How will things change during the 49ers first practice with pads on? "It's live blocking. We're going to thud up the back," answered Kelly. "We're not going to take them to the ground, but I just don't want people leaving their feet. The problem when you have those situations isn't really the tackling, it's the collateral damage with that because someone's on the ground and now two guys trip over it and you got a twisted ankle or what not."
"We'll be able to come off and be a lot more physical at the point of attack," Kelly continued.
Kelly was asked about the 49ers' quarterback battle between Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert. "Both of those guys have been really competitive," said Kelly. "Again, they're still growing. We're new to them. They're new to us. So there's a learning process going on and that's the big thing for us as a coaching staff – seeing how they acclimate themselves to what we're doing. But I thought both guys have done a really nice job in the last few days."
Kelly warned the media not to read too much into who starts at quarterback during team reps. The coaching staff is trying to give each quarterback an even amount of reps in practices so one guy may start one team period and another may start the next. Each quarterback has gotten 24 reps each so far. 12 with the first-team and 12 with the second-team.
Kelly was asked who he is excited to see with pads on. "The 90," he half-jokingly answered. "There's a lot of those guys that you really can't tell until you get a chance, specifically offensive and defensive lines."
Jerome Simpson's touchdown reception from Monday was brought up. Kelly called the wide receiver competition "wide open."
"Besides maybe Torrey right now, let's kind of find out who the other playmakers are at the wide receiver position", said Kelly. "You all will have an opportunity, now it's whoever takes advantage of that opportunity."
Kelly was asked if he is involved with the coaching of the quarterbacks. "Me personally? No," Kelly answered. "Our quarterback coach is outstanding. Ryan Day has got that on lock down." Kelly is in the install meetings, but once their go to their position meetings, he lets the coaches do their job. "I let those guys go do what they have to do and he does a really good job at it."
Regarding some of the reported communication issues during his time in Philadelphia, Kelly said, "It depends on who you talk to." He stated that if you ask 20 guys a question, you may get 19 different answers. He feels that he and 49ers general manager Trent Baalke have good communication. "I think we think alike," said Kelly.
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