Niners linebacker Reuben Foster ‘learned from every mistake’ after two arrests in troubled offseason.
Linebacker knows off-field incidents put career in jeopardy
SANTA CLARA >> Reuben Foster, smiling at any mention of football Saturday, cringed when it finally came time for him address his trouble-filled offseason.
The 24-year-old linebacker had two arrests, including one on domestic-violence charges that put his career in jeopardy before they were dropped by the alleged victim.
“It was a big learning experience,” Foster said. “I learned from every mistake, everything that was said, all my flaws. I just grew from it.”
Foster said he recognizes the 49ers could have cut ties with him after his Feb. 11 arrest for domestic violence and weapons possession, and he’s thankful they stood by him, albeit with the caveat he avoid future trouble.
“It made me appreciate football a lot better,” Foster said. “It’s crazy knowing football can be gone. But being back on this field with my brothers and coaches, it’s a blessing.”
The NFL has suspended Foster the first two games of the season — Sept. 9 at Minnesota, Sept. 16 vs. Detroit — as a result of his offseason missteps. He called the discipline “painful” but “accepts the consequences.”
Foster, a first-round draft pick last year, first fell into trouble this offseason on Jan. 13, when he was arrested in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for second-degree marijuana possession, a charge that was dismissed May 24 upon his completion of a diversion program.
It was the Feb. 11 arrest in Los Gatos for alleged domestic violence that put his career in limbo. But once his ex-girlfriend testified that she falsified her abuse claims in search of money and vengeance, a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge on May 23 dismissed the domestic-violence charges and reduced
his assault-weapons possession charge to a misdemeanor.
He stayed away from the 49ers during that legal crisis and reported with three weeks to spare in the offseason program. He’s stayed out of trouble, as ordered by the 49ers’ brass.
“That’s the message that came through and I respect it,” Foster said. “They stood by me, though. Brotherhood.”
• Saturday was the first practice with shoulder pads and contact. Here are some observations:
1. Until Jimmy Garoppolo consistently completes deep passes — one would be nice, actually — then it remains one of the few concerns about him. He attempted two shots down field to Marquise Goodwin, and neither was caught, though the first was more on target.
“He’ll get more opportunities at it, get more reps, and I’m not worried about making those but they’re not automatic,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We got a
few today and I was disappointed we didn’t come down with them but hopefully that will make us better then next time.”
Garoppolo completed 11of-16 passes in full-team drills, making him 21 of 33 through three practices. His backup, C.J. Beathard, also missed on two deep passes as they were defended by Chanceller James and D.J. Reed.
2. Rookie tackle Mike McGlinchey said he’s more concerned about technique and timing rather than wins and losses in one-on-one battles, the first of which he lost Saturday to Cassius Marsh’s inside move.
“It was my first live pass-rush rep in eight-plus months, my timing was a little off, he got into me and did a great job,” McGlinchey said. “We’ve got good pass rushers and I’m probably going to lose multiple oneon-one reps through the year, and it’s just trying to work on something each day and get better.”
McGlinchey and left
tackle Joe Staley rapidly have formed a best-friend bond, and that’s allowed McGlinchey to pepper the 12th-year veteran with what he estimates are 20 to 30 questions daily.
“It’s been great. I can’t think of being any luckier than I am,” McGlinchey said. “I do ask a lot of questions, I don’t leave him alone, he doesn’t ever turn me away and tell me to shut up.”
3. Watching Joe Williams zoom past his second-string blockers and into the open field was a welcome sight. That’s why the 49ers used a fourth-round draft pick on him in 2017. But it’s a matter of consistently showing that urgency and passion, and so far this camp, he’s off to a positive start.
“Joe’s got a lot of ability and it’s been very apparent he has a different mindset this year than he had last year,” Shanahan said. “Sometimes that just takes time. It took Joe a little bit mentality wise. The run today … he didn’t flinch and
hit it.”
4. Arik Armstead, the 49ers’ top pick in 2015, is back to impressing again. He plowed through Joshua Garnett to open one-on-one linemen drills, and he’s embraced a move to the “big end” role instead of a passrushing specialty.
“Arik shows up a lot because of his length and tips a lot of balls,” said Shanahan, who was looking forward to studying Saturday’s one-on-one film of Armstead and other defensive linemen.
5. Four veterans were given the day off to rest: Staley, wide receiver Pierre Garçon, cornerback Richard Sherman and nose tackle Earl Thomas.
Also, offensive tackle Garry Gilliam (elbow) did not practice, and six players remain on pre-camp injury lists: guard Jonathan Cooper (knee); linebacker Malcolm Smith (heel); wide receiver Trent Taylor (back); linebacker Dekoda Watson (calf); safety Marcell Harris (Achilles); and defensive lineman Kentavius Street (knee).
6. A day after McGlinchey enthusiastically unveiled the “Rookie Hype Machine” to pump up fans before practice, it was fellow lineman Coleman Shelton’s turn Saturday. Shelton, celebrating his 23rd birthday, didn’t disappoint by racing toward the bleachers and doing a belly slide on his No. 77 jersey.
Guard Mike Person apparently suggested the concept to the 49ers linemen and coaches, having adopted it from his previous stop with the Atlanta Falcons.
7. Replacing Sherman at left cornerback was Jimmie Ward, as likely will be the case in exhibitions if the 49ers want to hide Sherman until the regular season. Ward, of course, was touted a year ago for his potential as a free safety and he played OK until a broken arm cost him his job to Adrian Colbert, who made a diving interception in Saturday’s one-on-one drills.