San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster spoke with reporters after Thursday's practice, as the team prepares for its Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
QB Brock Purdy
Last year's playoff game, what were some of your takeaways from that game that could benefit you going into this one?
"Yeah, it was obviously a fourth quarter game. It was a very physical game. They did a good job of what they do up front, stopping the run and getting in on some pass plays and stuff, and disrupting just the rhythm of some of our concepts and the rhythm of myself and dropping back. So those are things we saw. They're a good defense, they do some really good things up front. Secondary is really good too. And so yeah, just looking at that game and sort of just putting ourselves back into what was at stake, as a playoff game, just the rivalry of the organizations and understanding what's at stake for this Sunday too. It's a big game. And yeah, we've definitely gone back and looked at a lot of stuff in that game."
Is it a benefit to having gone through that, not only just the pressure, the situation, but the speed, that defense, the challenges that they bring to the table?
"Yeah, I think it's always good to be able to have some experience with a team that you're playing and stuff like that. I think it's huge. But every year, obviously you got guys that leave the team, or they add on, and so it's a little bit different. Their style might be a little bit different. But in terms of like going against those certain guys and feeling that kind of pass rush and how they defend in the secondary, it's good that I got some of that experience. All the guys with me got that experience, really in January. So here we are months later and ready to go after them again."
That was the only game that you've gone beginning to end, that the offense scored less than 20 because they held you to four field goals. Do you remember that as being kind of a slog and a real tough game?
"Yeah. I just remember every play was there's a lot at stake every single play and you had to be on point, you had to be detailed in everything. I feel like there was some of my progressions where I got off some stuff too quick and looking back on it, it's like, 'Man, just, stick to the progressions, don't overthink things.' So those are the things I saw on film. But to go back to your point, yeah, like every possession and down it means a lot. And so, in this kind of game when you got two really good defenses on both sides of the ball, it's like, man, how can you eliminate the turnovers, play smart, and when you get in the red zone, execute and be willing to actually score touchdowns. Obviously, the field goals are great, and getting points are great, but to win these kind of games, man, we got to score touchdowns."
Can you identify where Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons is on every play? Are you specifically looking for number 11?
"Yeah, obviously I think he's a game-changer of a player. So that's with every team that we go against, who are the guys that can change a game in one play, one snap. So obviously just always having my antenna up where he's at, where he is lined up. It was the same thing in the playoff game last year. It'll be the same thing this Sunday. But they also have really good players everywhere else too. So, it's just being in tune and on point every snap before I snap the ball."
In the first quarter against the Cowboys last year, you had a second and goal and you had the big screen to WR Deebo Samuel and quarterback draw, which I don't think we've had many designed runs. Were you excited about that play and besides the quarterback sneak, have there been any other design runs that you've had?
"It was just something that we saw in the scheme, so that's something, we drew up and thought it was going to work at the time. Is it something that I love? Honestly, I love whatever helps our team win and move the ball, and if it takes a quarterback draw in a certain situation or scenario, by all means, let's do it. So whatever coach calls, I trust him and that's what I go with. But going into a game, is it like we have all these quarterback runs and stuff like that? I mean it just depends on the situation and stuff, but I'll do whatever it takes to help the team win."
Looking at the numbers in the first month, Head Coach Kyle's Shanahan is preferring not to have the tight end standing block and the fullback block. He's getting five out in the pattern and making them defend the whole field and kind of putting it on you to get the ball out quick. Is that the way you like to play? Is that a Kyle preference? Do you have a preference? Do you want five in the pattern? Would you rather have the tight end blocking? How do you look at offensive football?
"Yeah, I feel like it just depends, obviously against the team that we're going against, the situation where we're at in the game but obviously with the playmakers that we have for my sake, it's like, 'Man, if everyone could be an option, in the pass game in one play, like I love that. Obviously, like everyone is really good, you get the ball in space, they can make, something crazy happen with it. So obviously it's nice as a quarterback to have really good players all be eligible in a pass play to get out and have an opportunity to get the ball depending on what the team's doing, if they're blitzing the lot or whatever. Do we have to have help and have guys stay in, so be it. So that's something that obviously Kyle goes over and he goes over it with us as quarterbacks and then we're ready to roll come Sunday with what we're expecting and what our plan is. I think it'd be any quarterback's dream to have, all their guys out eligible for the pass play. But it just depends, like I said, on the situation."
Given that you have not lost a game that you started and finished, your lowest passer rating is what came against Dallas, obviously a playoff game that you did win. Do you think that was your toughest game as a quarterback?
"Yeah, honestly, I'd say so. They were really good defense and like I said, there were times where just the pass rush or my rhythm, something just felt off in that game and they did a good job of just getting me offset with some little things and just sort of made me rush some things and I feel like I didn't get in a good rhythm to process just what we had going on. So, there were some areas in there where I could definitely be better at. And so yeah, it's one of those games where I got to be smart with the ball, like in the playoff game, had to be smart with it, thought we did well with that. But at the end of the day, I do expect more to myself to be able to take the next step and go through reads, progressions, even with the pass rush that might be a little bit more aggressive and so that's where I'm at with that. But definitely one of my toughest games."
Seem like the run game took hold in the second half. Was that one of the more heavy adjustment games that you guys had offensively based on the struggles in the first half?
"Yeah. I can't exactly remember. I say that because every game we have so many adjustments in the second half. So, I do remember in the first half it was a struggle to sort of get the run game going, but once we were able to do that, obviously the pass game goes well and we're able to have a well-balanced offense when we're able to obviously run and pass efficiently. So, I feel like the coaches did a great job with making some adjustments in the run games and tiny different little calls and adjustments and we were able to get things rolling I remember in the second half. But it's just sort of how the game goes, you see how the first half goes and then you make adjustments from there. So we'll see how the Sunday goes."
You alluded to it, your teammates have said it, Cowboys guys are saying it. As Week Five games go, this is maybe a little more important than your normal early season game. From your perspective, why is this game so meaningful?
"Yeah, just where we're at, what we're trying to do. Obviously, every single game is important and for this week we got the Cowboys, so this is the most important game to us. Obviously, if you go another step further than that just the history with the two organizations, the playoff games, all that stuff, the last couple years. Everyone knows it's no secret. Like it's a big deal to both organizations and we take pride in obviously winning and things like that. So that's where we're at with that. But at the same time, man, it's another Sunday for us and we just want to take care of business."
When it comes to WR Ronnie Bell, a few of your teammates have said that there's a different sort of focus in him on game day, the way that he locks in. Have you noticed that at all?
"From what I've noticed from Ronnie is, man, he's just like sort of like a loose guy. I don't think he's like a tense guy. He likes to have fun and play football. And honestly, for me, I sort of feed off that and I like that just as a young guy who can come in and sort of just play loose and have fun with the guys and sort of remind all of us that man, we're playing ball. And yes, you got to be locked in, do your job, do it right consistently. But Ronnie does a great job with just bringing just a little bit more juice and energy with the guys being that young body, that young mind. So I feel like he's a little different in that area and I like it."
With TE George Kittle you guys have connected for a couple fourth downs. But when he's not getting big numbers game after game, is there any guilt on your part, not getting him to the ball more or do you realize, 'Okay, we're putting up another 30 points, it doesn't matter as long as the offense is going?'
"Obviously I want to feed all my guys as best as possible across the board every single game. But yeah, at the end of the day, man, I'm just doing what I'm asked within the offense, trying to move the ball, move the chains, put up points and win. George has done a tremendous job, obviously in the run game, the pass game, and the ball does come his way and like the whole team says, and we say this all the time, there's no ego, man, we want to win, we want to do whatever it takes. And everyone has their big games, it's just sort of how the play calls go and things like that. But I mean, if it were up to me, obviously I'd love to have all my guys including George go for 150 every game and four touchdowns, but it's just the nature of the game and sort of how every game's different, but yeah."
After you scored you hand the ball to an offensive lineman. Why do you do that? How do you pick out the offensive lineman and what kind of grade do you give OL Aaron Banks' spike?
"I think the running backs really started that. They score a touchdown, and they give it to the guys who do the work, the dirty work, who don't get all the glory. So, to be able to have them spike it and have the celebration and get the crowd and everyone going, it means a lot to us. And so, yeah, when I got through, I got a one-yard sneak for a touchdown, like to say that it was all me, that's crazy. So, turn around and honestly, the first guy I see right there is Banks, and he gets juiced up. So, his spike and everyone else's celebration around, man, I'd give it an A. We'll work on it to get to an A+ this week though."
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks
Opening comments:
"We've had two good days of preparation getting prepared for the Cowboys, very tough and physical game, I'm sure it's going to be this Sunday night. Good football team, well-coached. I think [Dallas Cowboys QB] Dak [Prescott] is playing good football. I think he compliments that with a solid run game with [Dallas Cowboys RB Tony] Pollard. And then his ability to be able to play action and get the ball down the field. [Dallas Cowboys TE Jake] Ferguson is a good tight end that can hold his own in the run game and can definitely be a problem in the pass game. When you look at their receiving core, I think they're dynamic with [Dallas Cowboys WR] CeeDee Lamb leading the way."
Based on your film study, do you anticipate you'll get CeeDee in the slot quite a bit in this game?
"They move him around quite a bit, but they're always trying to find and create matchups, so yes."
You talked earlier this season about using different nickels because you don't want to ever be in a situation to see what somebody has when you need them, you want to know beforehand. How has that worked out for you? Are you pleased with what you've gotten as far as production out of your two nickelbacks?
"Yes, we are, I am. I think [CB Isaiah] Oliver is playing well. I think you guys have probably seen that from Week One to last week. I think he's doing some great things. He's great out in space, can make those hard tackles. I think he does a great job covering his slot and bringing pressure off the edge. When we bring [CB Deommodore] Demo [Lenoir] inside and put [CB Ambry] A.T. [Thomas] outside, I don't think we miss a beat. So yes, I am pleased where we are right now at the nickel position."
How creative do you have to get when you're calling blitzes against a more veteran quarterback like Dak as opposed to some of the other guys?
"I think you always have to be creative in regards to personnel, as you mentioned, scheme and what they're trying to do. And then that also affects who you have on your side of the ball. So, we're definitely about changing things up each week based off each week who we're playing and our opponents. So, we understand exactly who he is as a player and what he's capable of doing."
Are they a little more West Coast-like in regards to the short passing game than they have been in past years?
"[Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike] McCarthy's doing a great job. He's calling the plays now and you can definitely see that on tape. Again, Dak is doing a great job putting the ball where it needs to be and where it's going. It comes out quick and we have to make sure that we do a great job from a standpoint of playing zone, setting up, breaking on the quarterback, and when we are in, man, we got to work our technique. We have to be sticky in coverage."
You faced a lot of teams that have made it a point to try to get the ball out quick, pretty much everybody this year. What is your process for what you just referred to switch between zone and man when you want to come up and press or when you don't?
"I think it's always the flow of the game. Everything equates with that, personnel, down and distance, where we're on the field, those kind of things. So that goes into calling the game and trying to get the guys in the best position to be successful. So, coming into a game and knowing that they're getting the ball out quick, it's different things that we have to do. But don't take it slight down, they will push the ball down the field as well. So we have to make sure that our eyes are in the right spot, we're working on our technique so we don't give them an explosive play."
Where is CB Anthony Brown in his sort of physical readiness to be able to play after that Achilles injury last year?
"You know that's really a personal question for him. What I've seen, I've seen progress each week. He's doing some good things as far as his transition at the top end of the route. He's better understanding the concepts that we try to get in zone coverage now, going into his second week, eyes in the right spot. So, he's progressing at that point in time where he is ready to go. I think that's a question for him."
Is it useful for you to go back and watch the playoff game just to see how the Cowboys tried to attack this defense last year?
"It's always useful. I can't even tell you all the kind of games we go back and watch and try to find this and that. And, 'Are they consistent? Is this what they've changed?' So yes, I've watched that. We've all watched it."
Did Pollard look as explosive as he did last year before his injury?
"To be quite honest, I can't even tell he had an injury. That's how well he is running the ball. So yes, he does look explosive and he's doing some good things. He can take it the distance, he can run in between the tackles. They love to try to get him on the edge, so he's playing at a high level right now for them."
A lot of the guys we're talking in training camp about how good this defense could be were citing getting the ball and scoring once in a while on defense. And so far, I think you have five takeaways, haven't scored yet, but it's only four games in. How do you get those areas upgraded?
"I don't really think there's any magic formula in trying to get it done. It's just a point of emphasis. We give the presentation every week [Defensive Assistant] Coach [Nick] Sorenson does on the ball, and we're going after the ball, we're making attempts for the ball. So, our intent is there, I think eventually we'll get those tips and overthrows, we'll get the forced fumbles, we'll be there. But I know right now the attention to detail is there and hopefully they come this weekend."
The numbers show that DL Drake Jackson, DL Clelin Ferrell and DL Kerry Hyder Jr. have eight quarterback hits in like 243 quarterback snaps. You watched the film, what does the film show? How are they looking? How are they playing so far?
"I think you're right, not only those guys, but we are hitting the quarterback quite a bit. We just have find a way to translate those into sacks. I like where those guys are. One of the things that I emphasize and talk about as well, I think they're solid in the run game, and that's what I look for, that's what we look for in the complete player, particularly at the defensive end. Yes, we want them to be able to put pressure and get to the quarterback, and I think they're doing that at a high level, but I love right now how stout they are in the run game as well."
What happened on the Cardinals first touchdown just before halftime? What was the issue on that play?
"It is just really understanding situational football, something that we talk about all the time and something that I know we'll grow from. Based off the call, probably didn't want to be in a press, gave up the big play down the sideline and then when they scored on the next play right there, it was just a missed tackle. So, it wasn't anything schematically. But one thing that we have to do is understand the situation and don't give up the big play down the sideline."
Has DL Javon Hargrave's familiarity with the Cowboys added any sort of extra tidbits for you, just in terms of game planning?
"He's definitely talked about the things that he was able to do, they were able to do in the past, going against those guys twice a year. Him and [Defensive Line Coach] Kris [Kocurek] talk all the time and Kris and I of course collaborate and try to come up with the best formula upfront. Kris does a tremendous job with those guys in creating and coming up with the scheme that particular week, based off protections and those kind of things. So yes, we have got some tidbits from him and hopefully they come into play for us on Sunday."
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Chris Foerster
A couple weeks ago, you talked about RB Christian McCaffery and the patience he shows hitting holes. You said there are some runs in which there might be a hole, but you need to wait and not hit the hole because there are things that are developing, and I took it to mean maybe down blockers, wide receivers or whatever. Is that what you were referencing?
"I'd say very few times this year has he been impatient. Now is that why there's more yards? Is that why he's having the year he's having? I don't know if that's exactly it. But, I'd say there's fewer misses and from his perspective, there's a better understanding of every play as we put it in every week, he's gotten a much better feel for what we're doing through training camp and the offseason and everything. I'd say that's probably a part of it. I don't think he's missed anything this year. I think he's been on point with all the runs. In fact, when this past week a couple plays were supposed to do something and it wasn't there and he took what was available and scored. So I mean, he did a great job this week."
But is that concept of, I'm sure a lot of running backs in the NFL run through the open hole and you don't wait to run through the open hole. Is what you guys teach like unique or different in that regard?
"No, it's just certain styles of plays. There's a thing called with running backs, in zone running, I can say this in zone running – inside and outside zone running – there's a big coaching point to press the line of scrimmage, to press the landmark. So, if your landmark is the outside leg of the tight end, if your landmark's the inside leg of the guard, you want to get as close to the line of scrimmage to set the zone blocks before you make your break. So, there may be a big hole that expresses itself really early in the play, but you're three yards deep in the backfield. That hole looks like it's there, but if you cut back to that hole, not everybody's going to be able to set their blocks because it's not like everybody's going to block man, we're zoning and he needs to draw defenders to the zone block and then whatever hole's there will be on people. But if he does it too soon, let's say I'm going to block, I'm double teaming someone here and I'm getting ready to come off and block you, but the ball isn't here and you're not there, so if he cuts back, you just go over there and I'm stuck over here, I can't block you. But if he keeps coming, you come to me, he draws the blockers to me, that's what zone running is and that's that patient piece that sometimes you go, holy cow, there it is. But when you hit it, we don't have half the guys blocked because you didn't draw – it's his job in zone running to bring the blockers to us. Now when everybody's man blocking bang, everybody's on a man, whatever hole shows you hit that hole. And [former San Francisco 49ers RB] Frank Gore was a great gap scheme runner and man scheme because what hole was there was what you hit. And Frank could get through a slither that was that big, but if he saw it and he knew the play, it's like, I'm going to hit that hole. And eventually that hole may get a little bit bigger because I know the concept of the play, but it's not so much drawing what zone blocking is, which is you need to press to draw the defenders to the blockers."
Is he reading the hole or is he reading the landmark?
"He presses the landmark and he reads it. How we do it is he reads a gap, but he just reads what starts to come open. So, for example, if you're going to run at the outside leg of the tight end, if there's no defender there, he's just going to run there and just keep running. But all of a sudden, the defender's there and we're blocking him out there, then he's going to kind of start to work back. Then one gap at a time, eventually, we hope there's a hole. If there's not, then you just run and fall down and get three yards."
People have said that the way to attack Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons is to run right at him. I assume that's easier said than done?
"Well, yeah, I mean you can run at him. He's a good player. We tried to run at him and he beats blockers and makes tackles and you can run away from him, he is going to run really, really fast and catch up to you when you run away from him. There's a lot of different things you can do. You just have to make sure you account for him like we have every other good player we play against and he's a great player. These other great players, you just to have a have a plan as to how you're going to deal with him. You can't say every single play you run away, every single play you run at him, that wears itself out as well. There has to be a balance that you have to decide what kind of plays you run at him, what kind of plays you don't run at him, and how he defends things, what position he's playing, they move him all over the place. So, the position matters too. You think, oh, we're going to run this play at Micah Parsons, take advantage of x, y, z and then, oh crap, he's lined up at the three technique, or he is lined up over the center and you're like, oh, well so much for that plan. So you just have to have a well-balanced plan to take care of a great player. And that's what we'll hope to try to do it. It's really hard because he's a great one."
How would you evaluate OL Colton McKivitz? The numbers seem to indicate that he struggled a little bit as a pass protector, but it also shows that you guys are averaging like 4.7 yards a carry running behind him. What does the film show?
"I know he's doing a good job. He's had the bad play. The Pittsburgh game was an outlier. We left him alone and he fought the best fight he could and he lost some battles. And obviously the guy had a good day and he got beat once on Sunday. And the rest of the day he had a really good day against the same players. And so whatever, I don't know the evaluation process and how it goes, he's not graded any better or any worse run or pass. Obviously, you'd like to not have the sack he gave up. But he did a bunch of really good things in the game as well. Everybody's got room to improve our whole group up front, we have room to improve. Obviously, Sunday there were some nice things in the protection game. We had a good game and so on and so forth, but there's just still, we have so much work to do to improve and Colton's part of that process. He has to get better, [C] Jake [Brendel], all of them do. They all have work to do. [T] Trent [Williams], all of us, it's the season, it's just different. I don't know why. I don't know how to describe it and as well as we may or may not be playing, our record is good. We can play better. I think it's just the offseason, training camp. You play your way into the year to see what you are. The good thing is, I had a very high expectation. I was really hard on him in training camp. I feel we should have hit this ground running this year, but you have to play in the games, you have to get back in the game condition. You have to get a feel for how things are going this year, the defenses, how they're defending us differently based on what we did a year ago. And it's just a process. And the good thing is that I think that our jump off spot, different than a year ago, is higher. Where Colton is, where the inside tier three players are, we jump off at a higher spot. So, as we go through the season four games in now, we keep progressing. I think it gets better and better. So, I'm not down on Colton in any stretch of the imagination, pass protection, run game wise. He's just got some work to do."
Frank Gore had an affinity for not running right into defenders. He didn't take the big hits. Is that something that it's a running back quality or a tendency and does Christian have that same type of maybe tendency to not go straight into a guy?
"We saw two plays. A, Christian's not afraid to take a guy on, but Christian also knows how to take a hit as you're kind of alluding to. His ability to make a guy miss, I mean, unbelievable. We ran the play where Trent was leading, we kind of ran a counter play and Trent and he were going through the hole in the first or second quarter of the game. I don't remember where it was. And there was a backside safety that came down late and it was free and he kind of just jumped over him, kind of like he jumped over the guy on the swing screen we threw to him that he scored the touchdown on. There was a free guy that dove at his leg and he just naturally picks his leg up and makes him miss and goes on to the next guy. That's the un-coachable trait. That's the trait of holy cow. We don't stand out there and throw bags at him and make him jump over them. I mean, heck, he has that trait and that's why he's great. You see that on tape, you see that as you evaluate the kid. He just has a tremendous ability to make people miss. And obviously they all do. You have to be able to avoid the big hit and know when to fight the good fight and when the fight's over."
I think you had one target to TE George Kittle and WR Deebo Samuel, obviously he's coming back from an injury. This is an offense where you have so many weapons. What do you make of that when you have a game where one of them is almost not involved at all and are guys okay with that knowing that in the grand scheme the offense is executing?
"Well, every dog has his day in our offense. I think there are days that all of a sudden Deebo comes out. You didn't think [WR Brandon] Aiyuk a couple weeks ago comes back from injury you didn't expect that day. They just, sometimes it just happens. Sometimes it's the way the defense plays. Sometimes it's the play called at just the right time. Other times you have the play design for George and you call four of them and you catch the wrong defense or you have the play design for Deebo last week and, oh darn, it just wasn't right. And then all of a sudden, every one you called for Aiyuk, bingo, we hit the right coverage in the right play. So, it's not like the plays aren't called or designed to get to everybody. And that's what the players understand. We put this play in for this coverage, we put this play in for this defense and oh, here we called it, and guess what? It's not there. Or guess what? You're wide open for a touchdown and the right tackle isn't good enough or the running back or the quarterback misses the throw or x, y or z happens and next thing you know, it isn't there. I've never played the Madden game or any of that stuff. I don't know what they are, but it's not like you can say I'm throwing it to George and you get to throw it to George, it just doesn't work like that. There is a coverage, you read it and you do the best you can and some of them you can design. That's why sometimes not forcing, but you can always say, 'Okay, I'm going to throw a screen to Deebo, I can hand Deebo the ball.' You can always do that, but it's a little bit harder to do that with George. A little bit harder to do that with BA and with Christian, same thing, you can throw him a screen, you can throw him a check down, you can hand him the football, you can guarantee his touches. With the other guys, it sometimes gets harder, but they know their day is coming and next thing you know, George one of these days will have a breakout day and some will be by design and some will just be because that's the way the play played out."
With how short of a time QB Brock Purdy's been a starting quarterback in the NFL, is his processing to go through what you just talked about pretty remarkable?
"Yeah. The guy plays the position really well. That's all I can say. He's just a quarterback. From the time he started playing it, he just sees the field. His ability to know where to go with the football, I don't know what that's a product of, I don't know if it's his previous coaching, I don't know if it's his coaching now. It's probably a culmination of everything together. I always think some of it is when you look at a guy's physical abilities you look at his height, weight, you look at his speed, you realize that he's a little bit of a shorter guy. Certain things you have to be pretty quick to do because as that pocket, you're not six-foot-four [former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB] Tom Brady that can stand there like a statue as the world's coming at you and still deliver the ball. You have to make it quick. I don't know that that's it. I really don't. But I'm saying sometimes it's a byproduct of your coaching growing up, you as a kid and just how you survive and play the position and you learn to play the position. You learn, I need to get through my progression properly if I'm going to have the space and the pocket I need to deliver the football. And now he's taking a step to this level where now the defenders are bigger, the rush is more intense. This week, he'll know, he played against these guys last year, it's going to be very intense. And being able to make decisions and deliver the ball accurately is just something that he's learned to do over time. And it is remarkable because some guys never learn it. Some guys are always late to throw the ball. They're just going to rely more on arm talent. They're going to wait for a guy to get open before they throw it and still get away with it. Or they're going to rely on their feet and say, I don't care if the pocket's coming in around me, I'm going to make a play. That was [former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos QB Peyton] Manning. When I was with Peyton, sometimes you would say he didn't even let the play develop. He'd say, well, it's cover two, this ball's going to the check down. Well yeah, it's going to the check down if cover two plays out like cover two. And literally they'd get back there and they stop this so, then you're going to go to the check down. Peyton would sometimes say if it was a really big rush team, I'm not going to be able to allude this rush, so I have to make the decision now. So, it's cover two bang, that ball's going to check down. It's single high, this is where the ball should go. I'm going to believe what I see, I'm letting the ball rip on single high and I'm not going to wait because of who he was. He wasn't going to be able to extend plays like [Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick] Mahomes. So, there's all those physical limitations with a guy that then tie into how they have to play the position, understanding everything that goes into it."
You could leave the tight end in to block, you could use your backs to block. You guys, looking at the numbers in the first month, have allowed the offensive line to be on an island largely, and you're getting five out in the pattern. You're making them defend the entire field and Brock's getting rid of it quick. Why is that the preferred plan?
"I think there's a lot of different reasons to do something. Again, [Head Coach] Kyle's [Shanahan] got a lot of different reasons for doing it. One thing is, when you're not certain, to me, this is me talking when you're not certain what they're going to be in. If I know they're going to be in single high, and I know I can probably get fewer guys. When I don't know if I may get a three-man rush, a four man rush, I may get cover two. I need all my guys out so I can progress and have someone to go to. I leave a tight end in, all of a sudden, it's not the right coverage and I want to throw the ball to Aiyuk, but now I don't have the flare control underneath it. I can't, I'm holding the ball because this guy's blocking, I may have ten days to throw the ball, but there's nobody open. I can't answer that question as to why we decide to do that more. I'm assuming it is for some of those reasons because maybe you don't know exactly what they're going to be in and you're trying to give your quarterback the most options. Maybe it's the way Kyle feels best about attacking that defense. Maybe it's the way we feel Brock, those are good plays for Brock and getting the guys out with the options. And then sometimes, there's so many variables that go into it, but that's a good observation and usually what it is. And I think that led a little bit to the Pittsburgh game where there was a little bit uncertainty and all of a sudden, they're not playing like we thought they were going to play. We need to get these guys out to be sure. And all of a sudden now you're leaving Colton maybe in some more one-on-ones that we hadn't planned on doing, but boy, if we leave the chipper in there, sure, [Pittsburgh Steelers LB] T.J. Watt, but then there's nowhere to go with the ball. You're holding the ball longer and then the other guys start showing up and then it's like, well, you took care of T.J. but the quarterback didn't have anywhere to throw the ball. So, it's that constant trade off and it's that cat and mouse game of what are they in, what do we have called, how do we get to the right play? It's not like we come to line of scrimmage every play and we aren't Peyton Manning, we're not Omaha, Omaha checking some other play and then throwing the ball. We know what they're in or we're able to see what they're in, we're calling it and he's executing it and that's the way we end up."
