2012-GameRelease-Divisional

Ricky Jean Francois builds strength
By Jacob Most, 49ers.com
Player Feature Story
Ricky Jean Francois made a bold claim on Monday when he said he was the strongest man on the 49ers
defense. When looking at his 6-foot-3, 295-pound frame the argument is enough to make you stop and
think, but ultimately, Jean Francois’ versatility is what makes him so valuable to his team.
Coaches often call Jean Francois the fourth starter on the defensive front, despite the fact that the team
utilizes a 3-4 system.
Listed as a defensive tackle, Jean Francois knows all three spots on defensive line and he plays each
with impressive effectiveness. That fact allows Jean Francois to push his teammates to improve all the
time.
The battle among the 49ers defensive linemen often carries over into the weight room with arguably the
strongest unit in the NFL competing with each other just like they’re playing on the field.
Jean Francois’ claims that he can move more weight than any other 49ers defender could raise some
eyebrows when considering some of his teammate’s abilities.
After all, he plays on the same line as fellow behemoths like All-Pro Justin Smith, Ray McDonald and
Isaac Sopoaga, not to mention Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman, the team’s pair of first-team All-Pro
linebackers.
The friendly competition to establish supremacy in strength within the 49ers defense transcends the
boundaries of the field or even the weight room.
“When you go inside the weight room the same competition you have on the field is going,” Jean Francois
said. “If somebody squats five plates and they walk away, but they heard somebody squatted another six,
they will leave wherever they are sitting and come back to put the belt back on to do more than you.
“That’s good to have guys be competitive on the field and off the field.”
Jean Francois said the defense is like a family despite the rivalry over who is strongest. Players mess
around with one another, but at the end of the day, everyone has each others’ backs to reach one
common goal.
Jean Francois attributes defensive linemen pushing each other to improve in every aspect as a major
reason the defense did not allow a rushing touchdown through the first 15 weeks of last season, an NFL
record.
“You have days where you come after practice where Justin will lift the whole weight room, you’ve got Ice
(Sopoaga) who will move the whole building and you’ve got Ray who will probably pick up the same
things that are out there being used to build the new stadium.”
For many of the 49ers, including Jean Francois, the conditioning program extends beyond the weight
room. The fourth-year defensive tackle is more than willing to try new techniques, which would help him
get through the grind of being a NFL player.
Jean Francois has observed many veteran teammates’ training methods and Randy Moss has apparently
caught the big man’s eye.