San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and offensive line/run game coordinator Chris Foerster spoke with reporters after Thursday's practice. The team is preparing for its Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
QB Brock Purdy
You were voted a team captain. Did that surprise you or what's your reaction to that honor?
"Yeah. I'm very honored to be able to be voted by my teammates and peers, be able to be a captain on the team, and that my teammates think that way of me. So, I'm very honored by it and it means a lot to me."
Is it something you were expecting or did it kind of catch you by surprise or anything like that?
"Yeah, I mean, I wasn't really thinking about it. I've just been trying to get better every day, come to practice trying to push the guys around me, and be ready for Week One. And that's really just where my mindset has been. So, when we came in for a meeting and we had voted about stuff, I was like, 'shoot, I sort of forgot about voting for captains and all that kind of stuff,' and then once we came back a couple of days later and saw my name on the board, I was like, 'wow, what an honor'."
How would you put into words what you've done in the past six months to get to this point where you're able to play in the season opener?
"Yeah. Man, I'm just so thankful to be able to go through what I've done just in terms of the rehab. Have all the help that I've had with all the physical therapists, my surgeon, the strength and conditioning staff and everyone here. The medical staff with the Niners, they've all played a huge role. And so, it wasn't just me. I had a lot of help and I'm very thankful for everyone that played a part in that. But yeah, it was somewhat of a long six months, but at the same time, it's like, man, it felt like that Eagles game was just yesterday. So here we are getting ready for game one and I'm really excited about it."
During the de-loading week last week, did you feel a noticeable difference? How has it maybe helped you or how do you feel it this week?
"Yeah, it was good last week to be able to just sort of let the arm de-load in terms of reps and whatnot just so it's fresh and a hundred percent ready to roll for the season and stuff. It's going to be a long ride for the season. So, it was all part of the plan and the arm feels really good."
You talked about pushing players around you. What have you learned about pushing players in an environment where there are so many self-motivated guys? I mean, how do you know what buttons to push? Or is that how you even approach it?
"Yeah. I don't feel like you have to come into this locker room and be a rah-rah guy and tell guys and try to light a fire under guys here. Everyone knows what the job is, what the standard is. But I feel like once you get out in the field and you're practicing, in the weight room, just the way you carry yourself and you're willing to show the guys around you, 'hey, like this guy, he wants to win,' and so I feel like that is sort of like my route of, I guess motivation for the guys around me. But you know, we have such an older team and a lot of guys with the experience and stuff. So, to be able to come in, just do your job, do it well, and then guys will respect that around you. So that's really where my mindset has been with that. And I've learned from guys obviously like [LB] Fred Warner, [TE] George Kittle, [RB] Christian [McCaffrey], how they go about their business and it makes me better and it makes everyone else better in our locker room."
Last year was such a whirlwind for you. I mean, once you got into the lineup, it was a game every week and sometimes a short week. What's it been like for you to just kind of hone in and I don't know how long you've focused on specifically facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, but what's that process been like for you this season?
"Yeah, I mean, honestly taking what I had learned last year, just in terms of how I prep for a game, what the week looks like, obviously I feel like it changed a little bit from the beginning of the year all the way to the end. As I became a starter, I did a lot of similar things that I did as a backup that allowed me to be ready for my opportunity. And so, I've taken that and applied it for this year, really starting in camp all the way up until now and I'll continue to do it. So, I feel like the coaches, everyone around me has a great schedule and plan laid out, and I just got to trust what they're trying to teach and show me and stuff. And then obviously I do what I think is necessary for myself. So just trusting the process and not changing, but just being myself."
What stands out about the Pittsburgh Steelers when you watch them on film? They obviously have good players on all three levels of their defense. What stands out when you watch them?
"Yeah. I feel like they play really hard for four quarters. They're a team that I feel like last year they got really hot as a team. They have this fire that they play with and obviously, it starts with their front, their backers, their secondary, they're just well coached and when you watch the film there's just guys that pop out and it's like, 'man, we got to play four quarters really hard against this team.' So, it's going to be a tough opponent and we respect them and they're going to be a team that brings it every single play. There's no plays off I feel like from really anyone on their defense."
Did you meet Steelers QB Kenny Pickett at all during the whole rookie quarterback thing? Whether it was The Combine or any other place?
"Yep, at The Combine. He was a great guy. Everyone loved being around him. I loved being around him. You know, obviously, we haven't really hung out or anything much outside of that but got to meet him a little bit there and he's a great guy."
Have you had any time when you look back at where you were last year and this year, and obviously preparing for the game, but have you had a moment of, 'whoa, I've come a long way?'
"Honestly, there's some moments where I'm able to sort of step back and be thankful for everything and whatnot, but at the same time it's like, man, there's a lot in front of me that I'm trying to handle and prepare for. Obviously with this game coming up and then really this whole offseason it's been about my arm, getting it right, getting healthy, so I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and not trying to get caught up in too much other stuff, but for me it's I want to win, I want to play football, and I love the game and that's where I'm at with my life."
A guy like Pittsburgh Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick who had six interceptions, it seems that he does some freelancing. He's obviously somebody who gets in a lot of throwing lanes. How difficult is it to prepare for somebody that has that much responsibility and is such a space eater on the back end?
"Yeah, he's all over the film, just flying around, obviously reading the quarterback's eyes. They give him a lot of freedom, I feel like, to be himself and play. And so definitely respect him. But yeah, while watching it and stuff, it's like, man, we got to play our game, we got to play within our scheme not trying to get wrapped up in just one single guy because they have players all across the board, so it's not just him. We respect him, everything that he does, yes. But I got to just play the play that coach calls and do what we're trying to get accomplished throughout the game, every single drive, every single play. So, definitely respect him and what he does. But there's 10 other guys on the field too that are also really good."
Did you see Pittsburgh Steelers CB Patrick Peterson has predicted he'll intercept you?
"No, he said that?"
If I can give you the quote and get your reaction. 'There are some tell signs out there that tells us what plays we're going to get from these guys in certain situations. When I get my pick on Sunday, we will talk about it. I mean, do you say like oh my gosh, whatever, or is that just some pregame trash talk?
"Yeah, I don't really know what to say about that. I mean, he's a good player. Patrick Peterson's a great player. I grew up watching him and everything. I was obviously from Arizona. He played for the Cardinals and stuff. So yeah, it's the competitive nature I guess of football. So, we'll see."
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks
Opening comments:
"We've had two good days of practice this week. Consistency is always the key with anything that you're doing. Again, we're preparing for a good football team and the Steelers are well coached, very talented, and definitely have weapons all across the board. So with that, I know you have a lot of questions, so I'll open up the floor."
What was your first order of business when you found out that DL Nick Bosa was going to be here?
"Excited, number one, that he's back in the building. We all know that he makes us a better football team, not just a better defense. So business as usual in regards for his preparation, but understand that he brings a little bit more to the game plan."
From an energy perspective, what has he kind of brought even the short time he's been back?
"Everybody's excited that he's back in the building. Coaches, players, you saw the energy that we had on Monday when we came in and just magnified when he got here. So once again, excited that he's back and looking forward to him being on the field."
The Steelers this offseason made a big deal about trying to be more explosive offensively. From what you've seen from QB Kenny Pickett in the preseason, have you seen that's something they can reach?
"I think they're living up to that. Yeah, for sure. He's pushing the ball down the field quite a bit. Definitely have weapons in [WR George] Pickens. I think he is phenomenal in everything that he does for as catch radius, you throw the ball anywhere close to him, he's pulling it in. So solid run game and they complement that with play-action down the field."
Did Nick do any work with the team today or was it just individual stuff today?
"He was just individual, yeah."
What do you think is a realistic snap count for him on Sunday?
"It's hard to say. I think each player's different, and I say that in a meaningful way, he's different. So it is not really trying to put a limit on what he can do, it's just trying to get a feel and once we get into the game and then go from there."
He obviously hasn't been in training camp, hasn't kind of gone through the soreness that everybody else goes through. Is that at all a concern that he might be able to play a lot of snaps, but there might be something on the backend that he would deal with?
"Well, I think you always have to judge that with all your players. A guy that hasn't been here, as you stated, guys that have multiple years in the league, you're always trying to foresee things. We've got a quick Thursday Night game. That's things to think about for his reps on the frontend as well. So yes, we have thought about that."
Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada, he's got three different backs, how does he use them? How's he used them in the preseason and what do you know about Canada?
"Great coach, good offensive mind. Played him last year. I thought they do a great job in everything they're doing. [RB Najee] Harris is more in between the tackles, a power runner, but I think he has the ability to be able to get on the outside as well. So, I think he does a great job in using all three of those guys. And when you look at their run game, I think the simplicity of it from a standpoint of what they do, but the magnitude and how they do it is some somewhat complicated. So, they hit you inside, in between the tackles, they get on the outside with the jet sweeps, the bounce play. So we've got to do a great job of setting the edges this week, to say the least."
CB Charvarius Ward wasn't practicing today. Is there any concern about him being able play Sunday?
"No. I'm not concerned at all. I think he'll be ready to play, so it's not an issue with me."
What about S Talanoa Hufanga? I know that he missed today because of a personal matter, but was the knee, the cist, problematic in yesterday's practice at all?
"No. Again, as you stated, it is personal, so I won't go into detail about that. I just understand and know when guys like that aren't here, Bosa, Mooney's out, Huff is not here, it just gives us an opportunity to get other guys reps as we've seen. And at some point in time those reps are going to come into play rather Week 1 this week or Week 10. So I look at it as a positive sometimes."
With him out, with those two safeties not practicing, how has S Ji'Ayir Brown handled everything?
"I think Ji'Ayir's getting better. I think he's becoming a little bit more comfortable in the things that we're asking him to do. I think he saw that in preseason. Again the transition with a lot of these rookies, just understanding how we do things and most importantly, just trying to operate under consistency because at some point in time, hope it's no time soon, they will hit that rookie wall."
Have you met Bosa before he arrived last night?
"At mini-camp. Mandatory mini-camp when he was here."
Offensive line/run game coordinator coach Chris Foerster has talked about the first extended drive that an offense gets in the first regular season game is as tired as he'll see them all year because it's their first real strain that of a regular season game that cannot be replicated even in preseason. Is it same for the defense?
"It is. And I think [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] does a great job in how we practice in trying to orchestrate those different looks. And there's times that we've gone 10-play drives, 12-play drives, just trying to create that game-like similarity."
Pickett has gone five drives and five touchdowns in the preseason. Obviously, you looked at him this preseason, but you looked at his film last year. How's he different from last year from what you saw this summer?
"I think he's a little bit more comfortable in the offense and what they ask him to do. He makes great decisions with the ball. Again, I think they have a solid run game, which I think really takes a lot of the pressure off of him having to constantly push the ball down the field and go win a game. They create a lot of balance in what they do. I think again, the play-action down the field has definitely been a difference and it jumps out at you on tape. And the receivers again, they have in Pickens and [WR Diontae] Johnson, I think are outstanding."
Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator Chris Foerster
Have you seen a noticeable raise in energy since DL Nick Bosa has been back in the building?
"I really haven't noticed it. It was great energy all week actually. The guys have been really ready to go and have had a great couple days of practice and I really didn't notice it, but I'm glad he's back."
The Pittsburgh Steelers has incredible depth of edge rushers, not just the starters, the backups are really good as well. Is this a game where you're going to have to help T Trent Williams and OL Colton McKivitz consistently throughout the game?
"Well, I think you have to be aware. They've got good players across the board on the defense. Their defensive linemen are talented. [DT Cameron Heyward] 97's a very good rusher as well as a run player. The edge rushers are obviously, as you noted, very good players. So, we have to take count as we do in every game. Where are the good players? How do we help minimize their impact on the game in any way, shape, or form? Whatever we have to do to do that sometimes it's play calls, sometimes it's help. There's a lot of different ways and different things you can possibly do. There are so many things that they challenge you with on defense that you just have to be careful that you're balanced in everything that you do and guys have to step up and make some plays and we have to help them every way we can with our play calls as well."
You've got four skill position players in RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Brandon Aiyuk, WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle. You've been doing this a long time, do teams that you've been on come to mind where they have a similar type of foursome?
"Yeah, when I was in Indianapolis, the one thing that when I was with the Colts, they, [former Indianapolis Colts general manager] Bill Polian did a great job of when you had a quarterback and [former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator] Tom Moore, the coordinator there, like [former NFL QB] Peyton Manning, his philosophy was you had to make sure that he had people around him to get the ball to. At that point, we had [former NFL WR] Marvin Harrison, [former NFL WR] Reggie Wayne, and Reggie, his second year really wasn't quite what he became, but he became that very quickly. At the time, [former NFL WR] Brandon Stokely was one of the elite slot receivers, and then [former NFL TE] Marcus Pollard at tight end, [former NFL TE] Kenny Dilger had been a tight end then [former NFL RB] Edgerin James as the running back. So, there were three or four really good skill position players around him that the YAC, you get the ball in their hands and they're going to do something with it. Now, Marvin did things down the field and so, I'm not putting our guys yet in that category, but you hear other coaches talk about it, you hear other people say that our guys, when they get the ball in their hands, it's a good group. It's a cool group to be around and what they do with the ball in their hands. It's fun to watch them."
When you have this level of talent at skill positions, do you say, oh, we can do more offensively, let's try this. Or is it just the plays you have a greater chance of success?
"Well, it can be both. You can just say, we can just run what we run, and our good players are going to make plays regardless. Or we can say, how do we put our skill players in better matchup positions? And so, I think it's always a balancing act. It depends on so many things – the team you play, what the defense presents, what are you trying to do, so on and so forth. And so, you take advantage of things as you see them. One comes to mind, I remember this is a great one, is where the Colts were playing the Ravens. And I was actually at the Ravens at this point afterwards, and I was talking with [former NFL head coach] Rex Ryan about it, and they had a third-and-one, and Peyton threw a touchdown to Marv, like a 50-yard touchdown pass to Marvin on the third one. And when I asked Rex about it when I got there, I said, Rex, what were you thinking? He went and cover zero. He goes, well, they never threw the ball in that situation on third and one when they put those personnel people, but Peyton saw that they were in cover zero, so he checked to a play and hit Marvin Harrison because he knew he could take advantage of something the defense gave him. So sometimes it's just that. You have skilled players and you see something that you can take advantage of, and you do it that way as well."
Colton McKivitz was saying yesterday that after Denver Broncos OL Mike McGlinchey had left, he had a conversation with you and you basically told him now you prepare like a starter, carry yourself like a starter. Have you seen that in him from day one?
"Yes and he still has to go through the bumps and bruises of, okay, I maybe don't have as good a game, but I'm still the starter. I don't have as good a quarter, a rep, hey, dust yourself off, let's go, let's go, next play because you're the guy and we need you to play well the next play. And that was what I wanted him to know. He was the starter. It was time to stop thinking of yourself as the guy that came up back through the practice squad and all that he's done to accomplish where he is today. And I just wanted to have the confidence to know that he is that guy and he has carried himself that way. And you carry yourself that way though, basically, not because you're going make yourself carry yourself that way by performing, being consistent every day, showing up every day, doing what you're supposed to do on the field, doing what you're supposed to do in the meeting room, doing what you're supposed to do in the weight room. All the things that guys are supposed to do to be a starter, be a pro, be the right kind of guy, be on time, do everything right, be a leader, help the young guys. All those things that he does, he's embraced that role, but he's performed as well, so that's helped. And hopefully going into Week One, this performance, it hasn't been a real game yet. So now we get to see what we're made of."
What's the confidence level like for a guy like him when he knows I'm going to be one-on-one on this rep against Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt without any help? Do you see just the confidence in him ready for that?
"Oh, I'm sure he is. Like any other guy would be, you get a lump in your throat, you know it's going to be a challenge, it's going to be a full day of work and I've seen Trent Williams get it. I mean, and Trent didn't think – I remember Trent's first game, he didn't think he was going to get that feeling. Then he met [former NFL DL] DeMarcus Ware on opening day and realized, holy crap, this is a whole different thing than what I thought. And for the whole game, he hung on and his eyes were as big as could be and like I am so far out of my element right now, and that was Trent Williams day one. And you ask him about it, DeMarcus Ware in Washington, and Trent was like, holy crap, this is something else. So, I can imagine Colton – now the good thing for Colton is, Colton has played that Week 17 game against [Buffalo Bills LB] Von Miller. And yeah, there were some not-so-good plays, but there were some really good plays down the stretch as well. And he has had some meaningful reps for us over the first part of his career. So, while it's going to be a challenge as a starter, and I know it's a great player on defense and we give him all props, and Colton obviously I'm sure is going to feel it, I'm going to feel it for him if he's not feeling it. But I know we prepare for things like this and we go against really good players in practice all the time. And we talk about guys like this, and the guys spend a great deal of time studying and looking at how do we best manage a player like this? And then how do we help them as coaches as well?
The team hasn't gotten off to great starts in in recent seasons. Just wondering if that's been discussed in recent weeks and there's been any sort of diagnosis as to why that might've been?
"It's hard to put your finger on why it has been what it's been. I don't know. I really don't. This team, we've prepared well this camp. Last year, we had a young starting quarterback, the weather and then it was just some ups and downs early, then injuries to the positions. [Las Vegas Raiders QB] Jimmy [Garoppolo] takes over after the injury. He hadn't done anything in training, so there were a lot of reasons last year. Every year there's going to be an excuse. But then, we haven't played well since 2019 when we started 8-0 early in the season. And I don't know why that is. You could look to the last time we played Pittsburgh, I think we had five turnovers, and we still found a way to win that game at the end when they fumbled back to us at the end of the game and we end up kicking the game-winner. I mean, we could've lost some games that stretch. It has obviously been discussed. You don't want to come out of the gate slow. You love coming out and building that cushion early in the season. Heck, all we're trying to do is win one game just like we did last year, just like we did the year before. Come out on opening day, you hope that all your guys, your preparation, execution, everything that you've worked on, you can go out and do that on game day. And that's all we're hoping to do is start this season off right with one, just try to get one against a really, really good opponent in a really tough atmosphere."
How has RB Elijah Mitchell looked since coming back from that groin strain? Do you find it difficult to get all your running backs touches right now, especially after having good camps with RB Jordan Mason and RB Tyrion Davis-Price?
"Yeah, every time Elijah shows up it's great because it's like he's never missed a beat. So, when he's out there you're like, 'Ah, it's so good to have him back out there.' We've talked about him when Trent in the one game where he started running, he could tell it was not [RB] Christian [McCaffrey] running the ball anymore, just by the physicality of the run. And it is tough because you have all these guys that can contribute, but they all have a role, they all have a place. Obviously, Christian is the lead dog, and Elijah will get his carries. And if JP and the other guys get a chance to get in there, it's nice to have them. As you know throughout this thing, you're always going to need guys. So, whether they're all available and they all may not get touches right away, at some point they will."
Who is the third tackle? Is it OL Jaylon Moore? Is it OL Matt Pryor? Does it depend on which side? How do you have them slated?
"Yeah, right now it's still to be discussed going into who we dress and stuff right now. It'd be right and left. We did it last year with Colton and Jaylon last year as well. So right now, it's right and left. They've both done a good job and they're both more comfortable on those sides. But I've started swinging them and we've been starting to work both sides in practice in case the time does come that we've got to make a decision on one of them. Maybe we only dress one swing tackle and maybe we dress other guys inside. It just may be based on the health of the rest of the offensive line. So right now, it's right and left."
RB Christian McCaffrey came in and hit the ground running last year, but with a full offseason, do you see a lot of difference in how he's approaching the game now? More confidence in the system?
"Oh, he's awesome. He came here last year mid-season and obviously the shock of getting traded, a whole different system. He shows up here, we hand him the football right away and he just hadn't been in the system. And we talked about it last year, how he talks about how much we coached him. He never, as a runner, runners don't get coached a lot. They get coached in this offense, what they're supposed to read, what they're supposed to see, how they're supposed to press it. And obviously Christian does this thing too because he's a great runner and has instincts and feel. Now he understands all those things, he understands the plays. We went through a whole offseason of him understanding what we're trying to accomplish with this play, when we toss him the ball in this way, when we hand him the ball, how he's used to set up the blocks, what we're thinking up front. He didn't know those things. Other places he'd been, hadn't really talked much about it from my understanding. I'm not saying they did or didn't, that's what he told me. So, him being able to understand how things happen, as you've seen sometimes it's with some of the plays that [head coach] Kyle's [Shanahan] designed through the years. There's some decent-sized holes. They just kind of show up and it's by design. Well, when you're a runner that hasn't seen that, it's like 'You don't want me to run there right now?' No, you got to wait and then you can run there because there's other things that have to happen to play. Little things like that happen to him throughout. This year it's not like that man. He's so on it and still learning and still wanting to be better. He is just so hard on himself in a positive way that he's always wanting to make sure he gets it exactly right. And that trickles down now to all the rest of the backs and he's just a great guy to have on the team. And he has made huge strides as much as a guy as talented as Christian can make. He's made huge strides this year."
