The following are select post-game quotes from San Francisco 49ers players following Thursday night's 34-3 win over the Oakland Raiders.
Quotes provided by the 49ers Communications staff.
RB Matt Breida
From the opening kickoff you guys just took it to them and dominated this game from start to finish.
"We wanted to come out and prove to everyone on national television that we are not a joke. It doesn't matter what our record says, we are going to play hard every game."
What were the adjustments you guys made going into this game? Everything clicked, it just seemed you had different energy from past weeks.
"We just eliminated turnovers and penalties and just playing better football. We emphasized this week that everyone do their own job. Just do your job and things will get done. I believe that is what we did tonight."
Are you surprised by the performance of San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens?
"No. No. I tried to tell you guys earlier in the week that he is just a baller. He comes to work every day and he is just in his book. If you guys come in and see him, he is at his locker in his book every week and now it is finally paying off for him."
Why is he so prepared for this moment and seize like he did?
"Because he is Nick Mullens. That is what he does. He is ready for big moments anytime. He is going to be a great quarterback in this league when he gets his shot."
Did you expect him to be as flawless as he was?
"Yes. I have seen it all week in practice making all the right reads and making the correct passes. It showed today in the game."
What kind of confidence was he exuding leading up to this game with you guys?
"So much confidence even in the huddle telling the guys 'Hey watch out for this blitz.' or 'watch out for this play, we are going to check this.' He had got a lot of confidence and I think that is what is makes him a great quarterback."
DL DeForest Buckner
It seemed like from the outset you guys were determined to go after Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr?
"Definitely, this week as a D line we knew we had to get after it. I am just happy the way everybody played and responded to the task at hand. The sacks were spread around today."
Even though it was a short week, you guys looked energized and you guys looked fast. Did it feel that way?
"Most definitely. [Head Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] did a really good job of taking care of the team physically. He challenged us mentally all week. We had some long days. The guys stepped to the plate and took advantage of that week. We knew it was going to be a short week but we didn't want to make any excuses being sore because the Raiders had the same short week we had."
What was clicking as far as the pass rush today?
"I think guys were just going out there and feeding off each other. I think everyone was just energized. We came out with a lot of energy today. We had [LB] Dekoda [Watson] back and he had some action today. It was fun just seeing him out there playing. He has been wanting to get out there all year. [LB Ronald Blair III] Ronnie had a couple, [DL] Cassius [Marsh] had a couple. Everyone was just feeding off each other and having fun out there."
FB Kyle Juszczyk
What do you make of 49ers QB Nick Mullens tonight and how he approached the game?
"He was phenomenal. From the first snap he took command of the huddle. I can't tell you how many times that he told us to quiet down. It was impressive. He studied his butt off all week and he was prepared and ready to go. He went out there and executed and killed it."
He didn't have any real reps, you guys just did walk-throughs all week right?
"Yes, walk-throughs all week. The dude is a gamer. We saw it all in the preseason. When he gets an opportunity he goes out there and makes the most of it. He did a good job of that today."
What was he like in the pregame speech? We saw him get that duty today, what was the message?
"He always preaches focus and to do your job and be ready. It's funny because you can just see him flip that switch and become serious, when he is in charge. The guys respond well to it and he did an awesome job with that."
TE George Kittle
Can you take us through the long catch there, how you pulled that off?
"I closed my eyes, 100-percent."
Seriously?
"Yep. I just kind of stuck an arm out there and it fell in my hand."
You still managed to run after the catch though.
"Trust me, as soon as I kept running, I was like, 'I cannot believe I'm still up right now.' It's crazy."
You knew you were going to make it into the end zone?
"I looked up at the screen and I think it was [Raiders CB Gareon Conley] 21 following me and I was like, 'he's faster than me so I just have to protect the ball.' [Head coach Kyle] Coach Shanahan rewarded me like two plays later so that's pretty fun."
Were you surprised at all by 49ers QB Nick Mullens' performance?
"Not at all. He's a guy that he is more prepared than coach Shanahan, I swear, for our games. It doesn't matter if he's second string, third string, he is a guy that prepares every week like he is the starter and the guy. That's completely on him. That's not anyone telling him he should study more, but that's just him being 100-percent prepared."
How does he go about preparing?
"My favorite story that I've heard so far is that when we have away games, he puts on his headphones super loud, crowd noise, and then he calls the plays out loud so he gets used to calling them with noise all around him. That's the best thing I've seen so far."
This is during the week?
"Yeah, that's what he does. He does that. I know coach Shanahan will record the calls for him and he'll listen to them and he'll re-call them out. I'm pretty sure last year he was a guy that took the script after the game and he'd go out on the field after the game and run the plays by himself. That's just Nick Mullens in a nut shell."
Last Battle of the Bay. How does it feel to get those across town bragging rights against the Raiders?
"It's my first one and the last one so it's pretty awesome because I'm 1-0."
How big was it for you guys to get this win? You guys have lost six straight, you have been in some close, though losses. You guys were able to get a start to finish, convincing win.
"It's fun. Football is easier when you're having fun."
How much does it help to have the full breadth of the offense at your disposal when you have the third string quarterback in there?
"He just hops in like nothing happened. You couldn't tell there was a difference if he was first string or third string. He just played like a baller."
We saw him giving a pregame speech there to you guys. What's his message in there and how fiery is he in that situation?
"He's so fiery, it is awesome. He's kind of a quiet guy, keeps to himself, but he rose to the occasion tonight and he did all week during practice. Like I said, that's all on him. He's a fantastic player and a great guy and he put himself in this situation."
This is another 100-yard game for you receiving. You're on pace to eclipse 1,000 yards and be the first 49ers tight end to do so. What's clicking for you this year?
"That's on the whole team. Coach Shanahan puts me in positions to get open and he tells the quarterback to throw me the ball. He has the offensive line blocking for him the whole time which gives me time to run my route. That's really, coach Shanahan gave me the opportunities and I just have to make the most of them."
What was Nick like on the sidelines?
"Cool, calm and confident."
Did he say anything to you specifically after the touchdown?
"No, the dude doesn't change. It's unreal, absolutely unreal. He's just a gunslinger."
DL Cassius Marsh
It was obviously a big night for you guys.
"Everybody played their butts off. Everybody on the defensive line was eating. Linebackers were running and the defensive backs were covering. The offense was honestly the biggest part. They got up and let the defensive line go eat. [San Francisco 49ers QB] Nick Mullens, that's the story of the night for me. Nick Mullens killed it."
Who is Nick Mullens?
"He's the man. What do you mean? Every single time he steps on the field he does this stuff. It's nothing new to us. I had nothing but faith that he would go out there and execute. You all can see what he did."
Is there anything Nick Mullens did to impress you?
"Is there anything he didn't do that didn't impress me? He did everything tonight. He made good decisions, he kept the ball in our hands, no turnovers, executed and threw dimes. It was beautiful. Offense, defense and special teams, everybody did their thing tonight."
Did you have a feeling that you guys were imposing your will from the opening kickoff and never let up?
"We finished today. That's what coach was talking about all week, just finishing. We had a great first half, but we came out in the second half and finished the game. I think that was the biggest part for us, and the biggest accomplishment for us tonight was to come out and finish the game."
Can you build off of this sort of performance?
"Absolutely. We take it one game at a time, but this is a great 'W' for us. We're going to enjoy it and then come back and get ready for New York."
What about the bragging rights for the last Battle of the Bay Area?
"It's big time. It's beautiful being a part of history. We won handsomely so the Raiders can't say much from here on out, but it was a great game. Everybody is happy. We're excited to get that 'W.'"
What about yourself, personally? You led the charge with two-and-a-half sacks.
"I just go out there and play as hard as I can. I didn't really think about it. We were all just racing to the quarterback. I know [San Francisco 49ers DL Ronald Blair III] Ronnie had two, [San Francisco 49ers DL DeForest Buckner] DeFo had one early. Everyone was getting there. [San Francisco 49ers LB] Dekoda [Watson] was wreaking havoc all night. The defensive line is always a group effort."
T Mike McGlinchey
How good was San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens tonight?
"Nick was awesome tonight. It was no surprise to any of us. He is a guy that comes into work every single day and takes a lot of pride in knowing his stuff and being one of the most prepared guys in our building. He has just been a guy that has been grinding and grinding quietly and waiting for his shot. He got it tonight and just ran with it, and I couldn't be more proud of him and the way that he played."
Anything about his play surprise you at all?
"No not at all. He played an awesome game tonight. He comes into practice every day, he comes into meetings every day, he is just a pro. He showed it tonight. It shows by how he was completing passes. He was anticipating throws. He knew where the ball was supposed to be and where it needed to be. It makes our job a lot easier protecting that way and he certainly lights up scoreboards a little bit better. It was just awesome, and nothing surprises us about that. Nick played his butt off and I just couldn't be more excited for him."
G/C Weston Richburg
It seemed pretty seamless between you and San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens, was it?
"He did a great job. I was very happy with how he came in. He came in all week super prepared. It was a short week but he was ready to go, and it showed for him."
Have you ever seen anything like that? A guy that was undrafted free agent, practice squad all last year and first start does this.
"No. It was really cool and he deserves that because he works really hard."
Who is Nick Mullens?
"A young guy that works really hard. He came in this week ready to go out and play well and it paid off for him."
He has some pedigree right being from Southern Mississippi?
"Yes. There is another guy from Southern Miss, that was a quarterback and Nick holds all of his records there, so, it shows because he is a good player."
CB Richard Sherman
You have gone against San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens in practice as a scout team quarterback, I'm guessing that you are not too surprised by that performance?
"No. I'm not surprised at all. It was cool that he didn't change in the big lights under the circumstances. He gets out in practice and we will be in a walk through and obviously he is the scout team quarterback of the walk through and he will get upset when we pick the ball off. It's like well this is a walk through and we are the starting defense so we are supposed to know the plays and pick the ball off. He is like, 'I'm getting judged off these interceptions so no.' He is trying to shred us in a walk-thru 7-on-7. He is a really competitive guy. He really cares and he is really about the details so obviously we are not surprised. We have seen him do it in practice. He plays with a lot of confidence even when he, is running other team's plays. He is not like, 'I'll just throw it up and let the defense intercept it.' He is like, 'No I'm going to find the hole and drill it in and make you guys feel like these plays are unstoppable."'
You guys had your best performance of the season on defense. How did it feel to have everything clicking?
"It felt great. [DB] Tyvis Powell deserves a lot of credit. Last week he came in after not practicing safety for four or five weeks and did an admirable job this week. Another short week, he only had a couple days to prepare, and played a great game outside of a dropped pick, missed opp. We will talk about that later. He did a great job. [DB] Jimmie Ward obviously has been asked to play a ton of positions this year. He played his best game of the season just playing sound discipline football. [San Francisco 49ers LBs] Elijah Lee and Malcom Smith came in for [San Francisco 49ers LB] Ruben [Foster] and played sound football. [LB] Mark Nzeocha played good. The D-line was hunting. [DE] Cassius [Marsh] was hunting. [DE] Ronnie [Ronald] Blair he gets limited reps and comes in and makes an impact. Obviously [DT DeForest Buckner] DeFo and Arik [Armstead] were making impacts. I didn't get a chance to be a part of the pass rush this week. I am kind of upset about that but I was happy with the way we performed. [DB] Ahkello Witherspoon, obviously this is his fourth good game in a row and he stacked them. A lot is made when he is having a bad game but when he is locking guys down and not giving up a lot of catches and playing soundly there is not a lot of noise being made. Obviously, corner is one of those positions that gets under appreciated when you are playing great."
T Joe Staley
Everyone has talked about San Francisco 49ers QB Nick Mullens' preparation. Were you able to see that?
"Yes, for sure. He's been working very, very hard for the last two years. Obviously, since he got here as an undrafted quarterback just trying to make the roster as a rookie, his work ethic has shown every single day since he's been here. I knew, and everyone in this locker room knew, that he was ready for this moment because he prepared for it. Guys would feel differently if he acted different, but he's been in here for the last two years, knew the offense, knew the gameplan and was ready to take advantage of it."
What was Mullens like in the huddle?
"He was assertive. He was confident. He was exactly what you would want. He did well. I just reminded him during the game it's just one play at a time. I think that first drive was really big for him just to get the momentum. We were moving the chains, we go down there and score on the first series. That was big for his confidence, and it went up from there."
In terms of protection, what can you take from this game?
"We really did a good job. The last couple of weeks in particular have been a struggle for us up front as far as protecting the quarterback. I thought we did a good job today. We just have to try to keep that moving forward. We have a long weekend and we have a lot of guys banged up, especially up front. So, it will be nice to have this long weekend and get healthy."
Was there anything about the play of Mullens that surprised you?
"Not really. I kind of knew him and his personality. It's one of those feel-good stories of this guy that works hard consistently and doesn't complain about the lack of opportunities that he's had. He's just always ready for his moment, and his moment came up today on national television. He came up in a big way."
How much does it help to have a third-string quarterback that can run the full breadth of the offense?
"It's huge. All three guys have been here for two years – well [49ers QB] Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't – but [49ers QB] C.J. Beathard and Nick have been here for two years and completely understand this offense. [Head coach] Kyle [Shanahan]'s offense is pretty complex, especially for quarterbacks. I think Nick will tell you it wasn't flawless today. There were some communication issues and stuff that we can improve on, but overall it was an unbelievable job. I'm just really happy for him."
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