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  4. title => "How 49ers rookie defensive back D.J. Reed turned his season around"
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  6. article_body => "<p>SANTA CLARA \u2014 Rookie defensive back D.J. Reed has turned his season&nbsp;around&nbsp;by playing fast and using his instincts. He is making the most of the valuable reps he\u2019s going to get in the final two games of the season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It was just a month ago when Reed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-rookie-dj-reed-remains-his-harshest-critic-high-standards\" target=\"_blank\">reluctantly spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area<\/a> after a practice. He was disappointed with his progress in his first season and explained that he was his own toughest critic. Reed explained what was going through his mind at the time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just wasn\u2019t really happy how I was playing throughout the whole year on special teams and on defense,\u201d Reed said.&nbsp;\u201cAnd then I got my chance.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward a few weeks later,&nbsp;all of Reed\u2019s hard work paid off in a breakout game in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-takeaways-what-we-learned-20-14-win-over-broncos-week-14\" target=\"_blank\">49ers win over the Broncos<\/a>. He registered 10 solo tackles and two tackle assists, three of which were for a loss. He also recorded the first sack and forced fumble of his NFL career.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Denver game was my best game by far,\u201d Reed said. \u201cSeahawks, I thought I played OK. And we ended up winning as well so we\u2019ve been doing good since the last time we talked. Obviously we won, which was the most important thing. And obviously it feels good knowing you contributed to a win.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Veteran cornerback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-tarvarius-moore-relying-richard-shermans-advice-rookie\" target=\"_blank\">Richard Sherman has been a valuable mentor<\/a> and leader to everyone in the young secondary. Reed took Sherman's advice to heart:&nbsp;think less, play faster.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like when I started doing that, things started to happen, good things started to happen for me,\" Reed said. \"I feel like our defense is starting to do that. Communicating more, flying around.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven though we\u2019re not getting the ball yet, we\u2019re still getting crucial stops, making big plays and we\u2019re a good third down defense. We\u2019re doing a lot of good things, we just got to get the ball.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Things have clearly turned around not only for Reed, but also the entire Niners defense. The rookie explained that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-takeaways-what-we-learned-blowout-loss-seahawks\" target=\"_blank\">demoralizing 43-16 loss<\/a> in Seattle on Dec. 2 may have had an effect on the entire team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously they blew us out,\u201d Reed said. \u201cI feel like that was just a wake up call. What they did to us. They embarrassed us, so I just feel like after that I feel like as a defensive unit we all just came together after that.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>[RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/49ers\/49ers-bears-injury-report-matt-breida-limited-nearly-everyone-healthy\" target=\"_blank\">49ers have&nbsp;nearly everyone healthy ahead of Bears game<\/a><strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One thing that Reed says has helped his productivity is getting more consistent reps in live games. Similar to fellow rookies Marcell Harris and Tarvarius Moore, Reed has been getting valuable playing time, coming in for injured K\u2019Waun Williams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like that\u2019s the best way to learn,\u201d Reed said. \u201cYou can always chalk it up on the board, but if you\u2019re not out there, then you\u2019re not going to know how fast to do things. You just have to go out there and learn for yourself. You got to get thrown out there in the fire and see how you perform.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>What does&nbsp;Reed want from the remainder of his rookie season?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have to make the most out of the situation. We have to make the best out of our last two games. Just taking advantage of every rep is what I\u2019m trying to do.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
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49ers

49ers

SANTA CLARA — Rookie defensive back D.J. Reed has turned his season around by playing fast and using his instincts. He is making the most of the valuable reps he’s going to get in the final two games of the season. 

It was just a month ago when Reed reluctantly spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area after a practice. He was disappointed with his progress in his first season and explained that he was his own toughest critic. Reed explained what was going through his mind at the time. 

“I just wasn’t really happy how I was playing throughout the whole year on special teams and on defense,” Reed said. “And then I got my chance.” 

Fast forward a few weeks later, all of Reed’s hard work paid off in a breakout game in the 49ers win over the Broncos. He registered 10 solo tackles and two tackle assists, three of which were for a loss. He also recorded the first sack and forced fumble of his NFL career. 

“The Denver game was my best game by far,” Reed said. “Seahawks, I thought I played OK. And we ended up winning as well so we’ve been doing good since the last time we talked. Obviously we won, which was the most important thing. And obviously it feels good knowing you contributed to a win.” 

 

Veteran cornerback Richard Sherman has been a valuable mentor and leader to everyone in the young secondary. Reed took Sherman's advice to heart: think less, play faster. 

“I feel like when I started doing that, things started to happen, good things started to happen for me," Reed said. "I feel like our defense is starting to do that. Communicating more, flying around. 

“Even though we’re not getting the ball yet, we’re still getting crucial stops, making big plays and we’re a good third down defense. We’re doing a lot of good things, we just got to get the ball.” 

Things have clearly turned around not only for Reed, but also the entire Niners defense. The rookie explained that the demoralizing 43-16 loss in Seattle on Dec. 2 may have had an effect on the entire team. 

“Obviously they blew us out,” Reed said. “I feel like that was just a wake up call. What they did to us. They embarrassed us, so I just feel like after that I feel like as a defensive unit we all just came together after that.” 

[RELATED: 49ers have nearly everyone healthy ahead of Bears game]

One thing that Reed says has helped his productivity is getting more consistent reps in live games. Similar to fellow rookies Marcell Harris and Tarvarius Moore, Reed has been getting valuable playing time, coming in for injured K’Waun Williams. 

“I feel like that’s the best way to learn,” Reed said. “You can always chalk it up on the board, but if you’re not out there, then you’re not going to know how fast to do things. You just have to go out there and learn for yourself. You got to get thrown out there in the fire and see how you perform.” 

What does Reed want from the remainder of his rookie season? 

“We have to make the most out of the situation. We have to make the best out of our last two games. Just taking advantage of every rep is what I’m trying to do.”