Brant Boyer and 49ers Players Address the Media at Training Camp

Brant Boyer and 49ers Players Address the Media at Training Camp

that through the entire OTAAS and and mini camp and the first couple days of training camp that there had only been one missed field goal. A is that accurate? And just how do you size up what you see right now between those kickers? I mean, it was pretty close to accurate. It may have been two maybe three tops uh between the two of them. So, they both been doing a really good job. It’s it’s uh you know should develop into a really good competition. Um you know they um I think they could have kicked a little better today you know but they’re they’re they have both done a hell of a job. Um done everything we’ve asked. Um you know I think the you know with more at the addition to more with Morstead and weeks and stuff the operation they’ve adjusted the operation really well and uh and I think it’s I think it’s going to be a really good competition as we as we get into camp in those preseason games. Obviously everything with that job is how they fare in games. But since you can’t just base it on games, you won’t get to see them both. How how do you evaluate kicking throughout this period here when there aren’t as many, you know, game opport Well, I think consistency, you know, is is the biggest thing. And um you know any any anybody can go out there and make four kicks in a row or something like that in a practice, but if you can do it over time and they can see the consistency and the ball flight and everything like that is the same every time like there’s something to be said for that and the the times and everything else and and uh you know if a guy misses can the other guy make right after you know that’s all the kind of stuff that you look for right that the competitiveness and I want that’s what I want to see and these guys are doing a really good job so far and and uh like I said I thought they could have had a better day today. But um they’re they’re doing a a good job so far. Why you’re doing the alternating? Yes, sir. Yeah. Cuz I want to see them on the same days, right? I want to see them like go back to back. See if they compete. I want to see them kicking in the same same uh win direction, things like that, right? And so so it’s the exact same kick right after and uh see how they handle it and and let the team see them. And you know, that’s how you you you know, create uh you know, pressure on the guys and and I think it’s good. I think it’s really good for competition. Keep caps about on what’s happening around the league as far as kicker competitions and how that could potentially impact your decision here. Sure. I mean, that’s that’s all, you know, everybody has an emergency list and every there are special teams coach in the league. Every coach in the league has an you know, the personnel department does a great job here with John and those guys and and uh the communication’s fantastic here and so um it’s been it’s been a really good process through through stuff like that. Does how they handle kickoffs play a bigger role now with the rule change that they feel or is it mostly the field? you know, honestly, they’re they’re pretty similar, you know, um in leg strength and stuff like that, but as far as like, you know, we’re you’re going to have to cover kicks and and that’s what it comes down to. But as far as like your ability to hit kicks and everything, it’s sure that’s going to that’s going to be able to, you know, that’s going to have to come down at some point in in part of that decision. You know, if can can he hit directionally both sides? Can he hit a knuckle ball? Can he hit, you know, stuff like that that we’re asking him to do. Um that that’s going to be a big big emphasis as we as we move forward for sure. Said the other day that he’s been watching the kicker competition because he thinks it’s exciting. Have you noticed more players paying attention than maybe you’ve seen in past kicker competition? Um I don’t know. I’ve had a lot in New Jersey. Um you know I I think every team’s the same. They kind of want to see it and and uh you know just like any other competition. I think when everybody knows there’s a battle and that’s what you’re trying to create on every team is is competition at every every position for the most part and and uh when you see a battle like that going on and and uh you know you always want to watch it and you know I just think back when I was a player I was always wanting to watch those kind of battles and stuff like that and that’s what they’re talking about like you know that that will affect the team down the road and so they want to see it and I I think it’s cool that everybody’s watching and and it puts that added pressure on and stuff like that cuz that’s that’s where you’re going to find out who who you know has the upper leg or not, you know. In the case of Moody, do you go back and watch what he did last season to just get acquainted, see what he did, how he improved, or did you just start from zero? I’ve watched thousands of reps, you know? I mean, you you have to, right, to try to try to see how you can help him and stuff like that, but at the at the end of the day, I it doesn’t matter what he did in the past for me. You know, when I when I come here, I want to see what he’s done from here on. And, you know, you try to give everybody a clean slate when you get here. and and I and I tried to do that and so did Colt and and Ronnie and stuff. So, we tried to do that. In terms of mental makeup, I mean, he was a highly drafted player 99 third round uh had a rough year. What kind of emotions or mental makeup did you see from him? You know, I I seen a guy that that uh lost his confidence a little bit, but I also seen a guy that was that was, you know, injured half the year. you know, um, you know, he’s a super talented kid and and I think that that he’s just got to get his stinger back, so to speak, you know, and and Greg is is is putting all the pressure on him that that that he he can and and like I said, that’s going to heat up. That battle is going to be fun to watch, you know, as we as we get into the preseason games. That’s for sure. Special teams are always the change in footwork, how what have you noticed from that? Has it affected him? I think I think it’s helped, you know, um his get off times are really good. Um, you know, his ball flight’s been good. Um, so I think I think he’s done a good job. He’s done a good job adjusting to everything and and the new holder and the new new snapper and stuff like that. The the the OP times are are down pretty good already. Um, and they’ve only had a couple weeks to work with each other. So, three three weeks or so. So, four weeks. And, uh, you know, so I think that’s that’s been a big part of it. And and they’ve done a good job, all three of them. Special teams are often put together on the fly because you don’t know who you got until then to the last 53 as opposed to offensive defense where you got a better idea. But you weren’t New York long enough that you must have had core guys that were used to you. What’s it like coaching a blank slate? That’s a good that’s a good question. Um, I think it’s always really cool to go into a building and then you develop your own opinions because it, you know, I don’t I don’t want to ask people and get my view clouded when I first came here and so I watched a ton of tape and and studied these guys a ton, but when you come into a new building, you know, you’re you’re trying to establish the culture that that you’re wanting to do. And and um I I find it awesome. The this is a great group of kids um that are workers um that have studied so far. They’ve done everything I’ve asked and and I’ve really enjoyed being here. I really have. It It’s pretty cool to come into a new building and a whole new staff and and everything like that when I when I had been there for so long and and uh you know, I’m really happy to be here. How helpful is it to have worst 10 weeks, these veterans, savvy veterans while everybody else is kind of learning on the fly around? It’s uh you know it’s it’s awesome because I you know I’ve obviously had the relationship with with Morstead for for since he’s been playing for me and and uh you know he’s a friend of mine off the field you know um and and that’s because he’s such a professional and he and he does stuff right and he’s such a good leader and everything else. Weeks has been the same way. You know, every everything I’d ever heard about Weeks, I’d always admired him from afar just playing against him because I could never get him, you know, and uh you know, the what the way I’ve heard about him being the man, a teammate, you know, all that stuff. He’s been fantastic. So, it’s it’s been a good uh good group to be around. Um you know, the kicker competition’s going to be really good going down the stretch and we’ll see all that competition is going to be great. like Luke Gford is not probably to the average fan, but is he like one of those core guys that’s well known in the special teams community rather? Yeah, he’s he’s a he’s a fourcourt guy that’s just a productive dude that’s tough as hell and and gets after people all the time and we’ve played against him a bunch and and uh you know he always does a really good job and and guys like him fly under the radar a lot of times and and uh you know he’s in a battle just like everybody other you know 98% of this team is and so you know what it’s going to come down to is how they produce in these preseason games and and then you know the team gets together and makes a decision and and sees what happened. But he’s been a productive special teams player throughout his career. Yes. Looking down looking down the road, are you giving cart blanch to say I want X number? Like I want this guy and this guy on I wish that was the case to be honest with you. I mean every every special teams coach would love that opportunity. No. Um no, absolutely not. It’s everything’s a every decision that’s made is a is a mutual decision and a team decision. It’s it’s never comes down to one guy. Is that what you’re asking? Yeah. I I mean, I’m I’m not shameful to say that that I will try to stand up as much as I can and and you know, try to bang on the table for for the guys that I think can help this team win. And um you know, but at the same time, you know, you you’ve got to be a good teammate as well as a coach. and and you know there’s things that are sometimes better for the team than just you know it’s not about an individual unit. It’s about the team and that’s where the fine line comes in on your you trying to get your guys or if there’s if there’s two guys close, what guys better for offense, what guys better for defense and and usually that’s where where you say, you know, you be a good teammate and you say, “Hey, man, whatever’s best for the team, take that guy if you know.” And so it’s it’s a it’s a give and take, right? And it’s and it’s all decisions that are talked about all the time through a lot of people and and uh then you make those decisions. Thanks, guys. Uh Brandt has been uh just the most outstanding coordinator to me. Um he played the game at the highest level for a long time and uh uh there’s never any gray as far as where you stand related to standards and expectations and um we’ve grown to have a really close relationship and he appreciates the uh you know the professionalism that I bring to the room. Uh and um it’s it’s it’s been an awesome awesome relationship both ways and uh love playing for the guy and you know grateful to be here at what feels like an awesome culture, awesome organization. You know, I’ve I felt that in New Orleans for so many years. Um and you can just feel it. And so it’s exciting to be a part of something that’s, you know, where all the guns are pointing in the same direction. There’s there’s a lot of newness to that special teams unit, but Jake Moody’s one of the guys who’s stuck around. So what have you been your first impressions of him and and how to get him back on track? Look, Jake’s great. He uh probably came back a little too early from his ankle deal last year and uh just kind of you know um some of these elite talents at Specialist are uh kind of like finely tuned you know foreign cars. Um and all of a sudden some cog gets out of whack and it’s not back right and you’re trying to work through it but there’s no time to work through it because you’re in the middle of the season but they need you back. just a tough situation. Um I’m glad that the team stuck with him last year. Um there’s a reason he was drafted so high. He’s super talented and he’s a young guy with a chip on his shoulder who’s a little pissed off and um he’s looked really good so far uh in camp. He’s been fun to work with. Um he is a professional. He is not a young kid trying to figure out a routine. Um so I’m excited for him. you know, it doesn’t that doesn’t guarantee results, but he’s got a great head on his shoulders and um it’s been fun working with him. Did you were you at all surprised when the Jets let you go? Um, how do I answer that? Uh, no. Well, I I know you guys want honest answers. Trust me, I understand that. Uh, I wasn’t surprised. Um, But I was disappointed. Um, I had been I don’t have an agent, so I have always kind of directly communicated with people that I have relationships in the in the building to just kind of set understanding of like whatever the whatever the reality is. And um you know it was just uh you know I’m I’m you know I know they say they’re trying to win this year and and uh but you know they’re starting a new thing and they kind of cleaned house. I’m about to be 40 next year and unless you know you think you’ve got a shot at the Super Bowl. Generally speaking, you know, teams that are in that part of the cycle are probably not looking to build to the future with somebody like me. Um, you know, you don’t want to get stuck with a guy that’s going to fall off a cliff at some point. Um, you know, I keep pushing that cliff away. Uh, so, um, you know, it was disappointing. I thought I’d either get released before for free for free for free for free for free for free for free for free for free for free for free agency or I’d have an opportunity to compete and go win that job. But no hard feelings. I’m in a great spot. It’s where I want to be with I’m working with people that I love to work with. Um Brandt being one and Mike Nicolini, the head strength coach who came from New York. Those are the two people I interface with the most. And um so it was kind of like you know sometimes you go to a new place you don’t know the dynamics of how things work and and the timing of how things are going to work and what expectations are like I know exactly what the expectations are and I’ve really enjoyed working with both of those guys and it was a big reason I went back to New York in 2023 after having been with them for a stent 21. So um yeah so I’m I’m fired up to be here. Uh no hard feelings. You know, it was disappointing, I guess, is what I would say. But, you know, I’ve got uh nothing’s ever guaranteed, but you know, the team has shown through the contract and and just the situation that like, hey, I’m I’m the plan, so I can plan to move my family out here, get school situated. I got five kids. I got a wife, God bless her, that is still kind of okay with me doing this, you know, strange lifestyle. And uh and so those those things for me to sign early, I would have just waited till the season started or close to to dial something up if if nobody was going to kind of step up with some sort of significant guarantees that I could, you know, plan on being somewhere for the fall. And that’s just my family situation now. And um and so you know uh this was there were a few teams but Brandt being here really made it a big uh you know that would have been tough to beat um having him here. What is your training and approach now that say like 10 years ago? Uh I kind of have a cycle you know when I was when I was younger it was I was training every day all the time just lifting weights all the time. It was kind of like like you know the the golfers coming up in the early 2000s all of a sudden Tiger’s lifting weights and he’s hitting it further than everybody. It’s kind of this new age thing. I kind of felt like one of those guys coming out of college um where it was kind of like a unique different breed. Um, and you know, you go through an injury, you you learn, experience teaches you, you you make adjustments, and you kind of I kind of went too far down the old, you know, you really need to focus on your rest and your recovery. And you do, but um I’ve kind of come back up and, um, for the past five years or so, more is better. uh it doesn’t necessarily mean more volume or but I mean I’m I’m doing certain lifts. I’m just as strong as I’ve ever been and um and it’s certainly why I’m still playing is because I’m a gym rat and I’ve been able to um you know build out processes for myself that have enabled me to you know feel good in August but feel really good in December so that if we’re making a playoff push hopefully I’ll be at my very best when we’re playing in cold weather and you know griier conditions. So, um I think it’s been a huge part of my success is just being strong and staying in the in the gym. I’d say the biggest changes have been uh the capacity of what I can handle off the field. You know, I’m not single. I don’t not have a family. So, like having kids, young kids, wakeups in the night, two kids are sick, you know, all that stuff that you have to manage during the season. Um, you know, we just have got a good plan for all that stuff now. And, um, I mean, you know, dealing with that sort of anxiousness as a young young guy and performance anxiety, once you deal with a few injuries as a veteran, then you your mindset shifts to just like, man, if I can just feel good on Sunday, I’m going to play good. And so, that’s what it’s all about is getting to Sunday, feeling physically healthy, uh, feeling good, feeling strong, confident, uh, twitchy if that’s possible at 39. and uh you know that allows you to go out and play with confidence. What makes Grant Boy Bluer a good special teams coach? A lot of things. Um he has real humility. Um if he’s wrong, he’ll take accountability just like you’d expect any player on the team to do. He played the game at the highest level. He got cut a bunch. He has empathy for what that’s like to be an NFL player. Um, and he had to be counted on in a bunch of different positions. Um, kind of as like a, you know, kind of like a top tier backup that would know every linebacker spot on the field plus personal protector, slot, guard. He had to know what everybody did and he could fill in at every slot. And he kind of was like a I think he would tell you he probably got a few extra years in playing just because he was a coach on the field and a mentor to help young guys come along. So, he gets it. He’s played the game. He’s able to compartmentalize better than most coaches I’ve been around. Um, what I mean by that is he can be hard on you. He can be your boss. He can be the guy that you have to answer to and then 30 minutes later he’s the guy that’s like, “Hey, should we go grab a beer at the bar and be buddies?” You know, he can do both of those. And I don’t think most coaches are able to do that. Um, and so he’s honest, brutally honest. He wears his heart on his sleeve and um and quite honestly he puts in the hours and the work that are required for him to be prepared. And it’s kind of like you know it’s hard to be mad at any player that makes a mistake that’s investing higher at a higher level than anybody around him. He’s just got that old school quality to him. And um but I think the biggest thing is just honest and honest transparency. Like you just always know where you stand. And I think I wish more coaches that I’ve worked with in my career were able to do that or um made a decision to do that. And uh it’s something I just so appreciate about him. Um the job’s stressful enough and difficult enough and challenging enough when you don’t have trust issues with your coach or people that you deal with. And um when you have that, it’s just really kind of a special thing that you don’t want to if you have a choice of who you’re going to work with. Like that would be, you know, it’s it’s it’s uh it’s worth a lot, I guess, is what I would say for quality of life. And just coming to work every day looking forward to who you’re working with is an awesome thing. What’s that? I have. Yeah. That’s that’s a long story. Uh but but I would just say this. Um you know, without without um poo pooing on anybody that uh uh No, no, no. Without doing that, I would say a thing that really drove me nuts as a player when it came time to have a contract discussion and kind of playing this game of telephone between an intermediary. I didn’t like that. And I just felt like, you know, if you’re respected and you can look people in the eye, um, at least if they are going to say something like negative or something that you don’t want to hear, they have to tell it to you directly. and um and I just like knowing where I stood with upstairs. And so uh I I I certainly don’t recommend that for everybody or or even most, but I’ve been around the block and um I’ve been able to establish, you know, good relationships pretty much everywhere I’ve been. And um you know I think I think probably it’s refreshing for upstairs to just look somebody in the eye if if they’re capable of doing it and if they’re not probably not somewhere you want to go to begin with. So it’s just kind of a personal preference and um and you know like I said it’s nice to know where you stand and they can look you in the eye and you know you just know you just know what it is. So thanks guys. All right. Appreciate it guys. Thank you. How do you feel about just how you’re striking the ball at this point throughout the offseason in the early days of camp? Uh, it’s feeling real consistent. um changed my approach from a three-step to a two-step. And um you know what that did, at least in my mind, was you know keep everything kind of shorter and more consistent as far as you know less variables of having a third jab step is what I would call it. Um so just kind of taking that out uh gets me to the ball a little quicker. I get to kind of see it get down a little sooner. um I don’t have to leave quite as fast. So, it allows me to kind of, you know, really see the ball on the ground and then be able to make some good contact. So, I think it’s been going really well. Is that something you before? Uh, no. It’s kind of Yeah, I mean it’s it’s obviously a big change and um talked it through with, you know, kicking coaches, other kickers. Um, you know, pretty much everybody, you know, because last season I felt like my jab step was getting kind of inconsistent. So, you know, a way to kind of fix that is to just eliminate it. And you know, after speaking with with my coaches and different kickers across the league, uh it seems like a lot of guys transition to that throughout their careers, um at least some of the the older guys have had success with it. So, uh hopefully, you know, I’ll follow in their footsteps and it’s a good change. Anybody in particular how that works, like what the, you know, kind of acclamation period, how long it takes to adjust to it, that kind of thing? Yeah. Uh it’s just normally I like to take a little time off. Uh kind of like an MLB pitcher, you know, after the season’s over. You don’t throw a ball for for a month or so. I usually don’t kick a ball for a month or so, but uh cut the off seasonason a little short uh because obviously wanted more time to work on it and went down to Florida for about a month uh working with my kicking coach down there and um you know kind of worked on the different steps, got to a spot where it felt comfortable and I can just kind of roll straight into it. And um now, you know, having done it so many times, if I try to go back to a three-step, it feels like I’ve never done it before. Um so I feel like I’ve done it enough times to where now it just feels natural again. How was your confidence level, Jake, after last season once the season ended and where is it now? Yeah. Uh last season was tough. Um I wouldn’t really say there was, you know, like thoughts about like confidence or anything like that. It was just more so uh learning experiences and uh just kind of moving on to to the now. not, you know, harping on, you know, what what had happened, but um just kind of focusing on the present, talking with people about, you know, mindsets to kind of move forward and uh having that kind of process over outcome uh mindset. And that’s kind of helped me just, you know, focus on the task at hand, which is, you know, at the the moment that I’m on the field, it’s just focus on the kick. Don’t worry about the results or anything that might follow. Just said that feels like you can shoot on your shoulder now. Would you see that back? Yeah, I would say so. How about those veteran kickers that you’re modeling the the change of technique after who’s influenced you as long as as far as those guys who have changed? Yeah. Uh, one of them was uh Matt Prader. He he kind of does like a tiny little third step. Um, but he just kind of picks it up and places it back down. Um, so he’s a guy that, you know, I looked up to growing up as a kid. Um, being from Southeast Michigan. He was playing for the Lions back then. And, um, I know Crosby, Mason Crosby from the Packers, uh, Vinitary, guys like that, they all kind of have a shorter approach. Um, just kind of keeping it more compact. you know, if they have enough strength, there’s, you know, not the issue of needing to get a super big run up. So, just kind of keeping it shorter and simple is, uh, it seems to work for for most guys. How about on the kicking competition with with Greg? Are you living it? Uh, I mean, I’m just kind of focused on what I’m doing. Like I said, just process over outcome. And, you know, whenever I’m on the field, I’m focused on my kick. whenever I’m not I’m just, you know, living in the moment, not worried about what other people are doing or anything like that. Can you explain a little bit more about just this chip on the shoulder? Like all athletes have something to motivate them. What is your what’s your motivation? Is it just stem from last year of kind of getting rushed back to kick or just the the nature of competition? What is it? It’s just, you know, I want to prove to myself that, you know, I I deserve to be here and that I belong. And, um, it’s doesn’t have anything to do with last year or other people or anything. Like I said, just kind of changed my mindset to just focusing on the now and, you know, doing whatever I can do in the moment to to help myself, you know, best make kicks. You alluded to it a minute ago. So, the some kicker you say about the three-step that is a sacrifices maybe a little bit of power. Is that is that kind of So, did you have to kind of figure out like, hey, I can still generate enough power with a twostep to to kick the distances that I need to. Was that part of this? How did how did you figure that out? Yeah. Um, that was, you know, kind of the discussions I’ve had with coaches and players and um, you know, obviously if you’re not getting as far of a runup, you’re probably not going to get as much power. Um, you know, I feel like maybe I’ve sacrificed a yard or two, but you know, nothing like crazy, nothing where I feel like it’s going to hinder, you know, my performance. And I think, you know, overall it’s going to be more beneficial to to have this two-step approach. But this isn’t something where like if it was, you know, two yards beyond whatever, you would go back to a three-step. You would always stay with it. Yeah, I would stay with the two-step. You know, unless it’s, you know, like Justin Tucker with his 66 yard. I don’t know if you if you guys care about kicking that much, but um you know, he took kind of like an extra little step back before he did his runup. And you know, maybe in that circumstance, I would kind of try to generate more power, but you know, from the the distance that I give, you know, pregame, you know, my line is what I call it, um, that isn’t really going to get affected too much. What’s it like? What’s it like working with coach Ber? How do you think he can make you better? Yeah, he’s awesome. Um he’s definitely uh bringing like a new kind of fire to the the special teams group and you know having him kind of come in um with that kind of you know mindset and that attitude it’s it’s really helping kind of you know light a fire and uh I think you know as a unit not only the specialist but the the whole special teams um I think everybody’s ready to you know kind of prove that that we can be a really good unit. Two more. Go branch here. Last year the uh the numbers it was a very stark difference obviously between your injury and after your injury. Did you give any thought to like a little break and just you know I don’t know just continue to to do what I’ve always done and because a lot of it may have been about that injury. Yeah. I I get Yeah. Um, you know, that was, you know, part of the conversation I had with people is, you know, should I just kind of take a break, take a step back and, you know, kind of go back to to what I’ve always done? And, um, after watching lots of film and kind of analyzing my different kicks, it’s just that jab step was kind of always inconsistent. Um, you know, not just the the previous year, but also my rookie season as well. So, uh, like I said, the the more variables and different things I can kind of eliminate, um, just to keep things more kind of consistent and concise, it’s I think it’ll be better in the long run. So, that’s kind of why I decided to to make a change. Anything else, guys? All right, cool.

#49ers #TrainingCamp #NFL

Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer and 49ers players address the media following Training Camp.

Subscribe to the San Francisco 49ers YT Channel: https://bit.ly/2E2VgFJ
For more 49ers videos: https://bit.ly/2U9wau9

For more 49ers action: https://www.49ers.com/
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SANFRANCISCO49ERS/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/49ers
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/49ers/
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@49ers
Get the App: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id395859078?mt=8