SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa is revving up for the 49ers’ season by watching film and drawing inspiration from 2022, understandably so. He’s flashing back to how he prepared for a season that ended with him as the Defensive Player of the Year.
“It reminded me to keep honing in on things that make me elite and not getting too caught up (in other stuff),” Bosa said Wednesday as the 49ers convened for organized team activities. “You only have so many reps in football. You don’t have that many reps in practice.
“So I’m sticking with the bread and butter. Obviously, I can work those other change-up moves. But I’m focusing on the things that make me good, make me great.”
Bosa, who led the NFL with 18 1/2 sacks in 2022, has been a lynchpin of the 49ers’ defense since 2019. He acknowledges he’s now on a “very different looking team,” and he’s excited about that.
Perhaps the most significant change is not about his fellow linemen but rather the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who left four years ago to coach the Jets.
“I appreciate him more now. When I was a rookie, I didn’t really know what I had with him as a defensive coordinator,” Bosa said. “It’s great to have him back. I just love him as a man. He’s a good dude.” Another addition to the staff is assistant head coach Gus Bradley, who Bosa got to know when Bradley coached Joey Bosa as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator from 2017-20.
It was defensive line coach Kris Kocurek who sent Bosa a cut-up of film he studied before his 2022 season.
“I watched what I was focused on and working on intensely going into that year,” Bosa said. “It was interesting to see. A lot of the time, at this point in my career, I’ve played so many years that I forget what I was focused on each year going in, because you focus on a couple of things.”
After observing Wednesday’s organized team activities on a scheduled rest day, Bosa sounded optimistic about the 49ers’ reinforcements on a radically revised defensive front, plus other changes to the franchise since last season’s 6-11, last-place finish. Here are five areas he touched on in his first media session in five months.
— ON BRYCE HUFF
Bryce Huff made his practice debut Wednesday after a Monday trade from the Eagles and is no stranger to Bosa, who said he admired how Huff excelled two years ago as a New York Jets pass rusher. When a reporter asked about “Huff,” Bosa paused, then responded: “I thought you meant Hufanga,” in reference to former 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, who signed with Denver this offseason.
As for Huff, Bosa said: “I think he’s going to be our pass rush on the other side end. It’s a big position. He’s one of the guys I really liked to watch when he was with the Jets (2020-23). It didn’t work out with the (2024) Eagles. But if you take a guy in a four-down attack front and put him as an outside ‘backer, it’s not always going to work out. He’s elite at certain things and we’re going to use him that way, and I’m excited to see it.”
Huff, donning the same No. 47 he wore with the Jets, received extra instruction from Kocurek during Wednesday’s defensive line drills, then watched from the defensive sideline during the full-team session.
— ON MYKEL WILLIAMS
Williams, the 49ers’ top draft pick, worked on the side with the 49ers’ trainers but did not seem seriously injured. Meanwhile, Williams has impressed Bosa over the past month, not only with his obvious talents but also with his willingness to learn.
Bosa said he wants to get Williams “focused on the right things, things that will make him effective right away and things I wish I knew.”
Bosa circled back later to commend his mentors from his rookie season, led by DeForest Buckner along with Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, and Solomon Thomas. Bosa complimented the 6-foot-5, 267-pound Williams’ length, size, explosiveness, strength and physicality — or simply: “All the things you want.”
— ON JOEY BOSA
Bosa acknowledged he was excited about possibly having his older brother, Joey Bosa, join him on the 49ers in free agency before the Buffalo Bills signed him to a one-year, $12.6 million deal.
“Maybe for five minutes on the phone. Maybe I can’t say that. Maybe for a moment,” Bosa said of a possible 49ers union. “It was (exciting), but business is business. I’m happy for him. He’ll get a good opportunity over there.”
— ON BROCK PURDY
Two years after holding out for what was then the largest contract in 49ers history, Bosa was pleased to see Brock Purdy get his deal done last month while partaking in the offseason program.
“I know how stressful it can be and he’s not the type to hold out,” Bosa said. “… He’s playing really good right now, it looks like, so I’m excited to see him keep taking steps. He’s young and I’m sure he’s going to get better.”
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PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS
— Left tackle Trent Williams appeared at the voluntary workout and looked spry in offensive line drills. Then he traded his helmet for a ski cap and observed the full-team session, with converted guard Spencer Burford lining up at left tackle.
— Cornerback Renardo Green exited practice after apparently tweaking his left knee; the issue did not appear serious. Darrell Luter Jr. replaced him in the ensuing 7-on-7 session.
— Derrick Canteen produced the day’s only interception, on a Mac Jones pass to Russell Gage, who seemed to cut short his route. “Today was a little shaky for me but that’s how practice goes,” said Jones, who met with reporters for the first time since signing in March as Brock Purdy’s backup. Jones was 4-of-7 in 11-on-11 drills, and 2-of-4 in 7-on-7 action.
— Jones joked that he and coach Kyle Shanahan had a “huge fight … no, just kidding” in reminiscing about the 2021 draft process, in which the 49ers selected Trey Lance at No. 3 overall instead of Jones, who fell to No. 15 to New England.
Said Jones: “Obviously the world works in mysterious ways. I’m glad to be back here and learn from a great group of guys, that’s players and coaches. You go where you go in the draft. You don’t get a lot of choice over that. But I’m definitely excited to be here now.”
Jones hosted Brock Purdy on a recruiting visit to Alabama before Purdy committed to Iowa State. Purdy recalled of that meeting: “We were both young kids heading into college and now we’re here on the same team, it’s pretty cool.”
— The 49ers had their full stable of tight ends in action, including this offseason’s addition of Luke Farrell and Ross Dwelley. George Kittle did not take part in the team session and spent part of it visiting with kickers Jake Moody and Greg Joseph on the neighboring field.
