"I don't have any wood to knock on. Yeah. Thrilled. Thrilled. Yeah. Absolutely."
What stood out for you?
"The team aspects of it. The way everybody's working together. The way these guys talk to each other. The way these guys treat each other with the dignity and the respect that everybody deserves. The way they treat everybody around the building. And just where they're going in that and the way they're doing it together. And then, obviously, schematically and fundamentally, I think we've come a long way. We've achieved what we needed to achieve up to this point."
Did you offer any kind of message as you guys now break until training camp?
What needs to be better? What are some of the things that stood out that you'd like to really focus on once training camp begins?
"Well, I think a continuation of some of the things you saw here with the situational football. We've just got to stay on it. Not that it's bad, but we've got to improve there. We've got to keep improving there. But, in every area, we have to improve in everything. Every area we've just got to keep getting better. Situationally, staying on top of that. That's been the emphasis here. And they're handling it real well right now. It's more of an introduction in three days, but we'll continue in that way and something every day."
You said that one of the aspects that you guys improved on was schematically. How much overhaul or did you have to blend in with the old scheme to the new scheme?
"Again, I'm staying away from, this isn't the old scheme. This is our scheme. This is the 49ers offensive schematic. It was installed. It's the 49ers defensive schematic, special teams schematic, player engagement schematic and we've installed them all and we own it and we're moving forward with it."
"He's done a tremendous job. And again, I'm excited for you to get the opportunity for you to talk to him today. We took our time putting the coaching staff together and we wanted to get the right people and I feel great about that right now. Take full responsibility for it. It's a fantastic staff."
What do you recall of your meetings with DT Darnell Dockett? He recalls fondly you guys meeting at mid-field after every matchup when you guys saw each other twice a year. What were those exchanges like?
"Just simply, there's nothing really sexy about it or anything. It's just, 'Hey man I've got a lot of respect for the way you play on game day.' That was it. Somebody does something good, you read something that's really good, sometimes you get the urge, you want to pick up the phone, give a call and say hey that was great. That's all it was. Just respect the way the guy played on game day."
It meant a lot to him.
Would he walk over to you after the game or would you walk over to him? Who would initiate the interaction?
"I don't even remember. I know from my point of view I was looking for the guy to tell him, 'Much respect man.'"
Is he going to be back for training camp?
"Yeah. Well, we're thinking that. But, we're not going to, it's an 11-year guy and we're not going to, now, I'll tell you we're really excited about the guys that are practicing, too."
"I don't have that in front of me. I don't want to mislead you. I do know that he's a guy that we've talked about that wouldn't be ready. Honestly, [Vice President of Communications] Bob [Lange], is there any that come to your mind?"
DB Jimmie Ward?
"No. Jimmie Ward I think right now is scheduled to be ready. But, we're dealing medically."
G/C Daniel Kilgore?
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers
