Like many coaches, Jim Tomsula doesn’t shower praise on rookies until they’ve done something to earn it.
When recently asked about impressive undrafted wide receiver DeAndrew White, for example, Tomsula said a few nice things before stopping himself: “Let’s not overdo it. It’s the first day (of training camp).”
Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, 34, however, clearly has a far different philosophy when it comes to first-year players. Consider the praise he showered today on defensive tackle Arik Armstead, the 49ers’ first-round pick who is similar in size to Cardinals defensive tackle Calais Campbell, Dockett’s teammate for the previous seven seasons.