Snubbed for Pro Bowl, but heralded by coach
The 49ers’ best offensive player, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, wasn’t voted to the Pro Bowl because he’s made just four starts.
And their best defensive player, tackle DeForest Buckner, wasn’t voted to the Pro Bowl because, well, the system is imperfect?
That would be the explanation offered by 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who thinks Buckner, 23, is already among the NFL’s elite.
“I think he’s one of the best (defensive players) in all of football,” Saleh said. “He’d be one of the best for every single team in football. … He is dominant in every facet of football. The scary part is he can still get better with pad level, he can still get better with hands, he can still get better at creating edges in pass rush.”
Buckner, the No. 7 pick in 2016, didn’t join fullback Kyle Juszczyk as a Pro Bowl representative for the 49ers partly because his disruptive play didn’t translate into monster stats: He has 60 tackles, five pass breakups and three sacks.
“I think it was just the numbers, but, honestly, I feel like my skill set is there,” Buckner said. “Obviously, there’s still things to work on. But competingwise, I think I’m there. Next year is another year.”
Said Saleh: “It’s a compliment from your peers, but I think Buck has bigger goals in mind in terms of what he’s trying to accomplish as an individual. The Pro Bowl, it’s a nice reward, I guess, but it’s not something that I’m sure defines him.”
Hailing Harold: A day after outside linebacker Eli Harold said he hoped to stay with the 49ers in 2018, Saleh offered a positive review of a season that’s included 33 tackles and two sacks.
One of Harold’s primary responsibilities is to turn running plays inside, or set the edge.
“He might not show up on the stat sheet,” Saleh said. “But what Eli’s been able to do rungame-wise, he’s one of the better edge setters I’ve ever been around from a SAM linebacker standpoint.”
Harold, who is signed through 2018, has been part of a steadily improving run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL yards allowed per carry (3.8).
“If you just watch the tape, you’ll see Eli has improved immensely over the course of the year,” Saleh said. “… And the guy is only 23 years old so he’s got a lot of room to grow.”
Injury report: Inside linebacker Reuben Foster (neck) was a full participant in practice.
Four players remained limited participants: TE Garrett Celek (knee, rib), safety Adrian Colbert (shoulder), wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (back) and wide receiver Trent Taylor (shoulder).