49ers rookie minicamp: Moody’s mental strength, Brown’s starting potential, Bell’s catches

SANTA CLARA — A southeasterly, 6-mph breeze came off the Alviso wetlands. The sun reflected off Josh Moody’s shiny black cleats. A leather, NFL-branded football lied in wait.

Moody’s right foot stepped forth and launched that ball through the uprights, over a net and into the 49ers’ player parking lot.

The legend was born.

Okay, too much hyperbole, too soon. Friday, however, introduced the 49ers’ rookies to their practice field.

No one comes with more scrutiny – and with an assured starting role – than Moody, who tops the following list of things we learned at the Class of 2023’s rookie minicamp:

MOODY’S MENTALS

Moody’s first kicks showed why a third-round pick seems fair for Robbie Gould’s replacement. It won’t be all sunshine and field goals forever, however. “I’m going to miss. It’s inevitable,” Moody said Thursday as the rookie class convened.

Mentally overcoming a miss – and making pressure-packed kicks – is what the 49ers need right away from the 23-year-old “Money Moody,” as he was called at Michigan under former Niners coach Jim Harbaugh.

Doug Brien, a 1994 third-round kicker on the 49ers’ last Super Bowl-winning team, says the mental hurdles are most challenging for such an NFL introduction.

So what was Moody’s toughest miss of his life? Against Minnesota in 2020, specifically his third and final miss that game. “Missed that, got yanked, didn’t kick another field goal for a few weeks. That one hurt,” Moody recalled. “But it was the best learning experience I had at Michigan.”

Now wearing No. 4 for the 49ers, he’s ready for his “weird” habit of learning wind patterns at Levi’s Stadium, and of staying even keel. “My parents would show me the little home videos of me and my sister on Christmas day, just calmly walking downstairs, gently opening the presents, not screaming or shredding them,” Moody said. “Obviously it’s a pretty good thing for a kicker.”

A ‘STAR’ SAFETY

Safety Ji’Ayir Brown, a third-rounder and the 49ers’ top draft pick, is not starstruck at the NFL life. “I believe I’m a star, as well,” Brown said. “I’m just trying to build relationships with the guys. I’m trying to bring something special to San Fran.”

Brown couldn’t have been more complimentary toward incumbent safeties Talanoa Hufanga – “a guy you can model your game after” – and Tashaun Gipson Sr. – “It’s amazing having a vet in any aspect of life, to walk you through the same steps they went through, and give you advice.”

The 49ers’ brass rave about Brown so much, it’s not inconceivable he pushes Gipson out of the starting role this season, if not this summer. Brown almost had an interception Friday and later could have unleashed a Lott-like hit on a receiver if not for the non-contact rules.

#49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown, their top pick, hasn’t stopped smiling since they took him in the 3rd round pic.twitter.com/TUolrEYtRl

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) May 12, 2023

BEAL STREET

A decade ago, defensive end Robert Beal Jr. was rooting for the 49ers’ Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. Today, he wants to be the NFL’s next Khalil Mack (current Chargers stud). Beal knows he must bulk his 6-foot-4 frame, from 248 pounds to between 255 and 260 pounds.

“I set my goals high: get in as a starter on special teams, get five or six sacks during the season, keep building off that into next year,” said Beal, who slipped in one drill Friday then got right back up and swiftly ran it again.

While the Philadelphia Eagles loaded up the past two drafts on defensive lineman from Georgia, the 49ers now have one in Beal, who said of that: “You know it’s going to be a rivalry. But it’s all love at the end of the day. We’re going to beat ’em, so it is what it is.”

EXCITED LINEBACKERS

Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw have not-so-secret admirers in rookie linebackers Dee Winters and Jaylen Graham, the latter saying: “I love watching NFL games and seeing how they move sideline to sideline with their speed. It seems like there’s more than 11 guys on the defense.”

Winters wants to model his game after Dre Greenlaw and lined up at that weak-side linebacker spot Friday.  Winters had 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last year at TCU. “What’s crazy is I didn’t actually blitz a lot,” Winters said. “The way the scheme was for our defense, it was simple reads, and that allowed me to react fast. … It looked like blitzes.”

THE OTHER MICHIGAN MAN

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell (seventh round) highlighted Friday’s 7-on-7 drills with multiple contested catches. One of the first to call Bell on draft day was former Michigan teammate Ambry Thomas, a third-round cornerback picked in 2021. “The first thing Ambry said to me was I’m going to have to be able to block,” Bell recalled. “That’s something I love, so it’s something I’m excited about.”

You know what else Bell loved? This anecdote about Harbaugh: “That’s the funniest thing about him: he’ll be in his normal coaching gear with his khakis and nice shirt, then he’s doing a full body workout, then he goes back to his office, throws some ice on his shoulder and he’s back to the day.”

VIRAL-VIDEO RECEIVER

Isaiah Winstead said no teams called him until after he posted a highlight video on Twitter that attracted over 2-million views. Then three or four teams called the next day, and the 49ers signed him. The 6-foot-4, East Carolina product remains a long shot, though he could help his cause by showing blocking skills. “That’s not something they talked to me about, but I’ve seen it in my comments (from 49ers fans) on the video, ‘You need to block.’ That’s what I do anyway,” Winstead said. “I try not to worry about too much and I’m just trying to make the team.”

6’4 210 moving like this. No mini camp invite or UDFA deal. Behind the scenes on what I can do. With 88 catches & 1100 yds this past season… God makes no mistakes tho thank you in advanced pic.twitter.com/h4WE2hXI3Y

— Isaiah Winstead (@Zayti99y_) April 30, 2023

GIRL DAD

Darrell Luter Jr. (fifth round) lined up at left cornerback Friday and, aside from a slip, looked ready to join a veteran defense. He credits his maturity to his parents’ wisdom as he grew up in Hattiesburg, Miss. What parental advice did he get from them before his wife gave birth two months ago, to a baby girl named Nevaeh (“Heaven” spelled backward)?

“For one, cherish the moments with your baby, because they’re going to grow real fast, and she’s definitely is growing real fast,” Luter said. “ Also, just keep them first, make sure I take good care of them, don’t let anything happen to them. Also, just being the man of the house, setting a good example for my daughter, even in general setting a good example for anybody in the world that’s watching me, too.”

MR. VERSATILITY

Jack Colletto is listed as an undrafted fullback, after an Oregon State career in which he also played linebacker, quarterback, tight end and special teams. “Just with what Shanahan does with his offense, what he does with his players, how he values versatility, I believe that speaks to me,” Colletto said.

TIGHT END SOCIETY

Brayden Willis got to put a face to George Kittle’s name, so to speak. “We’ve had a lot of interactions, just texting (since draft day), and I saw him today,” Willis said. “That was good to put a … well, I’ve seen his face, but to see him in person, great guy, great human, great player, obviously, and I’m excited to learn from him.” Willis is counting on Kittle to extend an invitation to next month’s Tight End University, which he co-hosts in Nashville and which fellow rookie tight end Cameron Latu attended last year.