Kyle Shanahan and 49ers Players Address the Media at Training Camp

Kyle Shanahan and 49ers Players Address the Media at Training Camp

zone. He had a great day today. I thought what did you think of Robinson and what can he contribute? Um yeah, I thought he did a good job. You know, we hated going against him last year. You know, he’s a big guy, plays tough, has good hands, and had a good OTAAS for us. Had a decent job today and um you know, we’ll see what happens with possible suspension those first couple games, but he’s a guy we know is going to help us out this year, and we’re counting on him, too. Wondering how much growth you’ve seen in Isaac Gerindo. Of course, he was out there with the first group a couple of times today. just what did you see out of him coming back this time around compared to his rookie season and how much do you expect that to show out there on the field this um a lot of that like mainly with running backs O line D line it’s kind of tough with OTAAS just because of the way practices go um you don’t get to truly evaluate as much from a football standpoint just the way it is but you know the injury he came off that he got in week um 17 the last game of the year at Arizona the way he rehabbed that the way he attacked that he was here all offseason I thought he had a great OTAAS and It’s been one day, but um he’s put himself in a position to be better this year. How will you use the the new practice fields? Any will you rotate them? Today was my first time out there with that field. So, it was the first time it was different for me in nine years. And so, I felt like nauseous out there. I was dizzy the whole time. We’re we’re creatures of habit. I’ve stood in the same place all the time. I didn’t know where to go today. Um but we’ll get used to it. Um we could rotate in and stuff. The cool thing is it’s first time, you know, we got a full 120 yard field and got our first field going there that’s not uh that’s stationary. Um so a lot more room and stuff which is nicer, but it’s a work in progress. I’m trying to not change everything after one day. So we’re going to give it three days and um see what to do next. On the kicking, you in the past you’ve had like one kicker kick one day and another kicker kick. It’s switched up. Was that totally a boy thing? And and do you think it’s maybe adds to the comp competitive feel to have them switching off kicks? Yeah, I do. Um it all depends on the reps we give him stuff and uh Bran decides on that how he wants to do it so he can do it over the course of time so it’s not just always daytoday we can stack these up and see who has the better camp but um I think between the two of them I think they missed one in OTAAS so they’ve both been kicking real well and um it should be a really good battle this camp you like what you saw today yeah I did y uh we know you anticipated Jon to be out there on the field today but um just how important was that for you as a coach to have him on the field participating. Um, it’s always it’s I mean for anyone at the Niners, but definitely coaching wise, you want everyone out there on the field, especially some of your better players and Dwan’s been a hell of a player for us here for a while. U one of our leaders, too. And um he had a good practice and it was great to have him out there. Notice you gave him a hug at the beginning of practice. Can you share what you told him? What’s up? How you doing? Do that with probably 25 other guys, too. But yeah, just what I do. What have you gauge from, I guess, his spirits? cuz from our perspective kind of seemed like he was in good spirits kind of dancing around. What’ you gauge from just like his spirits I guess just the mood that he was in? Seems like they won. Your attention drift at all to the defensive line and team drills where you want to see how much Kell Williams is doing maybe next to Huff. Um I mean my mine my attention drifts everywhere in practice. There’s a lot of things but that’s why um I put so much into film so I don’t feel like I got to see everything out there. Um and if you do you might see it wrong. It goes so fast. So, um, you know, that’s stuff I really settle down when I get in my office and really can evaluate it with remote fast forward rewind. But guys, you haven’t seen seen yet next to each other, we’re just as eager to see it as you guys, but we get better tape angles so I don’t have to force it at that moment. Does that happen often that you see something on the field and then when you get in your film, it’s something totally different than what you thought? Um, with most people, never with me. Uh, no, I’m just joking. Yeah, it happens a lot and sometimes you can see it and you know exactly what it is, but sometimes you’re just there’s a lot of times you think you saw it and that’s what I’ve learned over time. If you think you saw it and it’s something that you feel and aggressive with and you want to go correct it, right? Well, it’s not good to correct something that you think you saw, get a player to totally do something different for the next hour and a half and then you get in there and get a better angle and realize it wasn’t exactly what you saw. So, um, and you learn with that the the hard way sometimes. K D. Winters obviously made a play. You mentioned him as a guy among everyone. I guess he needs to step up, but where where specifically does he need to grow as a player? Well, I just think this is his, you know, he’s has his best opportunity right now, you know, with, you know, he had a decent one last year, but we’re always hoping that Drake could come back. Um, when D was did make a ton of progress last year and he’s starting to take over that job and he had a number of setbacks with injuries. Um, so it took him a while to do it. Um, I thought he had a hell of an OTAAS. Um, showed that he was capable of doing this and we just want to see him continually get better at it, be consistent. Hopefully has good luck avoiding in um, injuries, but uh, D’s a guy we believe can be a hell of a player. Um, we’re just hoping fully gets there. Did you get a good look at what exactly he saw today on on that interception on what’s that D on his interception today? It looked like was he sitting on that on that route? Did he identify something? Um, no. No, I think the quarterback just missed him. He was right in the zone, reading his eyes and he got right under it. Quarterback should have turned it down, but got a little bit aggressive with it. What have you learned so far or discovered about Mac Jones that you did when you, you know, brought him in? Um, I mean, not a lot. Still still learning about him, but I mean, I didn’t know Mac before we brought him in. I mean, you get to talk to guy a little bit in the draft process and stuff, but that was a co year, so we couldn’t really meet with anybody. It was all Zoom. So, it’s been nice to have him in here throughout the whole offseason and get to know his personality and everything. um from a player standpoint um a lot what we expected. Um we’re really excited about him. Loved him coming out of college. We’ve liked him in the NFL and I’m excited to have him here. You had all your drafty defensive lineman on the field Collins I think for the first time. Just do you notice a physical presence from that group just having them out there together? Uh yes. You know, I mean we lost a lot of D linemen and we had to add a lot of D linemen and you know they all weren’t out there in OTAAS so you know we knew they were in the building. Um but it was nice to get um Muel and Alfred out there together. Um, obviously their size jumps out and um, you know, they’re still trying to get back into this and learn a lot. They got a long way to go, but excited we started it today and excited to go watch the tape on him. What have you seen from Nick Bosa as he evolves as a leader in that group? Uh, you can just tell Nick, you know, takes, you know, Nick is, you guys know Nick pretty well. You know, he doesn’t vary out of his um, his personality very much. U, but I do think he talks to those guys a lot more. Uh, Nick will never say anything just to say it in any situation. Um, but he doesn’t hold back as much and I think he knows he can help guys and um, when he sees spots that he can’t help guys with, he doesn’t hesitate. Will Nick and and Trent and Christian be on a schedule throughout training camp? I don’t think they did any team stuff today. A number of guys like guys with injury past, guys with age, guys who grow in stuff now, guys who aren’t totally hurt, but there are certain things with their history or what their ages and stuff we have plans with. So, they’re all they’re all different, but a lot of those guys is coming off an off day. They just do individual. Um, sometimes we’ll stagger them, but we got a whole mapped out thing that they update me on each day. Kyle, what did you think of Aquaman St. Brown’s first day in a 49er uniform? Um, I mean, it was good to have him out there. I’ll see more when we watch the film, but um, I’ve I’ve always liked him and it was a good first day for him. How hard is it for a player to sign a deal one day and then be, you know, on the field the very next brand new situation and it’s got to be tough to acclimate so quickly. Oh, yeah, it is. I mean, that’s why you hope there’s some carryover from other places they’ve been just terminology wise. That’s why you got a chance to a degree um early on in camp because most of the plays are scripted. So, you’re not just going out there and having to randomly know whatever comes out of our mouth. Um so, it gives them a chance to memorize some things the night before so they can at least get through it. But, it is a huge challenge once you have a few guys miss a couple plays or take some off and you got to move a position, that’s when they really kind of have no chance and you can’t be get mad at them um because they just get here a day before. But, uh the urgency is there. They got to pick it up. They got to do it fast if they want a chance to make this team. Coach, when it comes to Jawan Jennings, obviously you guys anticipated that he would be out there, but to have him out there given, you know, the history of the past few years, does that move the needle at all in the minds of the coaches with the kind of guy you have in Jawan Jennings and maybe wanting to give him what he wants because he wants to give you guys what you guys want? Uh, yeah. I think I mean I don’t think we know Jawan and Jawan knows us. It just I think the other way makes it harder. Um, but it’s um, you know, it’s I don’t really compare things to other years and other people. People have plans. Um, it’s a business plan. It’s usually a plan between a player and agent and um, I see it happen all over the league. It’s happened with us and it’s something that I try not to get too worked up about cuz there’s not always much I can do about it. So, um, I always try to recommend them to do what I think will help them the most and I think Jan’s doing that. Kyle, at what point in the 40 days away do you get the itch to to be back on this podium and get going for real? Never. I like to get back going, but you started with on this podium. [Music] Is the first padded day scheduled to be Sunday or is it Monday? Um, it is. What’s today? We league rule, you need four. You need four practices then. So, we’re gonna have three off, I think, three practices. is I think Sundays are off day, then Monday’s non Saturday’s off day. Sunday will be our fourth. Monday’s first day of pass. It seems that Jacob Cowing has a real opportunity this season. What do you need to see from him to have an improvement? Um I thought Jake had one of the best OTAAS out of anybody on our team in terms of most improved, the most prepared for it. Um unfortunately, I think he pulled his hamstring and um routes on air today before we started. So uh I’d say to just keep on his trajectory. Hopefully he can stay healthy and keep going where he did in OTAAS, but probably had a little setback today. So hopefully that’s better news than what we’re guessing out there and he can get back and get back to what he’s doing in OTAAS. What have you seen from Jason Pino and Jier Brown at the safety position? I know a little It was nice to get um Tig back out there today with Jaier. You know, he didn’t get to do OTAAS. Um I thought um Pino had a real good OTA. You know, it was our first time getting to know him and stuff and got a lot of reps and stuff, especially with all those guys out. Um, so it’s cool to see Tig out there today with him and excited to watch them work together on film. What is day one like for you? Um, it’s a little frustrating. I I I hate practicing without pads. Um, it just worries me. Um, so I just want to get follow these rules, get to the pads. So like it’s a little safer with protection and stuff. You have a chance to block people. Um, you start, you know, just getting more ready for football. It’s hard. Day one, you just everyone’s ready to go, but it’s um, still got to be patient. So, I just try to try to stay as relaxed as possible to get in this groove and usually we are by next week. How do you think um Upton Stout did in the spring? I thought he did a real good job, especially for a rookie coming in just throwing him into the nickel roll. Um he almost made a hell of a play today. I thought he had a pick six, just mistimed it and actually gave up the completion, but it was really good coverage. But I was real excited with him in OTAAS and uh he’s one of the guys where I think he’s got a chance to compete to help us um throughout this training camp and into the season. During the spring, Lenor mentioned, you know, he likes playing that nickel, but it’ be tough for him to move off of it. How much in account do you take? Uh does that matter a lot when you’re trying to figure this out? Maybe he does want to be inside when they go three receivers. Um yeah, we take all that in account. You know, it’s um I do think it’s hard on a guy to keep moving them. Um it’s hard to play outside and inside and do that throughout the game. Um I do think Demo’s really good at both. Um, I personally think it’s harder to avoid nickels than it is corners. So, I like them in there a nickel, but we’re definitely going to have them on out outside when we’re in base. So, it all kind of has to depend with how our top three are and where to put them in. We know Demo can play at a high level of both. If we can keep them at one, uh, that usually is better for the player. Um, but we got to have three guys who fill in those roles and then you got a guys who can back him up after. How how do you judge or I guess measure Brock’s growth on a day like today from day one to today? How do you measure it? I don’t. Day one when he first got here today. No. Yeah. From his first day here to today, the player he is today. Um I mean that’s I wish I could give you a better answer, but it’s it’s too broad for me. Like I mean the same with everybody. Like you don’t just sit here and evaluate their whole thing from year one to now. Like you’re writing a book to tell the his whole career. It’s um everything’s about being the best you can be. And so everything we have on is film. Everything we do is work. When we in practice and do stuff on air, we come in and review it. So it’s just constant constant critique, evaluation, and trying to get better. Um that’s why they need to get away from us sometimes. That’s why I think it’s important they get away from us for 40 days cuz now they’re going to hear us for 7 months. And you need guys who can take that. And um that’s why I love Brock. He’s got the ability, but he’s also made of the right stuff that he’s always pushing himself. Is never never satisfied. and um and he’s going to not just do what we ask him to do, he’s going to do as much as he can to get better. And that’s why I like when he proves on things when he’s away from us. And um I like when we come back together and I can get to see him, you know, I always feel he’s a little stronger when he comes back. Um just from his body standpoint, from his throwing standpoint, and then we just evaluate each day as it goes. With Cowing’s injury, do you need to sign another wide receiver? Um I mean, you don’t have to, but we always would like to. I mean, especially with some of the stuff I was telling you guys yesterday. So, we got to look at the rest of the roster, but that’s always what’s tough when guys are on PUP, not just White House, but everybody because you like to pretend it’s a 90, but I think we’re it’s really like an 83 right now cuz they’re PUP and then when you get that, it goes to an 82. So, you sign an extra receiver, what other position can we go short at? So, that’s stuff that we’ll always be trying to figure out. What do you appreciate most about KD’s leadership style? Um, that he’s there always. I mean, KD is probably one of the most positive people I’ve ever been around. Um, which I think can be really good. Um, sometimes I don’t want him to be so positive when we’re struggling, but I think it’s a good balance with everything. That’s who he is. And so, and he’s consistent with that. So, I think guys look to that for him. But when it comes to leadership, the best thing is showing up and doing your job and doing it as good as you can every day in terms of playing when you don’t feel right. um preparing um knowing your assignments um getting your body right in every situation and I think everyone on our team knows KD’s going to do all those things and to me that’s the best type of leadership you can show advice to Christian what’s that you give any dad advice to Christian and did he look a little sleepier coming in today I just messed with him asked him if he was going to change now that he’s a dad and he made it adamant he wouldn’t so we’ll see I’m sure he won’t he’s a psycho you’ve seen this whole evolution in training camp from beginning from when you first got into coaching to now where there’s so much stress on recovery and less banging bodies. Is this better what’s that training training camp in terms of get a player ready to play as opposed to when you first got in and there was more more banging from the beginning and all the way through camp? Uh yeah, I think um that was one thing that was different like just the places I’ve been, not all of them, but most of the places I’ve been and the philosophy that I developed by the places I’ve been, you know, we we never did tackle anywhere. It was always shorter practices. Like we didn’t have to change any our rules with time or anything when they started to do rules for time cuz some people were practicing for 4 hours. Uh we didn’t have to change much with our pads and stuff. Um to me where we’ve gotten so much better is understanding like the output that people put in, the distance that they run. Um knowing when to shorten the length of things, knowing um what type of practice to script when they’ve had a day off. You know, back in the day, you think guys had a day off and they recovered. And so that would be the harder day. Um when you’re recovered and you’re coming in, that’s you when the most injuries happen. That’s why we always have a low day right after a day off. Our second day is always a high day of reps. Our third day is a medium. Um, we do 40 reps on a Wednesday and a Thursday during the season. We’re trying to build them to be prepared for the season, but we won’t do 40 reps until I believe it’s our 12th practice versus Denver. And then we try to do that on our high day about four times. And we try to bring them back down so they can feel fresh again like they do right now right before the season, but then they’re ready to do 40 rep practices on a Wednesday and Thursday. So all that stuff to me is what we’ve gotten better at, just knowing how to do it. the rules and things, they’ve they’ve changed us in OTAAS um by not being able to fully practice football, but in terms of changing our practice, it hasn’t much. It just we’ve kind of always been like that. Last one. The last one. When it comes to Ricky um out there, he was especially towards the end of practice, uh he was getting some work in and I don’t think he was going full speed, but close to it or maybe somewhere around in that ballpark. How encouraging is it to see that? And if you could kind of give an update on where is he in the process being that he’s on the pup list, but he looks pretty active. Ricky is someone that I mean, if this was probably a few years ago, we would have practiced him today. I mean, when you hit your GPS speed, your max speed that you hit before you were hurt, when you can run all those routes, um, that’s usually your protocol to go back. Um, and he hit all that stuff over the weekend, which we felt good about, but he we wanted to make sure his conditioning was right. So, we’re just doing that for three days. And if he can continue to hit all that stuff and his conditioning is good, uh I’d be surprised if he wasn’t out there Sunday. All right, guys. Appreciate it. All right, guys. Thanks. That’s even bigger. Nick, what was your first impression of Mike out there and Alfred? Uh, Mike looked really good. He’s very physical. He’s got a big reach. So, um I think he just needs to hone in obviously his first day on his aiming points and and trusting the system. I think him and Alfred are coming from different styles. So, um but both of them have immense talent, so it’ll be fun to watch them. What’s it like being out there again with Coach Salin? How’s he different from the coach you saw go to the Jets? Coach? Um, yeah. I mean, when I was a rookie, I didn’t really know any better. So, um, yeah, having him back has been awesome. I’ve spent a good amount of time with him. Played a little golf and hung out in OTAAS. So, I I got to know him a little more as a person, which is cool. Um, and then just his commanding presence in the defensive meetings is uh is what we needed. Nick, you’ve had a a lot of turnover on the defensive line in your seven years here. So, now you have some young guys, some vets. What What’s this group like to you? Um, I like the group. I like our new additions. Talking about the Dline. Um, yeah, I mean, bringing Bryce in and um, obviously having Sam and Yetour and and Jordan and um, KD, guys that have been around um, but also the new guys. Uh, I mean, I I like it. I like the group. I think we have a lot of talent. I think when you look out on the field, you see NFL bodies out there that look impressive, which is a good thing. Um, obviously we’re young, but um, I think I mean just cuz nobody knows them now, they play a good couple games, then the whole world knows them. So, be exciting. going back to your rookie year. When you got here in 2019, Nick, that was a team that leaned a lot on young players, rookies like yourself. This team probably going to do some of that. Is there anything you can take from when you were on the other side of that that you can now pass on to them that will help them come along quicker? Yeah. Um I’m sure things will come to come to me throughout the year. Uh just things that I’ll talk to them about and help them with, but um yeah, I definitely need to take a leadership role. Um, for sure. I think it’s it’s one thing to come in and and work on my job and get better, which is all I’ve ever really worried about, and then it’s another thing to try and bring everybody along with you. Um, so, uh, it’s definitely something that I’m thinking about and something I want to do. Going from kind of player to player, young player to player, kind of talk to them throughout practice. Are you enjoying that role, that part of it? Yeah, I mean it’s just friendly banter, but some of it is is uh constructive criticism and and um yeah, I mean obviously it’s fun to watch a young guy just go through the growing pains that I went through and and uh anything that I see I’m going to help them with. Having gone through your own contract situation with this team, is there any advice or maybe like words of encouragement that you’ve given Jan during this time? I have not. No. Manage the expectations kicking competition at all. Does that It’s a little different this year, right? Is you having them one kick the other guy? Actually paying attention to it, but can’t lie. Why? Why is it? No, I just It’s kind of exciting. So much went on during camp last year in terms of players being hurt or not being able to practice their contract. Does it feel a lot different this year? I mean, it seems like there’s no um no drama, just everybody can work on their jobs. Do you get a sense of that? I think I’ve answered a similar question maybe during OTAA is the drama is from the outside. There’s really no drama. Um when Trent and BA weren’t here, well, BA was here, Trent wasn’t, right? It’s just I mean, it’s just work. Everybody’s here. We’re all friends. There’s no drama from a from a defensive end standpoint. Do you like it when you’re shifted inside on on obvious passing downs and you’re going against a a guard or a center? Is that advantageous to to you and Mike and and other guys? Yeah, I mean you have to uh rep it and be good at it and know what’s coming. Um it’s definitely a different style and if you’re not good at it, then it’s probably not something that you should do. I think um myself I’ve kind of gotten away from it throughout my year. I kind of got comfortable on the outside, but um I wouldn’t be opposed to to working at this camp and but I think Mike is is comfortable with it and um I think we’re going to utilize him there. What makes you good at it? I mean, what what skill do you need to have to be good at that? It’s hard to say. I don’t think there’s necessarily a skill set. It’s just a uh like guys like Ardan was really good at it, Charles was good at it. It’s just a um ability to to speed up your hands, speed up your movement a little bit. Um yeah, it’s hard to say exactly what it is though. Manage your expectations for training camp. Obviously, you kind of strike me, just assuming, as kind of a quiet person, kind of speak when spoken to. When it comes to this group, being that they’re so young, have they required you up to this point to kind of be more vocal in it when it comes to like being the leader because you’re kind of like the one that everybody’s looking to on the defensive line? Um, I don’t think there’s a requirement, but uh I think I’d naturally do it. I think towards the end of last year, um not that things were going great, but um I was there was such little continuity in the people that were out there um towards the end of the season that uh I was becoming a little more vocal and and I mean I am vocal in my own way. Um, I’m not going to give a rahrh speech, but um, I think when you uh come from the heart and say things that uh rarely say things and say things that that do come from the heart, then they mean a little more. Did you manage your appreciate it? How how did you manage your expectations as a high draft pick uh dating back to your rookie year and and how have you seen Mike Kale in that same sort of position um to this point handle those expectations? My rookie year was tough cuz I got hurt a couple times so it was kind of stressful. Um you just kind of have to lean on some of the older guys. Um, and the only thing that makes you really feel good is is going out there and contributing and playing good because then all those negative thoughts of whether you’re going to pan out and all that stuff kind of just go away. Um, but I think Mike does a really good job of that. I think he he doesn’t seem stressed at all. He’s just coming in, working, and uh just very light-hearted, but also very intent on getting better every day. Thanks, guys. Get over your next one in here. Howdy. Hi, George. Hello. People just hide mics up here. That’s crazy. [Music] I didn’t give you my consent. Sorry. Howdy. Hi guys. How are we doing today? George, a lot of uh prominent players such as yourself kind of check out during the special teams uh portion of practice, but Nick Bosa said he was very excited to watch the kicking competition. Were you equally as enthused about that? Um today I wasn’t. Now I will be. Forgot there was one for a second. Thank you, Nick. Um yeah, it’ll be exciting to watch. Can’t wait. I love competition. It’s It’s good for the soul. George, you’re a big vibes guy. What do you make out of me? Yeah. What do you make um vibes of day one? The vibes of day one. Uh well, the vibes were immaculate yesterday. I had a great time seeing all the seeing all the boys. Um today, I mean, for me, football doesn’t really start until we put pads on, but like this kind of getting in shape, just getting through through the first couple days, that’s really important. you know, like I said, get in shape, stay safe free from injury as best you possibly can. Um, and then just be ready for the pads. So, this is all fun. We’re competing. Um, it’s not like fully competing yet cuz we’re not hitting each other, but um it’s just great to be back in the building. Just excited that football is on the schedule again cuz um I miss it all the time and so I get to hit somebody again. George, what was it like having Jawan out there and what you kind of gauge from his spirit, his energy? Uh Jawan’s always out there with me, so I haven’t He’s doing great, I think. Is there a reason you’re asking me about Jawan? Some contract stuff going on behind the scenes. Huh. It’s actually funny. I had to do some media thing and it was like the same day that that was announced and um a reporter asked me about it and I was like, I’m pretty sure it was a fake tweet and she almost crapped her pants. It was pretty funny. She had to double check with her producer. Yeah, that was pretty fun. Um let’s see. I mean, Joan was awesome today. Um, great energy in the locker room yesterday, great energy today, his normal self. So, um, just appreciate him um, attacking it like there’s nothing going on. George, obviously you’ve been doing it for a while, but is it hard the first few days you’re out there playing football and you can’t get each other? Football has pads on. I mean, so it’s just like I said, like you want to take advantage of the opportunities you get. Like you can still track the football, run your routes really good. The run game’s ugly as crap. like you can kind of work on your first step, your second step, your hands, but like I mean I lead with my shoulder pads and my you know my helmet. So it’s kind of hard to do that when you’re not wearing pads or anything like that. So the run game’s kind of a wash to me, but like you still just work on your angles. The pass game though, you know, it means a lot. But I’m a physical pass runner. Like I like to run into people and throw people when I run routes. So um it just, you know, challenges you to get open in different ways. And you know, I’m just going to have fun these first couple days. And when we put pads on, then football started. How do you think the evolution of your preparation with tight end has changed the way you get ready for day one, day two, and so on and so forth? Um, I wouldn’t say it changes too much for me. Like I know the level of shape that I need to be in. I know the reps I need to take. I know that I need to run a ton of routes um preparing for this cuz that’s what I do in training camp. I run block and I run a ton of routes. So like that’s really all I focus on is that I mean I can pull some fun things from Titanu. Like I’ve heard Travis talk five years in a row now and I still pick up new things every time he talks. So that’s really fun. You know, this year we had Evan Ingram talk about releases and that was really exciting to hear him talk about because he’s such a freak athlete. Um and so like and then he had like film of him doing it like on his like on his home field and so watching him do it and his thought process was cool and I’ve taken some things from that. Not going to say I’m going to release like him like the way I release too but you can kind of take his drills and stuff. So, I take those add in my, you know, the 40 days away and then, uh, you know, show up to camp and just try to remember some of that stuff. But, you know, at the end of the day, just play football fast and flying around. Which of your guys attended tight end? Which of your your fellow tight ends on the 49ers attended tight end? Um, let’s see. At tighten, was everybody except for Tund, but he did show up to my KDFest party that weekend, too. So, I give him credit for that. I give him credit for that. We practiced other things like drinking beer. Get out of spending extra time with with Brock down there at your facility. Awesome. I mean like I’ve been really lucky to have like I mean I have CJ Beth down there who knows our offense. So like that’s always really helped for me. Like I’m not training with a quarterback who doesn’t know it. Um but then with Brock down there it’s just it’s really fun. Um cuz like you know they give us a list of routes that we want to they want us to like focus on and for us to be able to run 20 30 40 routes like 2 three days a week. It just helps me. So like when we get back and like we show up here it’s not like we’re running routes together for the first time and you have that like rust. Um so that was super beneficial. Um and like just uh it’s really fun in my opinion too. I think it’s training by yourself is really hard. And like quarterbacks, you can kind of train by yourself, right? Because you have like a quarterback coach, do all your little weird workouts for your shoulder, all that weird stuff. And then like you go throw some guys, but like he’s in the gym with like 15 football players, so it like feels like a locker room vibe. And so you still have that, you know, good energy around you all day. So I think that’s really helpful. Um, but yeah, no, just catching his passes is great. And then like him and CJ hanging out and just like talking about I mean funny stories from Shanahan and stuff is always really fun to hear cuz uh CJ’s got a ton of them because he’s the stubbornest person in the world. But uh no just having Brock around was great and especially when he’s thrown to all the guys. What was one of those routes you worked on in Nashville? The the first one in team drills today. Did you do you know? No, I don’t practice a high corner. No, that I should not get that ball. Shout out Demo for dropping me. Thank you Demo. Um no, but we were doing a fun a ton of other routes. um you know like some throwbacks which is like fake crossing routes that you break back out of like some double move stuff and then just like our the staples that we run 300 reps of and then just being able to get those now so he gets the speed of it and how I run my routes cuz I run my routes a little bit different than other tight ends and so just for us to get on the same page is beautiful. Anything symbolic about the first one going to you today? No, I was so I mean that’s supposed to go to Jawan and like I said Demo the corner he dropped me because he’s supposed to carry me and we never throw that ball and as soon as he dropped me I was like nice sick and then Brock threw it. So it’s just fun to just execute like that on the first play. I will say the defense definitely didn’t think we’re going to throw a pass on the first play too which is always fun. The stubbornest person in the world CJ Bethard or Kyle Shanahan just to clarify CJ what nob brainer yes curiosity because you have so many years under your belt here in the league. I asked Brock Birdie yesterday how uh to utilize or how will he utilize this time in training camp to get used to the new new targets that he has, the new faces on the offensive side. Any advice maybe that you’re giving him watching quarterbacks have to do that throughout the years or anything that you think will help the offense being that that’s the case this time around? Um just rip it and throw it. Um expect guys to be there and then where they’re not, yell at them, tell them to get there or throw it to me. That’s my favorite. do a couple more. We got Tim here. Hi Tim. Hey. How you doing? Kyle said that he had he had the vets over at some point. The OTAAS uh and talk to you guys that you know the fact that the Rams game last year with Dre coming back was your best. Everyone knew it was your best game was a problem for him because why was that game so good? It should be all the time. Did you feel that? Did when he said that, did you understand what that meant and and how that has to change? Did he say the best game as a team? It just said it’s generally understood a lot of people. Yeah, I would say it was our best game as a defense. Our offense was pretty poopy that day. I will say that. Um I mean Kyle’s a coach that like he feels the energy of the team. That’s what he does. And like Dre Greenlaw is a player who exudes energy at all times. And so like you feel him whether he’s on the field or not. And like he could be out there with the threes and you still feel Dre Greenlaw’s energy. And I think like when you lose someone like that it’s really tough. And so then when they come back, it’s just like a completely different vibe. And you know, that’s a challenge to us for like you have to replace a guy like that, which is really difficult to do. And Dre Greenlaw is a, you know, in my opinion, a one of one, one of the best players I’ve ever played with. Um, especially when he’s on the field. And so, you know, it’s a challenge to us to find guys in the locker room that we currently have to step up and bring that energy and bring that juice because you see like when Fred and Dre play together or Fred Dre and Aziz play together, you could feel all three of that energy. And um you know, I think Fred’s he’s we’re finding a guy to go with him that’s going to help him bring that juice on every single play cuz you know, Fred plays every single snap. George, how’s Brock different? How’s Brock different better from year one to the guy you see today? Um most obvious answer, um I would say he understands the offense better. Uh besides that, I mean, I think I’ve said the same thing for the last six months. Everybody asked me what’s different about Brock. He’s just vocal. Like he understands the offense. He’s comfortable in the offense. He’s taking risks. Um, you know, I like it when he forces the pass. Like, I like that. I’m okay with him throwing a couple interceptions in training camp like that. I’d rather him throw them now than later. I want him to force those passes. Uh, but like just his vocalenness and like here when someone runs a bad route or a bad stem with the wrong steps and he yells at him, like I want that. Like I want our quarterback to hold guys accountable. Uh, because like a coach can nail at you and then some guys like just goes over their head, but when like you know, Brock Pury, your quarterback yells at you, then it sticks. And so hopefully that that continues and he continues to be a vocal leader for us. All right, thanks. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thanks for waiting.

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Kyle Shanahan and 49ers players address the media following the first practice at Training Camp.

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