Dan Quinn on 49ers: “The running backs look terrific”

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn jumped on a conference call with Bay Area media to discuss his upcoming matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Quinn seemed especially impressed with the 49ers running backs and Carlos Hyde in particular. Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group asked about the 49ers' differences between the first half and the second half and why the team is struggling later in games. Quinn responded, "That's a funky one because I think something that happens to them -- there's not like a -- how do you measure it? Why does it happen? What's the scores of the game?

"What I can say is that coming out, they look really, really well established in terms of how to run the ball. I was impressed in the past by Hyde. It looks like he's running better this year than in the past. Would you guys agree with that?"

Inman and Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area agreed with Maiocco pointing out that Hyde has been healthier this season. Quinn asked, "Is that what it is? Because just playing against him, I've watched him and I thought he was tough and fast and then this year, between him and [DuJuan] Harris and Shaun [Draughn], I thought, 'The running backs look terrific.' I was going to tell [running backs coach Tom] Rathman after the game, not beforehand so don't let it out."

"As far as the second half, I don't have a good reason behind that," Quinn continued. "I'm not exactly familiar with all of the numbers that would go into that."

Quinn was then asked about QB Colin Kaepernick. Inman asked, "Has anything changed in terms of how you would prepare to face him other than tell the guys on the edge not to let him get around?"

"That would be good advice and we definitely said that one pretty early," Quinn answered. "I know his yards per carry are ridiculously high. Is that the highest it's been somebody had told me?" The two reporters confirmed that.

"He looks faster but leaner," Quinn continued. "Of course, I haven't seen him in person, but the quick gain and the boost, those are the things that he throws so well because he can rip those. Whether it's the keepers that come outside and the quick gains, I always felt that part was good. Even during Jim's [Harbaugh] time, the gun runs and his ability to read it at the line of scrimmage, I thought was really good.

"And then I always thought he was a tough competitor. A guy, you'd hit him, and he'd just battle back. I don't know if it feels different to me in terms of a style of how he is playing in terms of his makeup. Does that make sense? He looks similar other than leaner and faster."