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Surrounded by Icons

Eric Reid discusses stepping, as a rookie, into a star-studded 49ers defense

GREG BEDARD: What’s it like as a rookie to be playing with this good of a defense?

ERIC REID: I couldn’t ask to be in a better situation. Obviously it’s my dream to be in the NFL, but to be with the guys on this defense is incredible. I think it’s going to set the tone for my entire career. There are a bunch of guys surrounding me that are going to help me learn to be a professional athlete and I’m looking forward to doing that. They don’t have to tell me much, you can sort of feel the presence. Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith ... those guys step on the field and you know you’ve got to step your game up. That’s why I’m studying. If I get an opportunity to play in a real game with those guys, I definitely don’t want to let them down.

BEDARD:Is your role much different from what it was at LSU?

REID: It’s almost the exact same. The safeties, along with the linebackers, were in charge of making the checks and making the calls, and that’s the same here. But it’s a whole different system. For me, it’s just learning the new terminology, learning how the coaches want things done in their defense. There are definitely some growing pains.

BEDARD:Your mother is a traveling nurse?

REID: She makes more money in California than she would in Louisiana. She’ll come out here for a couple weeks then go home for a couple weeks. It was tough growing up because my mom was only there like half the year. It’s just a coincidence that now that I’m out here, she’s out here too so she shows me around, shows me the area, is helping me look for a place to stay. It’s nice.

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