49ers rookie guard Joe Looney saw his first full contact practice session on Aug. 1 and has jumped right in with the team. The fourth-round selection has taken most of his snaps with the second and third-team offenses in camp so far. His performance has been impressive since being taken off the physically unable to perform list after recovering from a foot injury. 49ers.com caught up with the Wake Forest alum as he goes through his first NFL training camp.
My first day practicing in pads was just amazing. Just to get out there and be out there just sweating and feeling like you are doing something as a part of the team. It was awesome just to practice.
It was definitely fun. I think when I was going into practice I just wanted to make sure I knew my calls. I just went out and played physical.
I think being able to study with Coach Mike Solari and Coach Tim Drevno the whole time I was rehabbing really helped me get the playbook mentally. When I was able to practice that first day it helped me a lot.
Being with the rookies is awesome because we are all going through the same thing. It is a great group of guys. I think we all just sit down and talk to each other and encourage each other if one of us has a bad practice or a bad day. We sit down and say, "Hey man, just look forward to tomorrow. Go out and have a better day." We just all have each other's backs.
A lot of the rookies like to joke around with each other. I do a good Scarface impersonation. Trenton Robinson and A.J. Jenkins really like it a lot. We all just sit there and joke around. We were doing it when we were at the rookie symposium. It was pretty fun.
I think everybody is excited about the game coming up against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. As a rookie it is our first NFL game so all of us are excited. I think the veterans are really excited too because they get to get a new season going. We are all just trying to go there and do the best we can.
In the mornings on gamedays I usually listen to some music. Nothing too crazy, just maybe some rap or hip hop. For a pregame meal, I will always have something light like a turkey sandwich, nothing more than that. Then usually in the locker room I am listening to some rock-and-roll on the headphones and getting ready to go play.
One of my good buddies, who I played college ball with, Chris DeGeare, actually plays for the Vikings so it will be nice to see him after the game to say what's up and catch up a little bit. Hopefully I will be shaking his hand after a victory.
Thanks for reading my rookie blog. I look forward to seeing all the fans tomorrow night at Candlestick Park.
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