San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and quarterback Brock Purdy spoke to reporters before Wednesday's practice as the team gets ready for its Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Here's everything they said.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh
Can you take us through the final play and rushing two? Head coach Kyle Shanahan said yesterday that the two inside linebackers, although they were bluffing the blitz, they dropped back, what were the rules there from the pass protection that maybe you told them to drop?
"Not going to get too much into it from a schematic standpoint, but it's all based on who draws who in terms of protection. It's as simple as that. That particular team ran a certain type of concept that we knew we'd have one free hitter based on the show. We weren't sure which one would show up. It was all based on protection."
Later in that play, DL Yetur Gross-Matos obviously covered a ton of ground to get to the QB. Is that a freelance decision on his part or is that his responsibility on that side of the field?
"Yeah, he's flash and if quarterback breaks contain, he's re-contain."
If you look at Week 1 of this season and that defense and personnel you have and you look at where there are now, can you really fathom all the changes and the position that you're in?
"Well, it's a credit to the locker room. I'm not going to say it's been, even Sunday, it hasn't been a smooth ride if you will. There have been some ups and downs, like even in the game, it was kind of feast or famine. When we give up explosive plays, we give up touchdowns. When we don't give up explosive plays, we hold them to field goals or less. And that's kind of been our M.O. as a defense over the last few weeks. But, I am pumped for the guys. I mean, they're confident, they're communicating really well. We're seeing things that we haven't seen around here in a while from a conceptual standpoint that offenses are giving us, and I think they're doing a great job making the adjustments they need. There are still things obviously we've still got to clean up, but I'm really happy with the direction the guys are going."
After the game on Sunday, DB Deommodore Lenoir said he wanted to shadow Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. A couple of years ago, Indianapolis Colts CB Charvarius Ward did that here. What are the strengths and weaknesses, the positives and negatives of doing something like that from a schematic standpoint?
"That's a good question. All right. We can go long on this one, but the reality is it's easy for the guy who travels, right? I got that guy. I'm going to travel wherever I want. But, we're a zone-based defense, right? So, if it was man coverage, easy for him, but then it is a little bit more difficult for the other guys. Like, how does everybody else align? Do you go match where everyone just picks a number? What if that number's not on the field? Do you pick a different number? Or is it, alright, we're all going to align off of DMo? And what if DMo's in the slot? Does that put the nickel out on number one where he's not used to being? So, techniques change within your man principles because now you're in different locations. Alright, now put yourself in zone. You're trying to match up where he is and you're matching up now DMo's in the slot. Does that mean [CB] Upton's [Stout] now playing corner third, which he hasn't done all year? And so, there are a lot of new techniques that you're going to ask a guy to do. It's very expensive, not for the guy traveling, but for the guys not traveling, if that makes sense. Now, can it be done? Of course it can be done. Do we have it in our inventory? Absolutely. Can we? Maybe. So, we'll see."
You just said it. Conceptually, you're seeing a lot of different things that you haven't seen in a while. Being as specific as you can while being vague, can you explain what you mean?
"Well, obviously the deeper developing concepts that when these offensive guys get creative, it's like you give a guy like [Chicago Bears head coach] Ben Johnson, Kyle Shanahan, [Green Bay Packers head coach] Matt LaFleur, [Los Angeles Rams head coach] Sean McVay, like all the great ones, you give them a week to think of what they can build from a conceptual standpoint and have enough time, try to find a way to protect the quarterback, they can get pretty damn creative, let's put it that way."
Does offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak have any idea of what Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak might be doing?
"I think they keep it close to the vest. Obviously, they love one another, but at the same time, I don't think they talk much when it comes to football."
When a team has two running backs like Seattle does, they're not the only one that does this, you just saw it in Chicago too, are there tendencies to be given by the back that's in? Will Seattle Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet run different stuff than Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III or can you kind of key in on certain plays because a certain back is in?
"There are different play styles but two very effective backs that can execute the entire offense as they see fit. If that makes sense. They're both very explosive. You can say Charbonnet is probably more one-cut, downhill, where Kenneth can absolutely embarrass you, run away from you, he can do whatever he wants to you. They're both very effective in their play style. It's no different than last week. It feels very similar to last week where [Chicago Bears RB D'Andre] Swift again, downhill, can make you miss, can run you over, can run away from you and [Chicago Bears RB Kyle Monangai] 25 would just one cut and just run you over. So, this backfill tandem, two very effective, very strong. They've got two really good backs."
With the explosive plays, when you watch the tape, was there something you put your finger on that was leading to those specifically? Or was it just play based?
"Yeah, the free play, which probably should have gotten called dead, but they let it play. That's one, it's unfortunate that it happened the way it did. The first touchdown on the big post, I think it was number [Chicago Bears WR Luther Burden III] 10, cool concept. Again, something our guys haven't seen. We will be ready for it next time. It's these un-scouted looks like, it was a pretty cool concept, let's put it that way. And then obviously the one that keeps getting us on the sideline, we've just got to get it. I thought we put it to bed last week against Indianapolis. I thought we did a really good job two weeks ago and then it reared its ugly head again. So, we've just got to keep working on it."
You're saying the guys are seeing things they haven't seen. Are those leading to communication issues like coverage busts?
"No. They're not busts because the guys ended up where they needed to be. But, when you're seeing something for the first time, you might pause. And so you're just a step late. So, we've just got to do a better job anticipating. We've seen it, we should anticipate it, we should be able to react a lot faster."
The defense started young, it's only gotten younger as the season goes on. When the game is on the line, it seems like they're all just locked in and able to usually get those plays to go in your favor. What would you credit that to?
"That's one thing I feel like we've done a really good job of this year. I'm not saying we're a top-10 third-down defense, but we've been really good in third-down situations. I'm not saying we're the best redzone defense, but we've been really good in redzone situations and holding people to field goals and getting critical stops when we need to. And we've been pretty damn good this year in two-minute situations. Chicago is the number one two-minute offense in football and we stopped them. They didn't score at the end of the half. They didn't score at the end of the game. And the one thing I love about our group, they will not stop fighting. As rough as the game was, we got the two, three-and-outs to start the game. We gave up those two touchdowns. We got the stop right before the half. The second half wasn't going our way, but we held them to a field goal and the turnover on downs in the last two drives, which credit to them, just fought and fought. We trust our guys in those critical situations. They don't panic. It's not too big for them. We've been in a lot of them already this year and I like it a heck of a lot more when it's a blowout in our favor. But, they're battle tested and I'm sure we're going to experience a few more of them before the season's out."
Can you see Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold being different from the first week of the season now that he's been in this offense?
"Oh, yeah. For all, even Kub [Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak] that working relationship between coordinator and quarterback, there's a comfort level within the offense. They're finding ways to feed everybody the ball. I know Njigba is probably the star of it all, but they're all touching it and they're all effective. So, they're much improved from Week 1."
Last time you guys finished him off with DL Nick Bosa getting a strip-sack fumble. How important is it to kind of get that pass rush going that really hasn't been there much the last month or more?
"Yeah, it's always going to be important. You've got to take advantage of your one-on-ones. We've got to keep trying to find a way to create one-on-ones. Even in the backend, when we do have to send more than four, we've got to win. It's one-on-ones all over the football field. We always talk about somebody winning now and if you can't win now we need the backend to make sure he hitches. That's kind of always been our philosophy. But again, our guys are going to battle and we trust that by the time the clock strikes zero we're going to make a play to win it."
When you're seeing more of these longer developing concepts, are they trying that just because the pass rush isn't the same as it's been?
"It could be. There's stuff. That's the challenge. It could be. It could be on my end just trying to find ways to create more pass rush where they can't bank on the concepts that they're trying, can't bank on the coverages. So, it's not just the pass rush, it's all of it. And we've just got, like I said, to find a way to put our guys in position to be able to defend all that stuff."
You have spoken to the broader assignment challenges of that shadow man-coverage, but what about the specific challenge of manning up Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
"It is a challenge. What does he have about 120 catches, 1,700 yards, something like that? He's had success against every team that he's played against this year. So, he is elite in that regard. Coming out of the Draft, I'll put my hand up, I didn't think he'd be as good as he is. He's freaking unbelievable. Just a super talented kid, great body control, great strength at the catch point, he can go up and get it. So, he's a challenge for anybody in man coverage. And at the end of the day when your number's called to go win, we have to go win and that's really the gist of it."
A lot of people say if you can't get pressure with four, you bring five. If you can't get pressure with five, you bring six. Is it fair to say that you've been more concerned with limiting explosive plays than bringing extra pressure?
"Yeah, one thing I feel like we've done a really nice job of, with the exception of last week, I felt like the explosive plays we've allowed had been to a minimum. I'm not sure where we are. I would like to think, I don't know if we're top-10, but I'm pretty sure we've been pretty good in terms of limiting explosive runs, explosive passes. And when we do that, I feel like we can play pretty good defense. But, like any defense in football, if you're giving up explosive plays, the offense can light up the scoreboard. So, there is. The more aggressive you get, the more aggressive they can get with regards to creating those explosive plays. And so again, it's a cat and mouse game, just how aggressive do we want to be. We've got to pick and choose our battles and hopefully we choose right when the time is right."
Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak
How often do you watch the Seattle offense? Not this week, obviously, but just over the course of the season?
"I try to stay up with it almost every week. I may miss some weeks, try to watch his games. You kind of do that with different people you know around the league and just kind of see what they're doing and see how they're calling games and if there's things that they're doing that interest you. Yeah, I've tried to keep up with it throughout the year so we can just keep conversation going."
Following them from Week 1 to where they are now, what's stood out to you about where that offense has gone?
"Oh, I mean, I wouldn't be able to evaluate or stuff like that. I just know they've done a good job of running the ball the last few weeks and making a bunch of big plays in the pass game and complementing their defense, which has been special. So, I wouldn't say I've tracked it like that, but you know."
When you and your brother talk during the season, do you talk football or do you stay away from that?
"We talk about surface-level stuff. We're not sharing secrets or anything like that, but we talk about just how life's going, how work's going, relationship stuff that involves football. But, it's nice to talk to him too, just to talk about things outside of football and just kind of catch up on things. So, a little bit here and there, but not too much. Not too much x's and o's."
Are you talking to him at all this week?
"Just texting him. Just good luck. Have a good week."
What was it about OL Austen Pleasant that caught your eye and the coaching staff's eye when he came in late last season?
"He had to jump in there really fast when he got here. I think we had some injuries right away. It's kind of why we signed him and got thrown into the fire and did a good job when he stepped in those last few weeks of the year. And then just a guy who's just, he stacked a really good offseason, good camp. He's just work. He's quiet, he's humble and it was really cool to see a guy who was just ready for that moment when we lost [T] Trent [Williams] and he didn't miss a beat and he went in there and executed. But just from the moment we got him, we threw him in there and he's a guy who had to learn fast and he's a smart guy and just really proud of him with what he was able to accomplish."
Is it his run blocking ability, the movement ability, that initially kind of catches your eye as far as this is the guy we should probably bring in just to kind of see what he could do?
"Yeah, I think from kind of a surface level, you want to see their movement skills. Do they have the athleticism to do what we need him to do in the run game, first of all. And he definitely does. He's a really good athlete. He can move. And then you kind of see over time the pass blocking and once you get him in drills and he's a guy, we loved how he moved and we brought him in and we knew we were going to want to work with him because he had the talent."
How would you describe WR Jauan Jennings' nose for the end zone since he scored the last five games?
"It's awesome. I mean, I wouldn't say it's something that happens naturally because he is always ready, you know? And I thought that was so cool in the game how we tried to get to Jauan early and throughout the game and the ball didn't come his way. But shoot, when we needed a big play in the fourth quarter, I think that was his first catch and he was just so ready to catch that ball and react. He has been a huge target for us in the red zone. It's his size, it's his competitiveness, it's how he wins on routes. Yeah, he's been our guy who's made those big plays too in the pass game. So, it's been awesome."
Against the Chicago Bears, RB Christian McCaffrey had his longest run of the season so far. What did you see that went right on that play that allowed him to break free like that? And do you expect to see more of that type of CMC throughout the rest of the season?
"I mean, it was really well-blocked play. It was one of our most well-blocked runs of the day. We had a hat for a hat. I think he made a safety miss. And then had a DB take a bad angle and Christian was gone. We expect that from Christian every week. You know, sometimes you need to pop one, you need to get lucky on something for some of that to happen. But, it's not a lack of anything Christian's doing. I hope we get more of that, but that was a well-blocked play and keep rolling with it."
Seattle held your offense to 17 points each of the past two times you've faced them. What makes that defense such a tough matchup?
"They've got great players, first of all. I mean, at all three levels. At the front, the linebacker and in the backend they have elite players. I could name them off, but you guys know them. So, it's the players. I think the coaching is really elite. They do a great job with their scheme. They're very well-coached. They're probably as sound as anyone gets in terms of their coverages, they bring enough blitzes to keep you honest and they're physical and they tackle and they do everything well and it's just top to bottom. It's a huge challenge. We're getting ready for it, but it's going to be a grind for sure."
Can you think back to a time as kids in the backyard maybe drawing something up for your dad where you and your brother were creating plays together as kids?
"I was probably the one who did that more. He was more talented. He was a better player than I was. I can't remember something specific, but football is part of our life from when we were born. My dad was a player and he was a coach. We got to be around the game and then we both kind of had opportunities to do other things with our lives when we were done playing, but we found our way back to it. So, yeah. It's pretty cool."
This season, head coach Kyle Shanahan was pretty open about just the messaging, changing a little bit to the team in terms of, this isn't the same group. There was so much roster turnover, all that. Did you get any sense from him that he was maybe re-energized or more energized by a different challenge of you guys are maybe more the hunters and not the hunted?
"Yeah, I think we definitely set an intention that we can't think that this team is something right now. We have to grow into something. We have to become something that it's going to be what we are based on the work and based on our process and eliminate expectations. And you could see that from the beginning. Kyle talked about it every day. I do think it gave not just him, but everybody kind of an energy of, 'Hey, let's just go to work. Let's get better every day and let's see what this group can become.' There's something refreshing about that and energizing and you're just all about the work and you want to see guys improve and then the outcome becomes what it is. And so, here we are."
Are there any examples that you could give of something in your day-to-day that was a little different than maybe it had been in previous years?
"I can't think of something specific. I think sometimes we've talked about when we start the year, 'hey, we want to start this year and we want to play at our best because we want to be a Super Bowl team.' We didn't talk that way this year. We talked about playing our best football every day and playing each opponent our best so that we've got a chance to win every week. And it wasn't about looking ahead. And I think every week we kind of set a new intention about that week and that opponent and nothing else, and not making anything bigger. And so, week-to-week it was like that. And yeah, that was a little different."
You guys had Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold here a couple years ago and he was at that point of his career where he wasn't having a ton of success to where he is now. What's the biggest development or biggest change that you've seen in him?
"He's been on two teams in the last two years and I think he's won 26 games or something. I mean, Sam's gotten a chance to go and compete on really good teams. And he's proven that he can lead, he can win. And you put a good foundation around him and an offense where he feels comfortable, this guy's a heck of a player. We saw it when he was here. We knew the talent. We were so excited about him to have him. I'm just happy for him because he's earned it and he's put in the work and it's pretty cool to see him having the success he's having."
Kyle and the players have been asked like, is this the best QB Brock Purdy has ever played? And a lot of people have said, well, he was really good against Miami in his first game. And he's always been really good. But I guess when you think back to his rookie year until now, what is his biggest growth area?
"Man, to me it's confidence with where he is at in his life, as a person. It's confidence in himself. I think Brock, he'll probably admit this, it probably took him two or three years to really prove to himself that he belongs, that this is real and now I'm the franchise quarterback and I need to be myself and I don't need to be anything else. And I think Brock's proving himself every day that him being himself is a really good quarterback. It's a guy who's going to win a lot of games. I just see him playing with so much confidence, more than he ever has. Not that he lacked it, but it's just full belief in himself and it's definitely a mastery of the offense and kind of where he has developed in those areas. So yeah, I just see a guy who's playing with a very clear mind."
What you see the way he celebrates compared to his rookie year. Is that part of it?
"Check the tape. His first touchdown ever, he did the discount double check in a preseason game. But no, I think that's fair. You can see him, you can tell he is having a lot of fun out there. He is playing very confidently. It probably shows in his celebrations and he's just, he's got a little more swagger right now and I think that's awesome."
Back to Jauan, he's on an absolute tear right now. I think it was after the Tampa game where he had detailed all of his injuries that he was trying to play through. How did you see him weather that?
"I mean, you've just got to work through it. It was tough for Jauan early in the year, really tough. He was battling some tough things and he played hurt and he had to miss time. He missed training camp. And with any player who goes through that, it's going to take time to get back to where you're feeling like yourself as a football player. We know he is now. I think Jauan's playing his best football. That's a huge challenge to be banged up, to miss time in training camp, and then to be expected to go out there and be a really productive player. He battled through all that stuff mentally, physically, and we love where he is at. And you know, that's part of what makes Jauan who he is. He's a grinder. He battles. He doesn't let anything get the best of him. He just keeps competing."
QB Brock Purdy
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak was saying how they have three levels of elite players on defense. Is that what you see when you watch the Seahawks?
"Yeah. Across the board, just really good defense starting with their front, backers, and then obviously their secondary. They fly around, really good ball skills and then just the way that they all play together. It's a really well-coached defense. All year they've just had great tape. I feel like they just do a good job of making the quarterbacks really have to be on top of their job just every play and waiting for that quarterback to slip up and give them an op. So, they've capitalized all year. And so, really good."
Kubiak also said that you'd never admit it, but it took you some time to just be yourself out there. If you can like replay in your mind when that switch hit, what was it where it was like Brock is enough and Brock can play like Brock?
"What did he mean by that?"
He was asked about your growing confidence and how you've always been good and confident but settling into being you and not trying to play like anything outside of how you play and being able to accept it. He said it in a good way.
"I'm trying to think how to answer your question. I don't know. I feel like I've been a pretty serious kind of guy, doing my job and everything. But, I'm in year four, so I feel like guys really do feed off of an authentic leader and authentic quarterback and guy in the locker room and someone that's real. So, obviously trying to do my job really well at a high level and then from that you can have some fun with it and be yourself. And you know, at some point this season, obviously I was dealing with like my toe injury and whatnot, but once I started feeling really good from that, I was like, 'alright, man, I'm in year four. I want to play my best ball and I want tohave fun with the guys that I'm doing it with.' So, not really sure that I know a certain point, but just ever since coming back from my toe, it's sort of just been like, 'alright dude. Go do your job, do it well, and once you score, celebrate with the guys, have fun with it and sort of create some momentum for the guys to feed off of.'"
Is Week 1 tape worth much considering how long ago it was?
"Yeah, definitely. I think just seeing our personnel versus their personnel, situational football, just things that you can definitely go back and see. Yes, it was the first game of the season, so there are changes and things that go on during the season on both sides of the ball, but at the end of the day, those are the guys that we're playing against. They're going to be playing against us. It is valuable to go back and watch that game."
I know it came in two different clumps, four weeks that you were on, four weeks that you were off. Did that give you any time to look and maybe take a step back? Do you feel different or did that alter the way you approached the way you're playing now?
"Can you say that again?"
When you were out missing games, the most you missed since becoming a starter.
"Just even the road games, to be on the road and I'm not playing, on the flights and stuff, sort of just going back and watching ball, having time to actually go back and watch myself and the games and everything. So, I did some reflecting in terms of where I could be better but also reminding myself of who I am as a quarterback. My style of play, when I get back, how do I want to look, how do I want to feel? So, there was some really good reflecting that I did during that time. But at the same time, it was like, still help out [QB] Mac [Jones], try to find ways to win and help out the team however I could. So, I was handling those two things, but I think when I did come back and I was ready to roll, I definitely had a picture in my mind of, 'alright dude, I want to play this style of ball.' I feel like it did help out in some regard."
You may not have studied Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, but since he's left here, he's won 26 games for two different teams. What do you think of what he's been able to accomplish since leaving here?
"Just playing quarterback at a really high level in the NFL. For him to go and obviously do it with Minnesota and then Seattle, two different teams, it just goes to show you how great of a player he is, great of a guy in the locker room. You can't be a quarterback and fake it. Like guys can sniff that out. And he's a guy that's gone to two different places and built up cultures to where they're winning cultures. So, it's a testament to him for who he is. He's an awesome guy and obviously the talent, the mindset to play quarterback, he's got it. So, definitely not surprised that he has done that."
It might sound kind of silly, but can you trace your origins of the Dougie back? I know before that Cleveland game you told your teammates during practice like, "hey, if I score, I'm going to hit this." But, why that dance? Why at that time? Was that part of you wanting to have more fun with play and why that dance in particular as well?
"Just going into that game, it was a cold game, and we knew it was going to be cold and the weather and everything. So, I don't know. I sort of wanted to just get the vibes going. And for me, I told the team, like, 'if we score, I want to like dance at some point. I'd never done that really.' And so, the first thing, first dance that came to mind was the Dougie. I don't know why, but I was like, 'I feel like it would get the guys going if I hit it.' (Laughter). So, I told the guys at walk-through that if we scored, we're going to do it, and we did and it has sort of been the thing."
Did you imagine it would become what it has now become over the last three weeks?
"Not really. It was just like a one-time thing, have fun with it. But, once we kept scoring and stuff, I was like, 'alright, let's just keep having fun.' And that's the only thing that really came to mind was to keep doing that. So, guys have sort of ran with it and we've had fun with it."
While we've talked about having fun, your job requires a lot of tedium, a lot of intricate details and things like that. Do you feel like the team feeds off when a quarterback in particular is kind of having fun and it's organic?
"Definitely. I think just with what comes with playing the position of quarterback in the NFL there's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of just handling the huddle, the team, all the things. So, to have a guy be able to handle that kind of stuff, but do his job really well, and then from there still be a bro and a guy in the locker room that guys can have fun with. It's a meaningful thing to a lot of guys. That's not even just with quarterback. I think that's with all positions. But, it's not just hey, let's go out and just have fun. It's like, no, we've got a job to do, and we've got to do it at a high level. And then once we score, then we can celebrate and do those things. But, I feel like everybody understands that in this locker room, that's a good thing about it. But, that's sort of just how I view it."
What did you learn about WR Ricky Pearsall in the offseason and all the time he spent in Florida and Arizona?
"Ricky's a baller and he's a footballer. He's a guy that loves football. I've talked about this before, but the cool thing about Ricky is whenever we're practicing, whether it's routes on air, offseason stuff, even when we get back in team settings here, he's always asking questions with how he can run his route or what he's expecting from what the quarterback's expecting from the receiver. He's a guy that I can go and grow with. It's not just a transactional relationship. It's a thing that he really wants to dive deeper into this thing with his quarterback and get better together. So, I think that's what I saw from him in the offseason. And he's got the love for the game. He is not a guy that's just doing it for what the game brings. He loves being out there, running routes, breaking off guys one-on-one and making a big play in front of everybody. Like, he loves it. He's an authentic dude. So, I love playing football with him, but I feel like that's sort of what I took away from working out with him."
What's your relationship with WR Jauan Jennings? What's the connection there that he wasn't around through camp and you're having to defend kind of his contract stuff, but he's come on a lot the last month-and-a-half with you?
"J.J. and I go back to when I first got in as a rookie, so it's been four years of playing football together. I have the utmost respect for him. Just when you turn on the film, he's a guy that goes hard 24/7, run blocking, he catches a ball and then we will try to drag three guys with him to get the first down. He's done that time and time again. He's a guy that you want on your team to go and battle for and with. And so, I don't know. I have nothing but love for J.J. and I know it's vice versa. Together we want to play with each other as long as we can. He's always going to be where he needs to be. I'm going to try to get him the ball as much as I can. And obviously the whole contract thing, that was what it was, but I was so excited just to get him back and get going. I feel like we've found our stride and we've just got to keep it up."
We've talked about the Dougie and all this, but it seems like you've had this somewhere inside you for a while because head coach Kyle Shanahan and offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak both noted you did the discount double check after throwing a touchdown to Cincinnati Bengals TE Tanner Hudson in the 2022 preseason opener. Can you bring us back to that moment and what inspired it? No one really knew you. Why would you think you could pull that off?
"I don't know. It's just like one of those things in the moment we're playing the Packers, my rookie year, throw a touchdown and all the guys were celebrating. First thing I think is we're playing the Packers and [Pittsburgh Steelers QB] Aaron Rodgers is on the other sideline, so I discount double checked. It was dumb. I'm a rookie. It was in the moment like, 'really, bro?' I was just trying to make the team and I pulled that out. But, I don't know, it's just a competitive thing in me. So, I'll just leave it at that."
Your team has had to overcome, yourself included. What does this opportunity on Saturday mean to you to be playing for the number one seed in the NFC?
"Yeah, obviously we've just taken it one day at a time all season long. We never really thought that 'hey man, we've got to go attack the number one seed.' It was always we've got to go take on whoever we're playing on Sunday and win that game. And so, this is just where we're at at the end of the year. We're very grateful for that to be in this opportunity and situation. But, we can talk all we want. We have to go do it at the end of the day. So, we've just got to go do our job, take it one play at a time for four quarters and see where we're at at the end. But, we're excited and we're going to do everything we can."
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