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Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
QB Brock Purdy
Does it feel like just yesterday you were in a playoff game in the Divisional Round, but yet also a long time ago at the same time?
"Yeah, it's been a pretty quick year. It feels like we were just in the playoffs and we were just in Philly and all that. So, it's gone fast."
Have you ever met Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love? How familiar are you with his game?
Do you feel different this year just having had playoff experience last year and then now having that under your belt going into your second time around?
"Yeah I feel like it's a little different. Just last year, still trying to find my way in a sense. I got thrown in towards the end of the year and so every single week I was still trying to play good and learn who I was as a quarterback and obviously get more familiar with playing within the system. Those were all things that were sort of on my plate last year. Then obviously trying to win every single week and get this team to the end. So now I guess this year just being more familiar with the offense, who I am and all that, it's a little different. But it's good to sort of watch the games from last year and sort of remember just the feeling and the emotions of playing in a playoff game. It's good. It's huge for me as a quarterback to go back to those moments and sort of remember what it feels like. So, those are things that I'm sort of banking on."
What did it feel like?
"I feel like the first game was a little bit tense, just in terms of every play mattered, not trying to turn the ball over. But at the same time, making plays still and winning and doing what it takes to win. Those were things I sort of had to learn. Watching the film, it's sort of you get back into that feeling of last year and the first time in a playoff game. So it's sort of good to remember those kinds of things moving forward, sort of understanding what to expect for the first playoff game this year for me."
"You never know. At the end, the Cowboys were making a push and so you never really know. But, after they got up and then the third quarter they were up pretty big, I was like, 'okay, I think this is going to probably be the team.' But like I said, you never know. The Cowboys started to come back and then it was like, alright. So you're just watching and then obviously the minute the clock hits zero, it's like, 'alright, let's go. It's going to be the Packers.' It was a great game to watch and they came out ready to play against the Cowboys. They played really well. So yeah, I guess third quarter I started thinking we were going to play the Packers."
Have you watched tape of when the 49ers played in Lambeau a couple years ago in the playoffs. Do you remember maybe watching it live when you were at school?
"Yeah, all I remember in that game in college was the end, the block punt and all that kind of stuff. It was crazy. And it just being really cold. But, we've watched a couple plays and stuff from that game and sort of just seeing the environment, playoff football in Lambeau with the snow and all that. What a crazy game. So just the history of these two organizations in playoff games and stuff, it's pretty cool to say that I get to play in that game now. So I'm excited for it."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he worked you pretty hard during the Bye week. What was the process? What kinds of things did you guys work on? Did you feel like it was a productive use of your time?
No discount to your scout team, but how much more do you get out of going up against the ones?
"Yeah, it's huge. Obviously, they fly around. They're really disciplined with their drops and stuff. You've got the crazy defensive line that we have and their push in the pocket. So you put all those things together, it's really good work that you can get out of it. Then obviously just the competitive nature and you feel your blood starts to pump a little bit when you're going against [LB] Dre [Greenlaw] and Fred and [DL Nick] Bosa off the edge and the secondary that we have. It's always fun."
You said after the Ravens game that you let some of the hype around Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and you let it affect you? How does it affect your preparation? Did it affect just the way you played in the game and does that experience help you going into this big primetime game?
"Yeah, just it being a primetime game, Christmas Day and all that kind of stuff. Then we sort of had two really good plays in the beginning of the game and the stadium's feeling it. Everybody's feeling good. Then boom, you make a mistake. It's something for me it's huge to be able to get in that kind of moment and remember those kinds of things for as tough as they were and how bad I felt after. Man does that kind of stuff help you if you allow it to. To go back and watch it on film and be real with yourself about those moments and what it takes to play quarterback at this level and be successful and play consistently and make the right decisions consistently. Those are all things that I took account from that game that I think I got better at. Honestly, we're going to find out, the playoffs coming up and in this game. I thought I took some stuff away from it, but at the end of the day, we're going to find out on Saturday."
"There's a lot of things that go into that, but I think at the end of the day it's football. It's a physical sport. So we're all juiced up and ready to go for the first drive. Just our mindset with getting on a team pretty quickly and doing the little things right from the jump, that's a big emphasis that we have here. So that's something I think we've done well. Then obviously our scheme and stuff, the plays that we know we're going to call for the first drive. Those are all things that you can prepare for and it helps you out as a player. I think all those things added up together. That's why you've seen us, I think, have success early on. Honestly, every drive matters, just like Kyle said. Is that something that we've got to go into the game and say we have to? Every game's different. Obviously we won't score every time we touch the ball."
What did you take away from your sit down with former QB Steve Young and did you consider that informative or useful in any way?
"Yeah, I thought it was awesome. Obviously asking me some questions and stuff about my process, how I think and all that. But he had some really good just ideas and things that he said and good perspectives on just the game in general. You can tell obviously he was successful just by the way he thinks and how he views life and stuff. I think all of that put into one, that's the reason why he is the way he is. To be able to sit down with him was very honored. I thought it was pretty cool that he was asking some really good questions, not just the generic stuff. Then after getting to be able to talk to him and just talk about ball and everything. The fact that he has my back and supports me and what I'm doing is pretty cool too. So, it was sweet."
How much taller are you than Steve?
I think you are.
"Yeah, maybe an inch. I hope so. I don't know."
What are your thoughts on your younger brother coming to the Bay Area, assuming he's still coming to San Jose State?
"Obviously there was a lot of the whole coaching turnover thing that just happened with the head coach going to Arizona. I don't know. He's feeling it out still. He's got some decisions to make. I'm really excited for him and happy for him either way. But yeah, if he can be in the Bay, that'd be pretty sweet to have my brother here."
"Yeah, I think there were just some really good plays made by the DBs. Green Bay Packers CB] Jaire Alexander, his ball instincts on his one interception. Then number 26 [Green Bay Packers S Darnell] Savage [Jr.] coming down and making a good read on [Dallas Cowboys QB] Dak [Prescott] and jumping a slant. I don't want to say anything on their behalf, but it looks like it's playoff football. They're aggressive in what they're doing and when they see an opportunity they're willing to be aggressive and take it. Those are all things that I think we have to take into account. For myself, obviously with the ball in my hands every play. They're guys that can make plays. I have to understand that. So it's going to be a really good challenge."
After sitting out Week 18, how excited or how much are you itching to just actually get back out there and to game action?
"Yeah it was weird, seeing the whole team and all my guys, dressed out, warming up for the game and stuff, and I was like, 'man, I wish, I was able to do it with them and stuff.' I'm glad honestly that we were able to get through that and I was able to practice with them this week and I'm playing this week. So I'm really excited about that. But, definitely was an itch for sure. But at the same time, being able to see the other guys get opportunities to go in and play was huge and watch them play. It was sweet. But, definitely ready for this one."
Quarterbacks coach Brian Griese said you guys have had animated conversations on the sideline. Not screaming at each other or anything like that. It gets intense and tight and trying to figure out what the next step is or you how to adjust. What are those like and do they get heated?
Last week, did you and RB Christian McCaffrey lean on each other? It seemed like you both had that mentality of wanting to play, but you knew that you couldn't. Did you guys lean on each other during that?
"Yeah, we had talked about it throughout the week and stuff. Obviously we understand what the end goal is and the big picture of things. So for him obviously getting his body healthy and right and then obviously keeping me healthy, going into playoffs as well was huge. Those are things we both understood and we both hammered away at the little things throughout the week. Obviously, he came back looking great at practice and stuff. But, that's a professional right there. You understand what we're trying to do. Obviously, we understood we had the first seed locked up and to go out and play for our team was awesome every opportunity we get. But at the same time, we both understand that we have to be healthy going into playoffs. So having his advice and help throughout that time was huge too. But, we're both excited to obviously get through that and be healthy for this game. So we're excited for the opportunity."
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks
Opening comments:
"Good day of practice today. Guys are locked in, they're focused and they should be. It's postseason play. We're excited about where we are. We understand it's do or die, you've got to win or you go home. So, we've got a difficult task this week. The Packers are a real good football team, and they showed that last week against the Cowboys. I think their run game is probably top-notch right now in how they're performing, moving the ball down the field. The offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage in so many different ways, buying time for [Green Bay Packers QB Jordan] Love to get the ball down the field off play action. But [Green Bay Packers RB Aaron] Jones and [Green Bay Packers RB AJ] Dillon, they're running the ball at a high level. The receivers are playing great, with [Green Bay Packers WR Jayden] Reed leading the charge there. A lot of respect for those guys. They're well coached. Again, it's going to be difficult, but we're looking for the challenge this week."
"I think he's real good. I think a lot of part of the season, maybe he was maybe twice or maybe three times NFC Player of the Week. So, he's doing some great things and I think number one he's protecting the ball. He's putting the ball where it needs to go. You think about a young guy like that and you forget that he's really played behind [New York Jets QB] Aaron [Rodgers] for three years. So, he's learned a lot. He's mature. You can see that on the field. Even when you think about, okay, here's a guy, I'm going to go pressure, where his percentage rate against pressure is pretty high. So, he does a great job in getting rid of the ball."
How do you disrupt the incredible rhythm he's in? You guys did this against Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence coming out of the Bye, took him out of rhythm early in the game. How do you try to take a quarterback out of rhythm when he's really in one?
"Well, I think the number one thing is we have to try to stop this run to try to make them one-dimensional. They're very effective running a ball. I think it just opens up the play action. That's where you see him being extremely effective in taking the shots down the field and finding an open receiver. So, that's number one. Then again, we've just got to try to mix things up on him a little bit to give him something to think about and figure out where he needs to go with the ball."
In the past, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur would sort of build the offense along with Aaron Rodgers and his input. Now it seems like this is really his offense. What's the hallmark of it? What do you see from it? How similar is it to what you do here?
Love is dropping back at the top of his drop and he's starting to fade away to buy himself a little bit more time, and it's been effective for him. Is there a counter to something like that? What have you thought when you watched it?
"Well, it is no counter there. That's somewhat what I was alluding to, where him being able to come up behind Aaron for those last three years. That's one of the things that Aaron was very effective with, drifting a little bit, buying time. He has the arm strength, Love I'm talking about, to still get the ball down the field. You saw that with zero pressure against the Cowboys, and he hit that, what I call that Dino post for the touchdown in the red zone. We've got to do a great job on the back-end plastering, what we call right now, really latching on to our receivers. He's going to do a great job buying time. He can do that with his feet. He's not looking to run. His eyes are still down the field trying to be effective and get the ball thrown. So that's number one. Then two, we've got to win up front. Our front four has got to do a great job in getting out to this quarterback."
Aaron Jones, I believe, has had four 100-yard games in a row. What does he do well? How good is he?
"He's real good. He runs behind his pads. He can run in between the tackles. He can really jump set and get the ball to the perimeter of the defense. That's point of emphasis each and every week, but particularly this week as well, we've got to do a great job setting edges. I think, again, running behind his pads, he does a hell of job in really making the first guy miss after contact. So, we've got to do a great job with 11 guys swarming and getting to the ball."
"Well again, they're both are looking well in practice. Ji'Ayir's bounced back as you just talked about. He's looking good. Logan has been consistent. They're both dealing with a little bit of injuries and whatnot. But thus far this week, I haven't seen any setbacks. So that's encouraging. Logan is a guy that's been there. He's had the experience. He's played in two Super Bowls. Postseason is something that's just not unusual to him. But also when you look at Ji'Ayir, it's not too big for him. Being able to come in and fill the shoes of Huff [S Talanoa Hufanga], All-Pro player that went down, unfortunately. Ji'Ayir didn't blink. He's doing a great job. So, it is good to be in that situation to have these guys available."
Do the Packers have a go-to receiver in their passing game that you must account for or do they sort of spread it around?
"They spread it around, but I've got a lot of love for all those guys. Reed is one that shows up quite a bit, particularly jet sweeps and those kind of things, reverse. They all are very talented and can really, as I call right here, get their share of plays at any time."
You guys have so many young DBs, CB Samuel Womack III, CB Darrell Luter Jr. and all your backup DBs. How do you feel the group's coming along and how do you feel like you match up on the back end in this matchup?
You mentioned Jordan Love can extend plays with his legs and he's not looking to run, but he is looking to throw. How big of an emphasis is it this week for you to keep him in the pocket or can he beat you there too?
"Well, it is always a big emphasis if we can try to contain the quarterback and not allow him to be able to have that extra time. So, that's something we've got to do a great job of upfront, again, with our different stunts and line moves. [Defensive line coach Kris] Kocurek does a great job of really orchestrating all that. Our guys, again, [DL] Arik [Armstead] is back. Excited to see him back at practice and how he's moving around. So that physical presence inside and then [DL Nick] Bosa from the outside. We've got to do a great job containing this guy and really trying to get pressure and sack him."
Green Bay has two starting tight ends in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. How's LB Dre Greenlaw looking with his Achilles pain and do you see him matching up with these guys? How's he looked after the couple weeks off?
"He's looking good. He's up here, what I call ready to go. Greenlaw to me is just one of those warriors. He's going to be ready to play at any time. We've got to make sure we protect him against himself. So yesterday he had some time off and today he was back at it. He's going to be ready to play. I have no reservations about the matchup with him nor [LB] Fred [Warner] on their tight ends. As you've seen us in the past, we run with receivers down in the middle of the field as well. So, these guys are very talented. Again, it's going to be a tough task for us."
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Chris Foerster
What do you see from Green Bay's defensive line? They have a bunch of different guys that are having a lot of success.
"Very well coached. One of the better coached groups we'll play. Everybody's well coached in the NFL, but this group's very well coached, very disciplined in what they do. They play with a lot of intensity, play with great pad level. They play with great passion. They know what they're doing. They execute well. The defense is called, you've got to block them. You've got to get after them and you've got to really work hard to stay on your blocks. I was showing some clips today, going back to that game up in the tundra, the freezing cold a couple years ago, that we had some space for big gains, and there'd be five yards, four yards, six yards. They did a good job of defeating blocks and making tackles and they've done it and continue to do it since then. They continue to get better in their scheme. And very, very big challenge for us this week."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan yesterday was talking about how RB Christian McCaffrey's probably been ready for every game back into his Pop Warner days. Have you seen a guy who was drafted that high, who's been so eager and so hardworking in this position?
"I mean, he's in the group with the elite guys. Like I've said in the past, working with a [former NFL QB] Peyton Manning, you work with a [former NFL T] Jonathan Ogden. You work with some of these guys that are [former NFL G] Randall McDaniel, Hall of Fame type players that prepare as nobody else does. And they're almost crazy about their preparation. They're never going to let up. They leave no stone unturned as far as game planning, as far as work, as far as their physical preparation and Christian's in that group of just elite players like that. There's been a handful, but they're generational type players."
Kyle said yesterday that when you actually look at the film, it's not so surprising that the Packers were able to come in and upset the Cowboys. Did you see that as well?
You were with Kyle and Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur in Washington. You're probably not looking at their offense real closely, but do you see a lot of similarities in the way these teams operate?
"Well, they do. I mean, their offensive coordinator [Adam] Stenavich was here for the first couple years with Kyle. Then, obviously, you have Matt there. And I think when they were there with [New York Jets QB] Aaron Rodgers, you're going to take some of what he did, some of what you do, and you kind of blend it together. Now, this is a little bit more along lines. There's a lot of similarities, although they've started from a different jump off. They started the thing with Rodgers and now it's evolving a little bit more towards what I would think Matt would be not as similar to us, but there's a lot of things they do. It's really cool to watch what they do because all the teams from this tree, whether you look at Cleveland, you look at us, you look at all the teams that kind of run similar, the Jets when [Los Angeles Rams Offensive Coordinator Mike] LaFleur was there and down with [Los Angeles Rams head coach] Sean [McVay] and everybody takes a spin with it. In fact, last year I was talking with [Cleveland Browns head coach] Kevin Stefanski. I think it was a year ago, two years ago, I was trying to get recommendations to hire our assistant offensive line coaches. And Kevin said it's always fun to see what each guy does with the system. When a new guy gets a job, [Houston Texans offensive coordinator] Bobby Slowik now in Houston, you take every single one of these guys, Matt LaFleur, Kyle, Sean, everybody that gets their little piece, it's just a little different flavor, a little different spin. And that's what Matt has."
When you were on that staff, did you ever look around at all these young coaches and think, man, this is a pretty special group of guys, or was it more just, let's just have a good day of practice?
"Well, no, like I told you, I think I said this before, it's one of my favorite stories about Matt and Sean. I'm interviewing and I'm suited up and I've got Kyle and [former NFL head coach] Mike Shanahan sitting right where you guys are right across this big staff table. I'm on the chalkboard and I'm sweating, 'oh my gosh, here's Mike and here's Kyle. And I get my chance to interview with them.' And then in the corner, there's these two guys sitting there with short haircuts all buttoned up and young. I mean young. And I'm like, who the, I'm wondering, what are they doing here? I'm here, I'm talking to Mike and Kyle trying to get a job, and it turns out it's Matt and Sean and they looked like the two guys who were going to pick up the free agents at the airport and then they're going to bring them back for meals. And literally they're working their tails off. Matt's the quarterback coach. Sean's working quality control. And I just knew we had a special atmosphere, the group we had there with coach Shanahan, how he built the thing, how he taught us all, how he tried to change the culture and environment there. Then, how Sean and Kyle were with his dad, and then how they trained. We worked all together to learn this thing. And then to put the thing together with RGIII [former NFL QB Robert Griffin III], that's when you kind of saw everybody kind of coming to their own, their own flare of creativity. And Kyle gives guys a lot of freedom. 'Hey, Matt, you're in charge of third down, Sean, you're in charge of Red Zone. Bring me your report before I delve into it.' And seeing how they would come up with their own flare and spin on things. And some days it was, 'man, great job, Sean.' Some days he yelled down the hall at Sean. 'Sean, what'd you do? Did you work out all day? You didn't do anything for my report here.' It was Kyle, but it was the way we all got better. Kyle held us all accountable and did a really good job, as did his dad. And that's kind of how the thing grew."
"Yeah, there's some things that obviously he is so talented, you get the ball in his hands and it's always, there's a lot of good things can happen. But there are certain plays that require a few more reps as a running back and others don't require. So, we do lean on the ones that maybe don't require as many reps. Not that he can't read it or doesn't read, he's just not going to get the work at it because by the time you work at receiver, you do everything that you do there, by the time you do the blocking that we need to get done with the game. And then you give him some handoffs as well. There's only certain things you can do. So you try to keep the focus on things that don't require quite as much, but there's certain things he likes and is good at. And whether it's done perfectly or not, he finds a way to get yardage out of it. I remember against Green Bay up there a few years ago we ran a play at the end of the game to ice the game, no pun intended, but he ran through there and it wasn't blocked well. It was a very poorly executed play and Deebo found a way to get us the first down. And with that was the end of the game. We were in victory from that point forward."
What kind of advantage does it give you guys to have the interchangeability of Deebo and Christian and what they can do?
"Oh, all those guys, it's great. I mean, every single guy that goes in the game, it's a little bit different. Between [RB] JP [Jordan Mason], between [RB Elijah] Mitchell and then you have Christian and you have Deebo and all those guys when they handle the football and what they do with it. Shoot, even [WR] Ray-Ray [McCloud III], when you've seen him handle the ball at times, anybody that can touch that football, we've just got a lot of guys with ball in their hands and a lot of different ways to get it to them. The creativity that Kyle uses and the other coaches use to help get these guys involved, it's a great advantage to be able to do that. So it's not always going to be Christian. Christian may be lead blocking, we've talked about it before. It's just a great advantage. I don't know how it affects the defense. It is a great way to get everybody involved in the offense."
The Cowboys had a check at the line of scrimmage early in the game where you could hear QB Dak Prescott on the TV copy saying 'False Shanahan, False Shanahan'. It was a run play to RB Tony Pollard to the left. Does that mean anything to you?
Will it be OL Jon Felicano or OL Spencer Burford at right guard?
"We're working through that right now. Jon had some, we were working through some things the last week of the season. I think we're going to see, probably you'll see some of both guys in the game as far as who starts and who doesn't. Although I'm not sure at this point, I think we're working out through the week and it could be a hot hand thing, could be a let one guy just go with it and see, I don't know. We're still, both guys have been working and we have to have flexibility in there. My thing is that [OL Aaron] Banks has had some things this season, so the flexibility of Jon being able to work all the positions that's always going to leave us making sure that Jon's ready at all the spots. He's the backup center, he's the backup left guard. So that always weighs into our equation a little bit. So, we have to keep some flexibility there."
How valuable is FB Kyle Juszczyk to what you guys do as an offense in general?
"Kyle, he's instrumental in so much that we do. I think that when you have to deal with the fullback, you're saying, okay, the fullback running game, then you can put him as a tight end position, then you can put him in the backfield on third down, then you can split him out and he can run routes in our route tree and do everything. He can run down the field and catch passes. He's not a great matchup at times for linebackers to cover. So that flexibility, all that we can do with him, plus having him dot the i, be the fullback in the I formation gives us a great deal. And as I've stated in here we've talked about this before in here, how the fullback position, the guy in the backfield allows you to cut the defense in different ways. So everything you can do in the run game protection-wise everything he does, just very flexible. And really, again, forget where he went to school, he is a really smart football player and the guy really does a great job of sometimes helping the other guys put everything together and sees the play and understands and he understands the intent of the play. So not only does he execute what we ask him, he executes it pretty cool too. He does it in a good way."
"Yeah, and every team can have its day on offense or on defense and I think that what happens is all it takes is a couple big runs and you pop a big run or two and that can happen. And so that's what ends up happening. I mean, a couple years ago we ran for a lot of yards against the Vikings in the first-round playoff game, but we didn't have a run over seven yards and it was hard to get a big number. Whenever you have a big day running the football, there's going to be some explosive runs in there somewhere. And when you get those explosive runs, did that happen because of a missed gap, missed tackle, great blocked play, good design? There's a lot of different reasons that that plays like that can happen. I don't know offhand exactly what they would be. Obviously, we're going to look at what we think we can have success with within our package and what they do. And as I told my guys the other day, it's playoff time and expect the unexpected. What you think you're going to see, you may not see. What you've prepared for all week may not happen. So you have to rely on your 18 weeks, 17 weeks of playing football games and how you've worked together as a group to build on that and get yourself ready for whatever they may bring, and hoping that you can have that kind of success running the football."
