a great feel for the game…So he’s able to put himself in position to make plays that way. Just by being a very smart player, a veteran, who’s seen a lot of different things and he knows how to play the game the right way.”

Unfortunately, Thursday’s injury report was not all sunshine for the 49ers as defensive tackle Arik Armstead missed practice again with a lingering foot issue. His status for Sunday night in Denver is currently in jeopardy.

To watch DeMeco Ryans’ full press conference, click here.

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