SANTA CLARA — The absence of Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings at OTAs is viewed as both a good and bad thing by 49ers receivers coach Leonard Hankerson. Without two of the team's top three receivers on the field, first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall is getting a higher number of valuable reps that might be more limited if Aiyuk and Jennings were present. "It's awesome," Hankerson said. "Both good and bad I would say. Reason why is it's good for Ricky is because he's getting a ton of reps, but also bad, because that's two guys who know how we do things, know how it's done the right way." Coach Kyle Shanahan asks a lot from wideouts in his system - not only getting separation while catching the ball but responsibilities in run blocking as well. Watching veterans who have been in the system for multiple seasons is important for rookies like Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Terique Owens. "[Pearsall] is not able to see those guys do it, so that's an added rep that he's not able to learn," Hankerson said. "The reps help a lot. The more we rep things with him, with Jake, with Terique, with any of the guys, the better they will be at it." Still, the wide receivers coach has been happy with...
Mentioned in this article: Jacob Cowing, Ricky Pearsall