DBs Tartt, Ward OK with getting coached up by Baalke, the GM who drafted them
Posted on
December 22, 2015 by
Cam Inman
Defensive backs Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt, high picks from the 49ers’ past two drafts, have embraced hands-on coaching from the man who brought them to the 49ers, general manager Trent Baalke.
That tutoring apparently doesn’t bother Ward nor Tartt, who were high school teammates in Mobile, Ala.
“He comes down to practice a lot. He’s like another coach,” said Ward, last year’s first-round draft pick. “Sometimes I make a mistake and be like, ‘Coach Trent?’
“He’s correcting my techniques, too, when I’m on the field,” Ward added. “He’s a pretty good guy. I like him. I don’t mind that (coaching).”
Tartt, a second-round draft pick this year, echoed Ward’s take on Baalke, with no hint of discontent toward coach Jim Tomsula nor secondary coach Tim Lewis.While Ward has shined as the 49ers’ nickel back, Tartt has played in every game his rookie season and started the past six in place of the injured Antoine Bethea.
“When you see him, he’s always going to coach something, and you have to be ready for it,” Tartt said of Baalke. “He’s pretty cool.”
Baalke is in his sixth season overseeing the 49ers’ personnel. He’s indeed been seen at practices, which are closed to the media once team drills begin.
Ward and Tartt have developed into productive players and emerging leaders, Tomsula said Monday.
In the past three games, Ward and Tartt each have had a sack and an interception. Ward returned his first career pick for a touchdown in a Dec. 6 win at Chicago.
Next up for the 49ers’ secondary is Sunday’s daunting task of covering Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson.
“We’ve heard about him,” Ward quipped. “He’s one of the best. I’m looking forward to covering him in the slot, and hopefully I get a tackle off him or a pass break up. I know Quaski feels the same — we always want to play against the greats and we get an opportunity to do that this Sunday.”
Neither Ward nor Tartt said they’ve felt pressure with being a high draft pick.
“Every game I’m trying to go out there and give it a 110-percent,” Ward said. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about mistakes I’m making each game, so I pride myself on getting better.”
Said Tartt: “To me, it’s really no pressure. I’ve been playing football all my life.”
that's the type of explosiveness and power you look for in a 300+lbs man.
