A trio of San Francisco 49ers players took part in a recent pass rush summit held by the Denver Broncos five-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller. The event was hosted by Stanford University because Miller has been renting a Bay Area home for the summer.
The 49ers who took part were defensive lineman Arik Armstead, who has been experimenting with also playing the Leo position on defense this offseason, and rookie Solomon Thomas. The third player from the 49ers was offensive tackle Trent Brown, according to a photo posted on Instagram by Vanguard Sports Group.
Brown is the interesting name in the group and by looking at the photo, appears to be the only offensive lineman to have taken part. In 2016, the 49ers and Broncos held joint practices together leading up to their preseason matchup and Miller spoke highly of Brown.
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"I feel like Trent Brown has a very bright future in the National Football League," Miller said in September. "He's 6-8. He knows how to use his arms, knows how to use his wingspan, (and) he has length. So I feel like, he's young and people haven't really seen him, but I feel like he's one of the better tackles in the National Football League."
Trent Brown Reacts to Praise from Von Miller
Once again preciate the invite brother can't thank you enough for the opportunity @VonMiller https://t.co/DX96Mw9pjJ
— Trent Brown (@_tbrown77) June 30, 2017
In the video below, which was tweeted out by the Stanford football program, you can see Thomas working with former Dallas Cowboys and Broncos edge rusher DeMarcus Ware during the event.
Iron sharpens iron. @SollyThomas90 @DeMarcusWare work together at the @VonMiller Pass Rush Summit at Stanford.#Rushmen #StanfordNFL pic.twitter.com/frWCQ8BQdq
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) June 30, 2017
Other big names who attended the invitation-only summit included players like Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley, who led the league in sacks last season with 15.5, Broncos pass rusher Shane Ray, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Malik Jackson, Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Damontre Moore, New York Giants linebacker Olivier Vernon, and Seattle Seahawks defenders Cliff Avril and Cassius Marsh.
Also in attendance to help out were Stanford defensive line coach Diron Reynolds and former Atlanta Falcons All-Pro defensive end Chuck Smith. This was the first year that Miller put together an official program like this.
"A sack is a sack," Miller said of the secrets being shared between players during his event. "I'm going to get sacks, they're going to get sacks. You really can't stop that. You really benefit more from really just sharing that knowledge and just trying to be the best players that you can possibly be."
A contingent of 49ers players, which may now include Thomas, plan to travel to Hawaii next week to take part in Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett's annual training program in the North Shore of Oahu. The other 49ers defenders who will be going are Armstead, linebacker Eli Harold, and defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Ronald Blair.
Solomon Thomas (@SollyThomas90) continues the offseason work with every great pass rusher ever pic.twitter.com/LcCR3lpEb4
— Evan Sowards (@EvanSowards) June 29, 2017
Hanging out at the first ever @VonMiller pass rush summit - NFL players working with each other. @JimTrotter_NFL pic.twitter.com/P97n2Jmg8n
— Jon Fish (@Jonfish2) June 30, 2017
Thanks Von Miller, Khalil Mack, Vic Beasley and other top edge rushers for schooling me at the first Von Miller Pass Rush Summit. pic.twitter.com/7fQC50GGCo
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) June 30, 2017