San Francisco's first-round pick is on information overload, and he wouldn't want it any other way.
After the first week of Organized Team Activities, Eric Reid, the 18th-overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, is learning as much as he can from his fellow teammates.
The biggest adjustment for the rookie safety is the speed of the game, something he's trying to adjust to as quickly as possible.
"It's fast," Reid said. "The veterans are here, they know the defense. The offensive guys know the offense and they're blazing. For me, it's trying to keep up, trying to get caught up to where they are mentality. That's the biggest thing for me, just knowing my plays, knowing my responsibilities and doing it."
Aiding in Reid's transition are safeties Donte Whitner and Craig Dahl. Reid is lining up behind Dahl as a second-team free safety at practice. Reid shadows Dahl's every move to get mental reps even when he's not in on the play.
"They help immensely because they've seen it all," said Reid, a first-team All-SEC performer at LSU. "There's not too many things from a safety standpoint that they haven't seen. Any question that I have, they can answer right there on the spot. That's good for me. Like I keep saying, I'm just trying to be a sponge. I want to know as much as I can because that will help me play the game."
Reid has taken full advantage of his opportunity during OTAs. He's learning behind the veterans and receiving instruction from his position coaches, Ed Donatell and Greg Jackson. Donatell, San Francisco's respected secondary coach, has made quite an impression on Reid, who appreciates Donatell's positive demeanor.
"I think he's hilarious," Reid said. "He has a ton of metaphors to describe things. He keeps us smiling out there. He makes it fun. At the same time, he knows exactly what needs to be done from the secondary. He's a great coach and I'm glad to have him."
Fortunately for Reid, the rookie safety has had plenty of help during his transition to the NFL. Beyond the tutelage from coaches and veteran teammates, Reid has spent time with his roommate during the offseason, cornerback Marcus Cooper, a seventh-round pick out of Rutgers.
"We're really close, do everything together," Reid said. "It's good to go through it with somebody. We're both going through the struggle. It's not too bad."
Reid, Cooper and the rest of the 49ers will continue sharpening their knowledge of the playbook when OTAs resume next week.
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