SANTA CLARA — Jason Pinnock performed highschool soccer in Connecticut, faculty soccer at Pittsburgh and spent his 4 NFL seasons with the New York Jets and New York Giants.
Being a West Coaster was by no means a part of the plan.
“No, no, no, no no,” Pinnock mentioned Monday following the primary padded follow for the 49ers. “Not used to the time zone, but it’s amazing. The weather’s good.”
Early indications are Pinnock, 26, will step in as a beginning security when the 49ers open the common season on Sept. 7 in Seattle. With Malik Mustapha sidelined whereas rehabbing an ACL tear, Pinnock and third-year participant Ji’Ayir Brown are working with the primary workforce.
Coach Kyle Shanahan favored what he noticed of Pinnock within the offseason program, and he’s flashed greater than as soon as since coaching camp started. He broke up a Brock Purdy move over the center Monday, with linebacker Dee Winters corralling the interception.
Followers of the 49ers in all probability know as a lot about Pinnock as he does in regards to the West Coast. However he began 32 video games within the final two seasons for the New York Giants and had 85 tackles every of the final two seasons and performed 95 p.c of the snaps. He’s assured with out being an enormous talker, however isn’t shy about assessing his skillset.
Pinnock’s numbers — 82 profession blitzes with the 6 1/2 sacks (one with the Jets, six with the Giants) — counsel extra of a field security. However the 49ers may be interchangeable on the again finish and Pinnock is raring to show he can maintain up in protection.
Jason Pinnock tackles 49ers tight finish George Kittle as a member of the New York Giants in 2023. Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group
He’s given up a 111.9 profession passer score to receivers in his space in accordance with ProFootballReference.com and eight touchdowns with two interceptions, though one in all them was returned 102 yards for a landing.
“I feel like I’m all in one,” Pinnock mentioned. “I came in as a corner, so I can play press man, gritty press man. I come off the edge, I had 6 1/2 (sacks) in New York, so I showed that. I’m good playing down in the run game and I’m a ball hawk. That’s probably the main thing I have to say to show the league is that part. But everything else is just as important to me.”
A fifth-round draft decide by the Jets in 2021, Pinnock made the workforce in Robert Saleh’s first season as head coach. And despite the fact that Pinnock was a shock reduce by Jets on the remaining 53 in his second 12 months, he was desirous to play for Saleh once more.
No exhausting emotions.
“If there was I wouldn’t think I’d be here,” Pinnock mentioned.
“We had that discussion a long time ago,” Saleh mentioned. “At those points in these players’ career, you have a choice to either fold or keep getting better. He went to the Giants and credit to (former Giants coordinator) Wink Martindale, who found a role for him and really gave J.P. confidence that he can play in this league.”
The 49ers moved shortly to signal Pinnock to a one-year contract value a assured $2.2 million shortly after Talanoa Hufanga signed a free agent contract with Denver. Quickly after it grew to become public that Mustapha had been injured throughout coaching and wanted ACL surgical procedure.
Different safeties on the roster embody veteran Richie Grant, rookie fifth-round draft decide Marques Sigle, veteran Trey Avery and Jaylen Mahoney, who had 30 snaps in three video games for the 49ers final season all on particular groups.
It’s commonplace for the 49ers to go searching for safeties within the offseason. Since Shanahan arrived in 2017, beginning 49ers safeties have included Eric Reid, Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Adrian Colbert, Tarvarius Moore, Hufanga, Tashaun Gipson, Mustapha and Brown.
Continuity was a rumor.
Pinnock instantly opened a closet and began taking a look at his outdated Jets’ playbooks beneath Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
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Whereas a number of the terminology is totally different, Pinnock achieved his aim of not present process a radical system change.
“Not much adjustment, honestly,” Pinnock mentioned. “That was a big decision for me in free agency, to not have to learn another system. I wanted something familiar.”
Saleh sees a extra mature participant after enjoying in 44 video games with 37 begins during the last three years.
“Obviously he was young, starting his second year when we had to cut him,” Saleh mentioned. “But now he’s a dad — he feels like he’s grown 20 years. But he still has that youthful athleticism and burst HIs intent, his demeanor when he gets in the building to get better has been fantastic.”
