Robert Saleh, Klay Kubiak, and Brock Purdy Preview Week 1 vs. Seahawks | 49ers

Robert Saleh, Klay Kubiak, and Brock Purdy Preview Week 1 vs. Seahawks | 49ers

How are you feeling about your young defensive linemen and where they’ve how far they’ve come? I know they didn’t get a lot of preseason snaps, but they’re better than fresh legs then, but uh past couple of practices been been really good. um feel fast. Um you know, like I said, you know, it’s it’s going to be fun to get those guys out there and see how we do. Um coach, likelihood that Upton Stout would be starting given the time that he missed and then obviously working he was doing great, but then he missed some time. Is he for sure possibly going to be starting in that position? We’ll see. Um uh you know, we still have another couple of days of preparation. Uh I think we have a general idea of how this can play out, but uh whatever little advantage it might give, we’ll just hold on to to that decision for Sunday. The uh the offensive system they put in place, how similar are you expecting it to be what’s run here? For sure. Um there’s similarities, but uh you know like like all like everyone who’s a disciple of like I’ve I grew up in the Seattle Seahawk cover three system as created by Gus Bradley who happens to be in the building and he uh you know and I kind of branched off and kind of made it my own deal. So I’m sure Coupe over there has done the same thing. He’s got some some nuance to to what he does that’s a little bit different. While you see similarities, there’s there’s things that um have his hallmark touch on it, which would be you you’d expect them to really emphasize the running game out the gates to see if you guys can handle it. Yeah. You know, um you’d expect that and then but it’s really, you know, whatever they feel is fit for that game plan. You know, they’ve got a fantastic O line coach and John Benton who we uh had at the Jets with us too and and we’re all familiar with here with the Niners. So they’re um even Rico Dennis, who’s a a a really good O line coach, uh is also there. So they’re they’re they’re very well coached. You can see it on tape. Um they’re athletic up front. Um and they do a really good job executing their zone scheme. So many teams in your division now run the the outside zone. Did that, you know, come into play when you were talking about Michael Williams and his value and and what he might be good at in the NFL? Um, you know, there several things with Mike, you know, like rebuilding a defensive line. Uh, Michaelel is, you know, we look at him as an outside guy on first and second down, similar in the way Armstead was, and then you kick him in inside, at least the early years of of Armstead, but, uh, and then give him a chance to go rush the passer, we think he’s got a chance to be a really good interior pass rusher. Um, but yeah, he’s, uh, Mike’s athletic enough on the edge. He’s long enough. He can set edges. um he can handle those double teams. Tight ends are are are going to be at a severe disadvantage with him. Um so you you feel good about him setting edges on the outside and making sure that ball stays funneled to the linebackers. But so it’s all encompass. He’s just a really really really good football player who’s got a u a really high ceiling. Uh so again, one of those rookies who who really missed a lot of time during training camp, but we’re excited to see him play uh and grow throughout the year. How much has Sam How much has Sam Donald improved over the last few years and what is he doing well at this point? Um, a lot. You know, we uh we played him last year uh uh when I was with the Jets uh in London and uh you know just studying his tape he’s he’s he’s very confident. Uh he is a playmaker. Um you know he’s last year he proved that he could be a decision maker also. You know he took care of the football. He got the ball to his playmakers and I think the scheme just fits him. You know the um Kevin Okonnell did a great job and I think him coming up to uh Seattle running being in the same system is going to be good for him. Um you can tell even in the one drive that they had just complete command of the offense getting those guys in and out of the huddle with tempo. Um and and I mean they were flawless in their execution on that one drive they had against Kansas City. So, uh, he’s improved greatly. Um, especially from even though I never got a chance to coach him at the Jets. You just the the background of when I arrived to to what you see is very different. Variations of this all off season, but you know why you were brought here. You also said that you could see as many as six rookies starting. Probably didn’t get the amount of playing time in the exhibition season you would have liked with them. So, how do you kind of big picture o overall rate things right now with the expectation probably that you get better as the season wears on? Put your seatelt on, enjoy the ride, man. It’s going to be a lot of lot of ups and downs, a lot of really cool moments, a lot of hair pulling moments, but uh they’re good kids. Um they work hard. Uh they’re fast, they’re violent. Um uh they love the game of football. They’re ready to play and uh they’re they’re ready for their OP. Along with that, Robert, you used the phrase we’ll see a fair number of times leading up to this. What what is that like for you as a coach? I’m sure there’s a certain amount of we’ll see any anytime you go into week one, but but this year in particular with so many new pieces, what what is that like for you? Yeah, the the growth part, you know, where there’s um because you never know, right? Uh like you you can go into a season and I would imagine just talking to Kyle, it’s uh when when when the roster is veteranlike and it’s been together for a while, you you just know you’re going to kick the living ever daylights out of people. And when you’re young and you got a bunch of new faces, you have confidence that you will. But and you’re just excited for the affirmation if that makes sense. And um you see it on in the practice field. We saw it against the Raiders in practice. We saw it uh um with Denver. Um you know just the the competitive spirit and the guys getting after it and you know so obviously the regular season is a whole completely different speed. Um but it’s it’s going to be exciting to to go through the process with them because it’s it’s it’s not going to be the same at the end of the year. these kids are going to get better. They’re especially with reps. Um they’re only going to get faster. They’re only going to get stronger. Um but uh but through the whole process, like I said, you you just don’t know until you know. And this is just one of those deals where, you know, we’re we’re excited to see the affirmations come to life. Is a Demo is a new team captain this year. I realize you weren’t here when he got here, but um in terms of his leadership, what are some examples of stuff that you’ve noticed throughout camp and to this point? Um I I think first, you know, you always want to see how somebody approaches the game. And uh you you you want your your your leaders to be deliberate. You want your leaders to be your hardest workers. You want your leaders to to lead by example with regard to regen and rehab and and working out and taking care of their bodies, their eating habits, their study habits. And uh just observing them through that, he doesn’t have to say a word. And I can tell you right now that he’s already a leader in that regard. He’s he’s very deliberate in his approach. Um he’s very intentional. Every rep is very important to him. And then on top of it, you see him talking to guys. He’s got an energy to him. The his teammates love him. Uh he’s a dog on the football field in terms of his physicality and his his desire to compete. So um pumped for him. Like I said, I I my this is my first exposure to him and uh he’s every bit of what you would expect a captain to look like. Robert, two more guys. Someone like Bosa who everyone talks about how advanced he was coming into the NFL and that was like in effect your only season with him. Um, when you come back and you see him, is it like he looks like the same guy or is is he like added things or done things to where he’s like, you know, a far different player? Um, he’s he’s definitely added stuff. Uh, the his rookie year, I’d never seen a Dlineman make so many tackles just whiff before like the way he did. I mean, it was it was bizarre. Um, and I remember standing on the podium because, God bless Joe Staley, couldn’t block him the entire training camp. And I was like, well, eventually he will. He’s a veteran. I he still hasn’t touched him, you know, but um it’s uh he he’s you just know guys like him, his pedigree and the way he was raised and the and and the way he approached the game his entire life, like he’s always trying to find nuance to his game to help him get better. And uh um really pumped for him. I’m, you know, I don’t want to say I mean, he’s always going to have big ears. It’s I’m looking forward to seeing how this one plays out for him. Said that all the young guys in the locker room have changed the attitude. I know you weren’t here last year, but do you feel that youthful energy from all the young guys in there? Um I I I can’t compare it to years past. What I could tell you is that whenever there’s an an injection of youth, like they they don’t know any better. They haven’t been scarred by the business part of it. They haven’t been scarred by the the playing time. They just I mean they make a you know an average two- yard gain and they’re jumping around like they made a fourth and one stop to win the Super Bowl, you know, and it’s just that juice and that energy. They’re just their their love of football shines in in in their habits because everything is fresh and new to them and that does kind of trickle down and it does rub off on all the veterans. It’s like I mean you can compare to an old dog getting a little puppy in the house. It just that old dog’s going to get up and get ready to go. it’s going to have a little extra juice to it. So, um, so yeah, young guys are fun. Like I said though, they they make mistakes, but but they go 100 miles an hour doing it. They bring a lot of juice. They make it fun. And, um, and like I said, we’re we’re looking forward to seeing them play. All right. Thank you guys. Appreciate Go. Just want to know uh one, how less stressful is it going into week one knowing that Joan Jennings is on the better side of possibly being out there, you know, given the calf, given the contract negotiations that are now done. How does it feel to have him out there? It’s great. Um, yeah, less stressful to have Jawan out there. A great player, big part of our team. Um, you know, nothing like seeing his smiling face out there playing and and he gives us energy and he’s a great player. So real excited to have Jawan and um you know happy to see him out there on the field on Sunday. I just want to follow up against Seattle you know like have you don’t have to kind of that’s one less position you have to worry about finding a way to feel and production you have to worry about actually you know someone who’s accustomed to the system that that’s what I mean by less stress. Do you feel that now that he’s available? Yeah, it definitely takes a little bit of a burden off, you know, bringing guys up to speed, especially some of the new guys we have in who maybe would have played a bigger role had Jawan not been ready this week. But, uh, you know, Jan’s also, you know, hasn’t been out there in practicing. So, you’re bringing in bringing him up to speed from a physical standpoint, too. So, but yeah, it definitely takes some of the burden off those guys, but uh, we’re expecting contribution from those guys regardless. So, but to answer your question, yeah, it’s definitely better. Have you been in touch with the Seahawks offensive coordinator much? A little bit. Um, this week’s been a little quiet, so given each other our space and look forward to seeing him on Sunday. So, I mean, going back to childhood, I mean, have you had many head-to-head battles? Um, we’ve this will be our third time going against each other in the NFL. Obviously, nothing outside of that. Um, so it’s it’s a really cool thing. It’s a cool experience. You know, it’s it’s pretty rare, so we treasure them for sure, but it’s a little awkward during the week, but it’ll be fun on Sunday. Do you try and guess what he’s going to do or how do you play that mental game before beforehand? Not my job. It’s interesting that we’re on the same sides of the ball so we’re really not competing against each other. Um that’s for coach Solid to figure out. Um and same for him. So um yeah. What makes Mike McDonald’s scheme unique and effective? Um I mean they’re really well coached. I mean that’s the biggest thing is whether it’s unique is one. I mean it’s Yeah, it’s unique in that they’re really well coached. um you the way all their coverages tie together, the blitzes tie together, it’s it’s a really coherent, cohesive scheme and you can tell they’re really well coached. You can tell they coach detail and they they play very hard. They tackle, they do fundamentals well, but they also challenge you mentally, you know, as a play caller and they challenge you schematically. So, uh it’s definitely one of the best hardest guys to go up against and it’s going to be a challenge. Kyle called Christian a psycho in a good way. How would you describe his drive and his, you know, to get to this point now after he’s come back and where he’s at week one? Yeah, I mean, he hasn’t done anything we didn’t know he was going to do. You know, he he is he has that that gene or whatever it is where he is just so driven um and he’s not going to be deterred from his goal and um it’s been awesome to see him just start in the offseason and just carry him through training camp to where he’s at now. Um, you know, and so just a lot of respect for Christian and how he takes care of himself, how he prepares and and whatever word you want to use. Yeah, he’s unique in that way. So, can you even quantify how much confidence it gives the staff and teammates? Yeah, I mean, no, he gives everyone confidence. He’s one of our leaders, he’s one of our best players and, you know, when he’s rolling and feeling good, you know, our team pretty has a pretty good mindset. He missed a lot of time earlier in the offseason, but since he returned, he hasn’t really missed any time. How much has he improved during this span? A lot. you know, you you he missed OTAAS and he had the setback coming into camp, but uh since he came back, I don’t think Ricky’s missed a beat. And you you can just see the growth. You see it in training camp every day. You saw it in the preseason game and that’s been huge for him. That’s what he needed. He needed to string together weeks and stack practices to really start to grow as a player and he’s done that and so he’s given himself a great chance to have a good year. Um so I’m happy where Ricky’s at. I’m curious, uh how will the play calling kind of go on Sunday? like uh is Shanahan going to take the reigns and then how will you kind of chime in? Yeah, and Kyle calls the plays. Uh obviously I called him in the preseason. I had to, you know, talk to the quarterbacks, but Kyle communicates to the quarterback. You know, play calling it is collaborative in some regard. Like we’re always communicating. We’re always suggesting things and giving ideas in certain situations and and Kyle does a great job of taking that information in and processing it and then letting that be what he whatever he wants to call. But, uh, so he’s he’s calling plays, but like always, it’s it’s a collaborative process between me, him, our line coach, Chris, Brian Flurry, and anyone who kind of sees things as the game goes on. And kind of follow up on that, I know uh at the kind of at the college level, like adjustments have uh in-game adjustments have really changed because of technology. Like, how hard is it uh you know, and how has it changed since you kind of got into the league? Um, since I’ve been in the league, it hasn’t changed much. I mean, you have the pictures on the side or, you know, the tablets to to, you know, see kind of the pre- snap and post snap of each play. So, we kind of haven’t gone beyond that in the NFL. Um, you know, we’ve talked about this before, but there’s sometimes it’s having too much information, too much video in between plays, it can can cloud your mind with with too much stuff. And the simplicity of the picture, it’s kind of what we know, you know, it’s kind of how we know how to make adjustments in games. So, um, you know, I don’t know any different way. So, I’m I’m not going to compare it to anything else. So George KD is almost 32 now in the last, you know, couple seasons since you’ve been here. I mean, is there any is there been any curiosity of like, okay, you know, is this guy going to be the same? You know, when you and have you noticed anything as far as slippage? George George is in good a shape, looks as good as he’s ever looked to me, you know, and that’s a credit to him, you know, for um you know, how he handles his offseason, how he takes care of himself in the offseason, during the season. Um you know, he’s he’s a specimen in that way. I mean, he’s I mean that he’s really to me in the best shape he’s ever been in as a player and um it just speaks to how he prepares and it’s it’s really cool. Established himself as a terrific scrambler. when you watch him run, do you think, man, we need to design some runs for him? Uh, Brock can run. You know, I mean, I don’t want to reveal plans or anything and and we’ve had we’ve had pl we’ve had plays for Brock to design run. Um, it depends on the scheme you’re going against, too. You know, you do want to avoid quarterback getting hit. You know, that’s always a big part of it. But if we see something and we think there’s a way to take advantage of it, we we always try to. Doesn’t mean it’s going to get called, but we we go into games with with stuff for Brock. Okay. Great. Thanks, guys. Thank you. stadium and um you just got to be on top of your operation, breaking the huddle, um being on the right cadence for us on offense, um making sure guys hear the the right calls in the huddle, um all of That’s a it’s a real part of the game and it’s something that you can’t overlook. Uh it doesn’t matter how much success you had playing there. Every single uh game, every drive, it’s it’s um it’s there and so uh we’re definitely not overlooking that. And obviously it’s one of the best places and hardest places to play in the NFL. Last time you faced this defense that held you to 17 points at home. What makes them a good defense? Yeah, I think they uh they do a good job of I think taking away explosives. um you know, playing um bend but don’t bend but don’t break kind of defense and um you know making the quarterback check the ball down and and be smart and um they want to you know try to get you to push the ball in certain areas and and then they play really tight coverage and and uh it’s almost like you you can’t miss. You got to be pinpoint accurate as a quarterback. Um you got to run the ball really well. Um so just overall they got a really good defense. They understand the scheme, all the guys playing in it, and um I think Mc McDonald calls a calls a great game. Um game after game last year, if you actually watch the film, like he he calls a great game overall, just his coverages and and um you know, I think everything sort of ties together throughout the game for those guys and how they play in it. So, um good scheme, good players, and it’s what you get. What’s it been like having Jawan back and and how does he look to you? Yeah, it’s been awesome. Um, you know, obviously the energy that JJ brings and when he steps on the field and um the dog mental mentality that he has, uh, it’s been it’s been great. And then dropping back and trusting in him to, you know, be where he needs to be and and picking up where we left off. It’s been great. So, um, obviously having him back has been has been sweet and trying to get him in in the right matchups and and getting him the ball and and, you know, let him eat. So, um, really excited, you know, that he’s back for our team and and obviously as a quarterback being having one of my starting receivers out there. So, how quickly can you get back to where you were before you went out with the injury? Um, I think it’s been pretty smooth so far. You know, I think the practices that we’ve been together out in the field, it’s we’ve honestly, like I said, picked up where we left off. Um u you know I think over time it’s over the last couple practices it’s been really good just um you know talking about some routes and things and and getting reps and throwing them uh some tight coverage balls and and for him to come down with them like it’s it’s been really good reps and and timing and things that we’ve gotten at practice so far. So um obviously we have a couple more days to get ready for this game together and um we’re going to continue to hone in on the details and and be ready. But obviously he’s been in the situation before where he comes back from an injury and he gets put right back in and he picks up and goes. So, um, JJ’s really good with that. You’ve had success up in Seattle targeting George as you have most places, but I I guess how tight is that combination of you and him right now because it’s looked really good throughout camp and how much can it part of that be traced to you guys spending time out in the Nashville outskirts? Yeah, it’s been good. um obviously have had a great camp together and just um you know I think just he understands our offense, I understand obviously and and for us to be able to go out and see the game the same way and um for him to be where he needs to be and and just the trust, the timing um I think we’ve gotten a lot of looks and reps together just over the years and then obviously in the offseason, yeah, we train together and stuff which is great, but um the minute we step out on the field, man, it’s it’s just us playing ball and um you know, two guys that absolutely love the game and and we’re always talking about every rep and what who needs to be where and what we both can be doing better. So, the communication part of it has been huge for us. And then you see it, you know, on the field in the game. So, obviously hopefully it doesn’t matter where we’re playing or anything. It’s uh it’s always, hey, you got to do your job, you know, and we’ve had success in Seattle together. Yes. But um every single game’s different and um but more than anything, I trust 85 and I know he’s going to continue to be the consistent tight end that we need and and be where where he’s supposed to be and I’m going to continue to throw him the ball. What do you two have going this week? Iowa Iowa Iowa State. Um, we don’t know yet. We uh we’ve talked about uh a jersey or a helmet or something, but um yeah, I we got to finalize that. So, but come Saturday, man. Cyclones, baby. For the fans out there um uh who don’t know, what is your nickname for uh Trent Williams and kind of how did you give that to him? My nickname for Trent Williams? Yeah. Or his for mine or what? No, yours for Um, what do I call him again? Oh, that Yeah. Um, yeah. No, I think I think when I said that in in an interview, they were asking me about, you know, what’s it like having Trent Williams block for you? So, it for me, I just said he’s like my binky because, you know, I know my left side’s good. You know, he’s a Hall of Fame left tackle. So, um, but I don’t know. I don’t really call him that. I just call him T-Dub or or bro or whatever. But, uh, so I don’t really call him Binky, but anyways, um, that’s sort of where that came from. But he’s a Hall of Fame offensive lineman, blocker for me, and I’m very thankful for that. So, level of having Christian back out there healthy and ready to go. Oh, it’s been awesome. Um, just going through camp, all the reps we’ve gotten, um, what he can do and what he brings to our offense, you know, running the ball and then, you know, the defense not knowing if he’s going to go out for a pass and the element that that um, brings to them in their scheme, like just all of it. It’s been it’s been so nice having him and and his leadership and everything. You could tell like the minute he steps on the field like everyone’s on top of their stuff like there’s some some kind of aura that he has um every time he’s out there. So having him back man there’s nothing better. Curiosity does Binky have any correlation to the baby and that’s what keeps her quiet and that’s why it’s like a safety thing. Uh yeah I think so. you know, when uh you know, you’re in times of some some chaos, you’d like a binky like for her baby, she you give her the binky and she’s she’s calm. And when Trent’s out there blocking for me, I’m calm. So, related question. This is super random, but I think you’re 88% conversion when you when you do sneaks, uh short yardage, one one yard or less since you since you became the starter, do you guys consider that a form of the tush push? Do you do you not like why why is that so successful for you? Yeah, I mean the way we’ve run it, you know, we do it a couple ways and stuff, changes week to week, but um obviously it’s not I don’t think like Philly’s tush push or anything, but for us it’s, you know, uh depending on the week and whatnot, we need a yard. How can we get the yard? So, we’re scheming up different ways and it’s not always that. There’s a bunch of other different plays that come from that. So, um, like I said, it it’s different, but, um, you know, our coaches do a really good job of understanding the scheme of of the other defense that we’re playing and and how how can we get a yard or whatever. So, um, but I think our short yardage has been pretty good over the years and hopefully we can keep that up. You consider yourself a dual threat? Um, I don’t I don’t think so. I’d say pocket passer that, you know, can escape and use his legs when he needs to. So,

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Hear from defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and quarterback Brock Purdy as they speak to the media ahead of the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks.

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