San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and quarterback Brock Purdy spoke to reporters before Thursday's practice as the team gears up for its Wild Card playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Here's everything they said.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh
What makes Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts a unique challenge this weekend?
"Big, physical quarterback. He's got arm talent to be able to make every single throw. Elite deep-ball thrower, can get it behind the defense pretty good. He's good in a pocket. He's very aware from a pressure standpoint, being able to escape. And then obviously the QB runs. They don't do it often, but when they do, it's effective. You can't faze him. I got a chance to practice against him way back at the Jets. I mean, the young man's got elite presence and is a damn good football player."
You preach all gas, no brake. When you're going up against a quarterback like him in a scheme like that which leverages his legs, does it slow you down a little bit? Is it like, some gas, a little brake?
"(Laughter). Well, the all gas no brake thing is more than just blindly running, obviously. But no, he's good. He makes people miss. So, you've got to be great with your leverages. You've got to be great inside out, chasing the inside hip, making sure that you hold your leverage, trust your teammate on the other side. That goes for everybody. That goes for [Philadelphia Eagles RB] Saquon [Barkley], the receiving corps and the tight end. All of them. We've got to improve our leverages. It's what kind of caught up to us against Seattle, not taking the proper angle. That's usually the starting point for all tackling."
You've been challenged by injuries all year at various positions. But, your situation at linebacker right now, particularly just with how important communication is at that position, how are you navigating that with more moving pieces this week?
"I feel like [linebackers coach] Johnny [Holland] and [defensive quality control coach] K.J. [Wright] have done such a really nice job getting all these guys ready to be next up. [LB] Eric [Kendricks] has come in, just going off yesterday with [LB Garret] Wallow, they did a really nice job through walk-through and practice. I feel like [S Ji'Ayir Brown] Tig and [S] Malik [Mustapha] have done a really good job of ramping up their communication. So, it's not just one person. It's collective, as a group. And you know, we're far along in the season where I feel like they're really coming along from a defensive standpoint with regard to communication. So, I don't think it'll be a problem."
It's only been one day with LB Kyzir White, but what were your impressions of him? Is it realistic for him to play?
"You know, he's got familiarity with the system. He was with [assistant head coach defense] Gus [Bradley] over at the Chargers, and I remember him coming out. We were hoping he'd get to the fifth and the Chargers took him the fourth, but one of those prototypical safeties that you could convert to a linebacker. He's had a hell of a career for himself. And he's ready to go. He knows our system too, so he can step in if needed to and give us minutes."
Is he training at one particular spot this week?
"He knows all of them. He can play all three."
The Eagles are notorious for their tush-push. I'm curious, before the season, were you for it or against it? And then also how do you stop it?
"Good question. I'm for it. I think if you do something good and the rest of the league hates on that, it's a good thing, right? They've mastered it. If it was easy to do, everybody in the league would be doing it. And teams that have tried to duplicate it, struggle. So, if you're going to take that out, then you might as well take out the forward pass for some of these teams that do really well with it. So, I'm for keeping it. But, as far as stopping it, we will give it our best shot and see what happens. I always say the best way stop it is don't give them third-and-one, but they'll probably get to that eventually."
When it comes to two new guys, like Eric Kendricks and Kyzir White out there together, do synergy and chemistry matter when you have those two in a new system, one just a few weeks in and one coming in this week?
"Yeah. I think so. Just communication, how they're going to play different things, how they're going to play different route concepts, the trust that someone's going to be in an area when you're trying to create an exchange based on coverages. But, they're two very experienced players. They've played a lot of football and you trust that they'll have it all figured out."
Why have defenses had more success against Barkley this year than the previous year?
"I'm going to skip that question from a schematic standpoint, but I still think he's elite. I know his production isn't what it was a year ago, but he's still a damn good football player. He's still a threat to break it any time he touches the ball. [Philadelphia Eagles run game coordinator and offensive line coach Jeff] Stoutland is still one of the best O-Line coaches in all the football and creating leverage, creating good angles and creating space for the back. So, they can still run the ball as good as anybody."
You think the three games in 13 days or whatever it was was part of the problem when it came to tackling against Seattle?
"I don't know. It definitely is a tough stretch, not to give anybody an out, because you're also talking three nationally televised games with the emotions and all that stuff. But, it doesn't matter. Your number is called, you've got to answer the bell and it's as simple as just taking the proper angles and taking the extra step. Could you say that God, your body, you're a little tired so you're missing the extra step to get your body there? Sure. But, it's still not an excuse. We've got to be our best when our best is required and we just weren't that at on Sunday."
Eight NFL head coaching jobs are open now. How do you kind of split, or do you even at all, split your time between looking at these opportunities and what they may entail and doing your job here?
"You know, the league has done a really nice job with structuring the interview process to allow people to focus on the job at hand. So, I haven't thought about any of it. I know things come in, but it's not something that I have to deal with until next week so I'm completely focused on Philly."
What is it that CB Upton Stout needed to get better at when you got him and how did he take those steps intentionally to really improve this season?
"For Upton, it's just reps. Anytime a rookie, especially a guy who plays his play style, the violence at which he plays, it's more just getting reps and starting to feel the game and understanding where he needs to put his body and all the techniques that we're asking. I've always said, a coach's job is to give a player a three-foot, a little foundation to stand on, something rock solid that he can count on play-in and play-out. It's a player that's going to expand that, along with reps and coaching, just bringing more awareness to what he's being asked out of all his different techniques, how can he expand that foundation so he can stretch the limits of what he's capable of? And Upton has done that week after week after week, and I still don't even think he's close to done. I think he's got so much left in the tank. He's learning so much every single week. And it's been good for him. I'll echo what [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] said. I do think he had his best game on Saturday night. Every day goes together, but he showed his violence in the flat on a big tight end. He knocked a couple O-Linemen on their backs or shed them at least, threw them to the ground. He's a good little player, man. He is going to be good in this league for a while."
What can you tell us about Garret Wallow? He's a new guy and a guy that fans are just sort of familiarizing themselves with right now. What's he good at?
"Yeah. He's good at playing linebacker (laughter), but he was with Houston, so he knows our system a little bit. I've been thoroughly impressed with him. He understands the techniques that we're asking. It's been almost seamless. Just watching him in individual and watching him in team. We are unique in regard to how we do things at linebacker. It seems like he has a lot of recall from just his brief moment in Houston. You know, he's really good. He's patient. He understands routes, he understands concepts. He's good in communication. So, a very smart linebacker also. But, we've got all the faith in the world that he'd be able to go out there and execute."
Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak
What are the big challenges in going against a Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio defense?
"It always starts with the players. They're super talented on defense, up front, especially. It starts with 98 [Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter]. He's one of the most talented interior players that we've gone against. But, all their interior players are really strong physical guys, really good edge setters. And then when you look at their linebackers, [Philadelphia Eagles LB Zack] Baun's about as smart and instinctive as a linebacker gets in this league. And then just really solid in the backend. So, all three levels, they're talented, extremely well-coached and coordinated. Vic knows how to identify what you're trying to do and take away those things that your offense is trying to exploit. And that's why they're a top defense. We're going on the road, so the environment is going to make it harder. So, it's a big challenge."
When TE George Kittle has gone down this season, TE Jake Tonges has really stepped up and produced, and I feel like a lot of fans have sort of expected "wait until those two guys get on the field together." That hasn't happened much this season. Is there a schematic reason for that? Do they not complement each other that well? Or is it something you're holding in your back pocket?
"I wouldn't reveal that. No, I mean, you've got to go 12 personnel, right? Which we don't do a ton of to begin with. And so, yeah we'd love to have Jake and George out there as far as when you're trying to take advantage of passing situations. But, when you really look at when we put 12 out there in first, second down running situations, we haven't done that a ton this year. We're definitely more of a 21 team. We've done a little bit more 22 when we want to get Jake out there too with George. So, it's something we do talk about. It comes up, but it hasn't really fit so far with kind of our personnels and what we've been in the majority of the year. But, for sure, you'd love to have Jake and George out there too. It's something we always talk about and work through as the week goes on."
What's the aftermath of a game like Seattle, when you guys had just been on such a roll and then you score three points, which for you guys is pretty much unheard of? Is it shock, anger? Looking at the film, what was that like?
"A little bit of, I mean I wouldn't say shock. It is an NFL game. We got punched in the mouth. We didn't play good and we got beat. That's what happened. But yeah, I think our guys were a little pissed off. I think they were disappointed. We were all disappointed in how we played and how we coached. It wasn't our best. Anytime that happens, you don't feel good for a couple days, but then you regroup and, to me, it motivates me and I think it motivates our players to watch the tape. We know we can be better. It wasn't like we got beat because we can't do things. We didn't play good. And our players know they can play better and they know that if we play better and we make a few more plays, we're in that game in the end and we've got a chance to win it. And so, we take that and we let it motivate us and hopefully it leads to better play this week."
Some of the players have said that they can't remember having two consecutive, kind of short-week preparations. In hindsight, does that play into not playing as well as you could have against the Seahawks?
"I would never make that excuse. And you know, it's not an excuse, but it is maybe a reality. We did play two games on two short weeks, and that's hard. To me, where it showed up, maybe fatigue, whatever, but it showed up. We didn't get to practice full speed for a couple weeks, which I think maybe does show some of your technique, your fundamentals, maybe some of your timing in the pass game, where that maybe affects it. But, who's to say? I'm not going to use that as an excuse, but those are all things that are realities when you face short weeks like that."
Are you saying that in a short week, you can't have that full Thursday big practice that you typically have?
"Yeah. You're thinking about your guys and they're coming off a game a few days ago, and are you going to make them go out there and run full speed and are you going to put them through the normal Thursday practice routine? And we have to make decisions about whether we're going to prioritize rest and getting our guys legs or prioritize full-speed reps. And last week for sure, it was one where we looked at, our guys need rest, they need to get their legs back. And so, you sacrifice the full-speed practice reps."
How much more preparation can you get done when you have eight days between games as opposed to six?
"You can get more done. I think a lot of it comes down to is your brain kind of re-energizing a little bit too and getting that extra day to kind of okay, digest the game, wipe it and then get two full days of game planning, to me, is always helpful. You can really study the defense and then come back the next day and just have a real clear mind about what you want to do. When you're packing it into one day, you're jamming it all in there. And so, it's different. It's better to have more time. But, that's the NFL. Every team faces that every week. Everyone's always going to have short weeks. You deal with it and we've got to play better. It's just not an excuse."
How would you describe how QB Brock Purdy's arm strength has gradually improved since the elbow surgery? He obviously set the franchise record in yards in 2023, but he said during that year it took him a while to ramp up to full strength. So, from then to now, what have you seen?
"Honestly, I haven't really noticed that it's changed. To me, it's good. It's where it's been since training camp. When he had the injury, you noticed there was a progression and to me it was a confidence thing where he was finally letting it rip really as you got into the preseason that year and into the season. As these past two years have gone on, I haven't noticed it from Brock much. I think earlier in the year with his toe, I think there were some things that affected it, but that was more related to the lower body. But, I think his arms is as strong and he looks as powerful as he's been in his whole career."
What was it like to game plan without T Trent Williams going into that Seattle game? Obviously you guys are hoping he can come back, but how difficult would it be to go up against that Eagle's defense without him there?
"Trent's an elite player and when you don't have him and you know you're not going to have him, you do have to think about, okay, how are we going to cover for that? How are we going to make up for it? And so, you're always doing things strategically, whether you're helping a tackle or you're having protection slide a certain way, whatever. It's a huge challenge. But that's again, the reality of the NFL. You lose players, you adjust. But, when Trent is in there, there's certain things you don't think about. You just kind of know that he's good. So, it just gives you more to think about. But, that's our job. When you lose guys, you have to adjust."
What makes Vic Fangio so good?
"There's the fundamentals to his defense that he has always had, and they haven't changed much. And they're so well coached in those things. His coverages, to me, they're the same as they've been, but he's so good at adjusting to modern pass concepts and he knows where the holes are that you're trying to attack in his defense and he's going to try to take those away. It's just, you can tell he's a coach who studies your scheme, he tries to study and take away the things you do well and he's locked in on it. And so, to me that's what he is the best at in this league. It's not that it's crazy how the scheme is or anything, it's when he calls things, it's how he coaches his players to know what you're doing and to try to capitalize on what the offense is doing."
Was there a time when you and your brother decided you wanted to become NFL head coaches and follow your dad?
"I don't think I ever got into this, either of us, said we're doing this to be head coaches. That's something that would happen naturally if you had success and you were a part of winning teams. But, I think being around football your whole life, me personally, I got away from it from a few years and came back to it. I tested the waters in other areas. I think when you're just around football, you realize you're passionate about it. You love being around players, you love helping guys, and then you rise and you become whatever you become based on your work and the success you have as a team. And so, I'm happy for him that he's getting some opportunities too. But, I think when it was all said and done and we were done playing and kind of moved on with our lives, we were like, all right, we need to coach. It's what we're kind of born to do."
How did WR Jacob Cowing look in his first practice since August?
"Good. It was good to see him out there again, running routes, doing scout team. This guy's got some wheels. He can roll. It's good to see a guy out there with some speed and see him moving around again. I know it's been a long year for him, but it was refreshing to see him back on the field and with a smile on his face and working again."
Is he playing the role of Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith this week?
"That would make sense to me. That's a question for [defensive coordinator Robert] Saleh. But yeah, that would make sense."
Do you ever miss teaching high school English?
"Oh, yeah. Every day. I loved teaching. That was a great job. I always say I'd go back and do it again in a heartbeat. I was really passionate about it. A lot of respect for teachers and high school coaches."
QB Brock Purdy
You've obviously faced the Eagles a few times. It seems like a lot of their players are the same. Are they running essentially the same stuff that you are familiar with and prepared for in '22 and '23?
"There are the same couple of guys. But, with [Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator] Vic Fangio being there and their scheme being slightly different, it's different. So, there's that, but also just the talented players obviously that they have are still there. As a whole, I feel like, who the Eagles are, that sort of still feels the same, just in terms of them being a really good organization and a team that's going to bring it every game and you've got to be on your best to have a chance against them. So, we all feel that. That in itself is the same."
Going back to Philadelphia in January, it's just three years later, but is it causing any reflection on just what your journey has been like? I mean, the few years your life has changed so much.
"A little bit, but not really. Obviously, I'm thankful to be able to have healed up from the injury, go to the Super Bowl and have three more seasons after what had happened there. But you know, more than anything, it's our 2025 season and trying to finish strong and go in and compete against a new team, scheme kind of feel. That's where my mindset's at with that. Obviously, we know Philly from being there and their environment, their fans, all the things. It's getting prepared for that right now rather than having flashbacks or anything like that. I already went there in 2023 and played after what had happened in '22. So, I feel like that's out of the way and ready to move on."
Did you fear in that moment that your future could be in jeopardy?
"Back in '22? Yeah. You tear your UCL, the ligament that you use as a quarterback, as a thrower, obviously you start thinking about your future and things and coming back from the injury and it was at the end of the year so I was questioning will I be back in time, will I be the guy come the start of the season? Stuff like that. So yeah, I feel like in the moment, yes, but now we're moved on and ready to go."
In this system, once you break the huddle, what is your checklist of things that you need to acknowledge or notice or see at the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped?
"There's a lot. Every play has its own deal and obviously what we're trying to do, whether it's run or pass. Obviously, I think the front has a big play in terms of what we're trying to do protection-wise. And then from there, looking at the safety structure. And I know quarterbacks always say that, what's the front? What are the safeties doing? And then sort of assess the little details from there. But, in our offense with the amount of shifts and motions and snap points, that's a whole other dynamic that you have to be on top of. [Head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] puts that on us as the quarterbacks to manage that. But, once you're on top of it and you execute in the right way, it's for a reason and a really good reason. So, I don't know. I feel like those are the main things that I sort of have to break the huddle and be on top of."
What is a snap point?
"Different motions. We have a motion coming from outside-in, snapping the ball inside that receiver, outside that receiver, [FB Kyle Juszczyk] Juice on all his different kind of motions as well. Like, snap points are a big part of our offense there."
You faced a lot light boxes this week and may face them again. What's the challenge of throwing when teams have six guys in the box?
"Obviously, that means coverages and stuff, guys dropping back in zone can be more difficult when there's guys out there and the goal obviously is to be able to run the ball really well in those instances. But, the minute they do stack the box at some point in the game, then you have to be ready to be able to throw the ball and execute in that regard. So, I feel like Kyle does a good job with making sure that we all understand what kind of game it's going to be, if they're going to load the box, what our answer is, if they're not, let's do our job whether it's still throwing the ball or running the ball really well efficiently. I feel like the Eagles do a good job of switching things up and making it hard to run the ball with their front that they have and dropping guys back in coverage. So, we respect the heck out of what they do, but we also have got be on top of our job and have success in what we've always done."
It's been a couple of years since your injury, like you said. Has it gotten stronger like every year? Is it the strongest it's ever been? How confident are you in it now compared to maybe a few years ago?
"That's a tricky question. Just because you get hurt and then you're trying to rehab to get back to feeling good as a thrower, and it's always hard to tell like, is my arm stronger or not? I'd like to think so. But for me, where I'm at, that was three years ago so it's tough to go back and say, 'alright, my arm is stronger than it was three years ago.' Honestly, I don't know the answer to that. All I know right now is I feel really good with the throws that I can make across the field and taking shots downfield, throwing the ball outside the numbers, you name it. I feel good with where I'm at. So, hopefully that answers your question. But, I feel like all the rehab and all the arm care stuff that we do here has allowed me to be at my best right now."
You talked about how maybe there was a little frustration after the last game versus Seattle. What is your role in making sure that the mood and the attitude and the offensive rhythms are positive going forward?
"Yeah, I think guys have done a good job of just understanding, like yeah, it sucked what had happened and not capitalizing on a really good opportunity. But, we are in the playoffs and we don't have time to dwell on the negative things. Yes, let's learn from them, but we've got to move on and flip the page pretty quickly because we're about to go and our season's on the line now. So, for us to go into a hostile environment, you've got to be on top of your stuff. You've got to have some energy and momentum as a team to go in and believe that you can do your job at a high level. So, that's where we've been at. The guys in the locker room all feel that. There's definitely a sense of urgency and it's the playoffs, so I feel like it's your 0-0 moving forward now. I feel like it's a good thing for us just obviously how the season ended, the regular season, but guys are excited for this opportunity."
With so many young guys on the team with that hostile environment, how much conversation does there have to be just to help them get prepared for that?
"Yeah, one, we've had guys that have played there, so we understand that and obviously guys that have been in the NFL that have played in Philly, they get that. But, Kyle's done a good job too of, from the beginning of the week, showing this is the environment that we're going to go into and we have to be ready for X, Y, and Z. I think for the young guys they have a good idea, but you're not going to know until you get there and you feel it. So, it's going to come down to execution in big moments and not allowing the environment to get you out of your zone. You've got to be locked in however you can for four quarters."