San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters on Wednesday, after the team's first practice of training camp. Here is everything he had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Last year WR Demarcus Robinson had a really good year against man-to-man coverage and in the red zone. He had a great day today, I thought. What did you think of Robinson and what can he contribute?
"Yeah, I thought he did a good job. You know, we hated going against them last year. You know, he is a big guy, plays tough, has good hands, and had a good OTAs for us. Had a decent job today and you know, we will see what happens with possible suspension those first couple gains. But he's a guy we know is going to help us out this year and we're counting on him too."
How much growth have you seen in RB Isaac Guerendo? Of course he was out there with the first group a couple of times today. Just what did you see out of him coming back this time around compared to his rookie season and how much do you expect that to show out there on the field?
"Well, a lot of that, like mainly with running backs, O-Line, D-Line, it's kind of tough with OTAs just because of the way practices go. You don't get to truly evaluate as much from a football standpoint, just the way it is. But, you know, the injury came off that he got in Week 17, the last game of the year at Arizona, the way he rehabbed that, the way he attacked that, he was here all offseason. I thought he had a great OTAs, and it's been one day, but he's put himself in a position to be better this year."
How will you use the new practice field? Will you rotate them?
"It's a work in progress. Today was my first time out there with that field, so it was the first time it was different for me in nine years, so I felt nauseous out there. I was dizzy the whole time. We're creatures of habit. I've stood in the same place all the time. I didn't know where to go today. But we'll get used to it. We could rotate it. The cool thing is it's the first time we got a full 120-yard field and got our first field goal in there that's stationary. So, a lot more room, which is nicer, but it's a work in progress. I'm trying to not change everything after one day, so we're going to give it three days and see what to do next."
On the kicking, in the past you've had like one kicker kick one day and another kicker kick. It switched up. Was that totally a Special Teams Coordinator Brant Boyer thing, and do you think it maybe adds to the competitive field to have them switching off kicks?
"Yeah, I do. It all depends on the reps we give them and stuff and Brant decides on that how he wants to do it, so he can do it over the course of time. So, it's not just always day-to-day, we can stack these up and see who has the better camp. But I think between the two of them, I think they missed one in OTAs. So, they've both been kicking real well and it should be a really good battle this camp."
So, you like what you saw today?
"Yeah, I did."
We know you anticipated WR Jauan Jennings to be out there on the field today, but just how important was that for you as a coach to have him on the field participating?
"I mean for anyone with the Niners, but definitely coaching-wise you want everyone out there on the field, especially some of your better players. And Jauan has been a hell of a player for us here for a while. One of our leaders too. And he had a good practice and it was great to have him out there."
I noticed you gave him a hug at the beginning of practice. Can you share what you told him?
"What's up, how you doing? I did that would probably 25 other guys too, but yeah, it's just what I do."
From our perspective, it seemed like he was in good spirits and dancing around. What did you gauge from him and the mood that he was in?
"He seemed like Jauan."
Did your attention drift at all to the defensive line and team drills where you want to see how DL Mykel Williams is doing maybe next to DL Bryce Huff?
"I mean, my attention drifts everywhere in practice. There's a lot of things, but that's why I put so much into film so I don't feel like I've got to see everything out there. And if you do you might see it wrong, it goes so fast. So, you know, that's stuff I really settle down when I get in my office and really can evaluate it with remote, fast forward, rewind. But guys you haven't seen yet next to each other, we're just as eager to see it as you guys, but we get better tape angles, so I don't have to force it at that moment."
Does that happen often? That you see something on the field and then when you get in your film it's something totally different than what you thought?
"With most people, never with me. No, I'm just joking. Yeah, it happens a lot. I mean sometimes you can see it, and you know exactly what it is, but sometimes there's a lot of times you think you saw it. And that's what I've learned over time. If you think you saw it, and it's something that you feel aggressive with and you want to go correct it right, well it's not good to correct something that you think you saw, get a player to totally do something different for the next hour and a half and then you get in there and get a better angle and realize it wasn't exactly what you saw. So, you learn with that the hard way sometimes."
LB Dee Winters obviously made a play. You mentioned him as a guy among everyone, I guess, who needs to step up. But where specifically does he need to grow as a player?
"Well, I just think he has his best opportunity right now. You know, he had a decent one last year, but we were always hoping that [Denver Broncos LB] Dre [Greenlaw] could come back. Dee did make a ton of progress last year, and he started to take over that job, and he had a number of setbacks with injuries. So, it took him a while to do it. I thought he had a hell of an OTAs, showed that he was capable of doing this, and we just want to see him continually get better at it, be consistent. Hopefully he has good luck of avoiding any injuries. But Dee's a guy we believe can be a hell of a player. We're just hoping for he gets there."
Did you get a good look at what exactly he saw today on that interception? Was he sitting on that route? Did he identify something?
"No, I think the quarterback just missed him. He was right in the zone reading his eyes, and he got right under it. Quarterback should have turned it down, but got a little bit aggressive with it."
What have you learned so far and discovered about QB Mac Jones that you didn't know when you brought him in?
"Not a lot. I'm still learning about him, but I mean I didn't know Mac before we brought him in. I mean, you get to talk to every guy a little bit in the draft process, but that was a COVID year, so we couldn't really meet with anybody. It was all Zoom. So, it's been nice having him in here throughout the whole offseason to get to know his personality and everything. From a player standpoint, a lot what we expected. We're really excited about him. Loved him coming out of college. We've liked him in the NFL and I'm excited to have him here."
You had all your draftee defensive linemen on the field, DL Alfred Collins, I think for the first time. Just do you notice the physical presence from that group, just having them out there together?
"Yes. You know, we lost a lot of D-Linemen, and we had to add a lot of D-Linemen. You know, they all weren't out there in OTAs so, you know, we knew they were in the building. But it was nice to get Mykel and Alfred out there together. Obviously, their size jumps out, and they're still trying to get back into this and learn a lot. They've got a long way to go, but excited we started it today and excited to go watch the tape on him."
What have you seen from DL Nick Bosa as he evolves as a leader in that group?
"You can just tell Nick, you guys know Nick pretty well. He doesn't vary out of his personality very much. But I do think he talks to those guys a lot more, and Nick will never say anything just to say it in any situation. But he doesn't hold back as much, and I think he knows he can help guys and when he sees spots that he can help guys with, he doesn't hesitate."
Will Nick, T Trent Williams, and RB Christian McCaffrey be on a schedule throughout training camp? I don't think they did any team stuff today.
"Yeah, there were a number of guys, like guys with injury pasts, guys with age, guys who are going through stuff now, guys who aren't totally hurt, but there are certain things with their history, or what their ages are that we have plans with. So, they're all different, but a lot of those guys are coming off an off day. They just do individual. Sometimes we'll stagger them, but we've got a whole mapped out thing that they update me on each day."
What did you think of a WR Equanimeous St. Brown's first day in a 49er uniform?
"It was good to have him out there. I'll see more when we watch the film, but I've always liked him and it was a good first day for him."
How hard is it for a player to sign a deal one day and then be on the field the very next? It's a brand-new situation, and it has to be tough to acclimate so quickly.
"Yeah, it is. I mean, that's why you hope there's some carryover from other places they've been just terminology-wise. That's why you have a chance to a degree early on in camp because most of the plays are scripted, so you're not just going out there and having to randomly know whatever comes out of our mouth. So, it gives them a chance to memorize some things the night before, so they can at least get through it. But it is a huge challenge once you have a few guys miss a couple plays or have to take some off, and you've got to move a position, that's when they really kind of have no chance. You can't get mad at them because they just got here a day before, but the urgency is there. They have to pick it up. They have do it fast if they want a chance to make this team."
When it comes to Jauan Jennings, obviously you guys anticipated that he would be out there, but to have him out there given the history of the past few years, does that move the needle at all in the minds of the coaches with the kind of guy you have in Jauan Jennings and maybe wanting to give him what he wants because he wants to give you guys what you guys want?
"We know Jauan and Jauan knows us. I think the other way makes it harder. But it's, I don't really compare things to other years and other people. People have plans. It's a business plan. It's usually a plan between a player and agent and I see it happen all over the League. It's happened with us and it's something that I try not to get too worked up about because there's not always much I can do about it. So, I always try to recommend them to do what I think will help them the most. And I think Jauan's doing that."
At what point in the 40 days away do you get the itch to be back on this podium and get going for real?
"Never [laughter]. I like to get back going, but you started with on this podium."
Is the first padded day scheduled to be Sunday or is it Monday?
"The League rule you need four practices. So, we're going to have I think three practices. Saturday's an off day. Sunday will be our fourth. Monday's first day of pads."
It seems that WR Jacob Cowing has a real opportunity this season. What do you need to see from him to have him?
"I thought Jake had one of the best OTAs out of anybody on our team in terms of most improved and most prepared for it. Unfortunately, I think he pulled his hamstring on routes on air today before we started. So, I'd say to just keep on his trajectory. Hopefully he can stay healthy and keep going where he did an OTAs but probably had a little setback today. So hopefully that's better news than what we're guessing out there and he can get back and get back to what he's doing in OTAs."
What have you seen from S Jason Pinnock and S Ji'Ayir Brown at the safety position?
"It was nice to get Tig back out there today with Ji'Ayir. He didn't get to do OTAs. I thought Pinnock had a real good OTAs. It was our first time getting to know him and stuff and got a lot of reps and stuff, especially with all those guys out. So, it was cool to see Tig out there today with him and excited to watch them work together on film."
What is day one like for you?
"It's a little frustrating. I hate practicing without pads. It just worries me. So, I just want to follow these rules, get to the pads so it's a little safer with protection and stuff. You have a chance to block people. You can start just getting more ready for football. It's hard day one, everyone's ready to go but still got to be patient. So, I just try to stay as relaxed as possible to get in this groove and usually we are by next week."
How do you think CB Upton Stout did in the spring?
"I thought he did a real good job, especially for a rookie coming in, just throwing him into the nickel role. He almost made a hell of a play today. I thought he had a pick-six, just mistimed it and actually gave up the completion, but it was really good coverage. But I was real excited with him in OTAs and he is one of the guys where I think he's got a chance to compete to help us throughout this training camp and into the season."
During the spring, DB Deommodore Lenoir mentioned he likes playing that nickel and it'd be tough for him to move off of it. How much of an account do you take? Does that matter a lot when you're trying to figure this out that maybe he does want to be inside when they go three receivers?
"Yeah, we take all that in account. I do think it's hard on a guy to keep moving him. It's hard to play outside and inside and do that throughout the game. I do think Dmo is really good at both. I personally think it's harder to avoid nickels than it is corners, so I like him in there at nickel, but we're definitely going to have him on outside when we're in base. So, it all kind of has to depend with how our top three are and where to put him in. We know Dmo can play a high level of both. If we can keep him at one that usually is better for the player. But we've got to have three guys who fill in those roles and then you've got guys who can back them up after."
How do you judge or measure QB Brock Purdy's growth on a day like today from day one to today? How do you measure it?
"I don't. Day one, when he first got here today?"
Yeah when we first got here to like today the player he is today?
"I wish I could give you a better answer, but it's too broad for me. The same with everybody, like you don't just sit here and evaluate their whole thing from year one to now, like you're writing a book to tell his whole career. It's everything's about being the best you can be. And so everything we have on his film, everything we do is work. When we even practice and do stuff on air, we come in and review it. So it's just constant, constant critique, evaluation and trying to get better. That's why they need to get away from us sometimes. That's why I think it's important they get away from us for 40 days because now they're going to hear us for seven months. You need guys who can take that and that's why I love Brock. He's got the ability, but he is also made of the right stuff that he is always pushing himself. He's never satisfied. And he's going to not just do what we ask him to do. He's going to do as much as he can to get better and that's why I like when he improves on things when he is away from us. I like when we come back together and I get to see him, I always feel he is a little stronger when he comes back just from his body standpoint, from his throwing standpoint. And then we just evaluate each day as it goes."
With Cowing's injury, do you need to sign another wide receiver?
"You don't have to but we always would like to, especially with some of the stuff I was telling you guys yesterday. So we've got to look at the rest of the roster, but that's always what's tough when guys are on PUP, not just wideouts but everybody because you like to pretend it's 90 but I think it's really like an 83 right now because they're PUP. Then when you get that it goes to an 82, so you sign an extra receiver, what other position can we go short at? So that's stuff that we'll always be trying to figure out."
What do appreciate most about Kittle's leadership style?
"That he is there always. Kittle is probably one of the most positive people I've ever been around which I think can be really good. Sometimes I don't want him to be so positive when we're struggling, but I think it's a good balance with everything. That's who he is and he's consistent with that. So, I think guys look to that for him. But when it comes to leadership, the best thing is showing up and doing your job and doing it as good as you can every day in terms of playing when you don't feel right, preparing, knowing your assignments, getting your body right in every situation. And I think everyone on our team knows Kittle's going to do all those things and to me that's the best type of leadership you can show."
Did you give any dad advice to Christian and did he look a little sleepier coming in today?
"I just messed with him, asked him if he was going to change now that he's a dad and he made it adamant he wouldn't. So, we'll see. I'm sure he won't. He's a psycho."
You've seen the evolution of training camp from the beginning when you first got into coaching in terms of getting a player ready to play as opposed to when it was more banging from the beginning and all the way through camp?
"Yeah, I think that was one thing that was different just the places I've been, not all of them, but most of the places I've been and the philosophy that I developed by the places I've been, we never did tackle anywhere. It was always shorter practices. We didn't have to change any of our rules with time or anything when they started to do rules for time because some people were practicing for four hours. We didn't have to change much with our pads and stuff. To me where we've gotten so much better is understanding like the output that people put in, the distance that they run, knowing when to shorten the length of things, knowing what type of practice to script when they've had a day off. Back in the day you think guys had a day off and they recovered and so that would be the harder day. When you're recovered and you're coming in, that's when the most injuries happen. That's why we always have a low day right after a day off. Our second day is always a high day of reps. Our third day's a medium. We do 40 reps on a Wednesday and a Thursday during the season. We're trying to build them to be prepared for the season, but we won't do 40 reps until, I believe it's our 12th practice versus Denver. And then we try to do that on our high day about four times and we try to bring them back down so they can feel fresh again like they do right now, right before the season, but then they're ready to do 40-rep practices on a Wednesday and Thursday. So, all that stuff to me is what we've gotten better at just knowing how to do it, the rules and things. They've changed us in OTAs by not being able to fully practice football. But in terms of changing our practice, it hasn't much. We've kind of always been like that."
When it comes to Ricky out there especially towards the end of practice, he was getting some work in, I don't think he was going full speed but close to it. How encouraging is it to see that and if you could kind of give an update on where is he in the process being that he's on the PUP list but he looks pretty active?
"Ricky is someone that, if this was probably a few years ago, we would've practiced him today. When you hit your GPS speed, your max speed that you hit before you were hurt, when you can run all those routes that's usually your protocol to go back. He hit all that stuff over the weekend, which we felt good about, but we wanted to make sure his conditioning was right. So we're just doing that for three days and if you can continue to hit all that stuff and his conditioning's good I'd be surprised if he wasn't out there Sunday."