San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters following Friday's practice, providing final updates ahead of the team's Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Here's everything he said.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Opening comments:
"The injuries for the game: [QB] Kurtis Rourke will be out, [CB] Renardo Green, out, [TE] George Kittle, questionable, [WR] Ricky Pearsall, questionable. Go ahead."
With George, is it because you have the later game on Sunday? Can you take it all the way up close to game time?
"Yeah, we could take it all the way there. George kind of told me he'd have a much better idea tomorrow, so hopefully we'll know by then."
Regarding Renardo's neck injury, I believe he had a neck injury earlier in the season. Is this just a reaggravation? Is it just not healing the way you want it to?
"No, just a reaggravation. Yeah, he got better this week than last week, so hopefully it'll be good to go next week."
How did Ricky make it through the week?
"He got through it. He was able to go some, as opposed to last week he wasn't able to go to at all. So, I think it got better for him each day and hopefully it'll continue here over the next 48 hours."
This Bears team has 21 interceptions. When you watch the film, what stands out?
"They have guys with really good hands, really good ball skills. They've got a scheme that plays a lot of zone, so they're seeing the quarterback. Anytime that they're off, they make you pay. They don't drop many, not just their secondary, but their linebackers also. And also got a good blitz package that puts quarterbacks in some uncomfortable situations."
What do you know about Chicago Bears head Coach Ben Johnson as a coach? What about his scheme is similar to yours and what about his scheme is different?
"I think it depends on game-to-game and stuff, but just philosophy-wise, I think it seems very similar. Ben does to me as good of a job as anyone of staying balanced, really makes people play the run which generates most of their explosives on play action and bootlegs, which is the philosophy of our offense also. People have preference on different drop-back plays and stuff like that, but also a lot of similarities too. So, I think it's very similar schemes."
The Bears have a tendency to come back in a lot of games no matter how late and how much they're down. How important is it to just remind everybody that you can never be complacent?
"It's important. I mean, we try to do that every week, but when you face a team that's done it, I think an NFL record, six times or whatever it is, it's a huge deal of why they're where they're at. So, they've got the quarterback who can do it. They've got lots of players out there on both sides of the ball and like I've been saying, they've got great scheme on both sides too."
Have you had much interaction with Ben Johnson?
"No. Yeah, I don't know him very well. A couple guys on our staff have worked with him. I know [assistant head coach and offensive line coach Chris Foerster] C-Fo and [run game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian] Fleury did in Miami, so they know him. They speak real highly of him. Got to talk to him a little bit at the owner's meetings, but that was the first time."
How do you think CB Darrell Luter Jr. played in the most recent game? He was targeted a little bit early on but came out of it in the second half okay.
"I thought he has done a really good job. I thought he played really well. You know, I know they got him on those PI calls. I probably disagreed with one of them. I thought it was pretty good coverage. And I thought he did really well in the run game. He has two big runs that got to the corner that if he don't make that tackle, we had a really good run night, but just two runs get past him they probably have two more carries for about 55-yards and that changes the whole game. So, I thought he was a stud and very similar how he played versus Jacksonville when he came in."
Describe the offensive surge this month? It seems like you guys are really hitting your stride at this stage in the season.
"I don't think anything in particular. I think the guys have been playing decent all year. I think the running game has been a lot better in the second half than it was the first half. I think we've done pretty well on third down throughout the year, but I'd say in this last month, I know we've done the best. When you do that well on third down, you get to stay on the field a lot longer, you get to run your whole offense and first and second down become a lot stronger. I think I'd say that's probably the number one thing."
You mentioned how much the run game has improved. Is it fair to say that the offensive line has improved and there's been a steady correlation there?
"I'd say that, but I'd also say I think our receivers have really improved, our run blocking, I think our tight ends have. I think we get better as coaches understanding what our group does best. But yeah, with the run game, the obvious things are always O-Line and running back, but I don't believe in that at all. I think to have a really good running game it's all 11 people. You also have to have a good scheme and you've got to stick with it And I think the guys have done that."
Do you have an update WR Jacob Cowing?
"Yes, it was close to this week. I'd be surprised if we don't start practicing him next week."
What overall, this Bears defense is really good at first drives. You guys have been really good on first drives. Does anything stand out when you watch them in that area?
"No, they don't do anything, they run their scheme. They're a good defense. It's not like we do anything different on first drives too. You just come out and run your game plan. I respect their defense and didn't know their numbers were that good on the first drives, but they've got a good defense overall so that makes sense."