McCaffrey, Mustapha, Warner & Piñeiro Reflect on Early-Season Momentum | 49ers

McCaffrey, Mustapha, Warner & Piñeiro Reflect on Early-Season Momentum | 49ers

Christian, last year you made your debut in Tampa. Obviously different circumstances this year. Just kind of the last year you’ve had where how good you feel this year compared to kind of a year ago in Tampa. Yeah, I feel good. I mean, obviously last year wasn’t the year I wanted, but you know, I’ve moved on. Been moved on. Excited for this week. What’s it like going up against the band? It’s tough, man. They they bring so many challenges just with personnel and scheme. You know, you combine them both, it’s obviously tough. So, definitely something we got to look at. Christian, overcoming challenges has kind of faced this team every single week. What did the win on Thursday kind of do for the confidence moving forward knowing, you know, you guys can’t get the job done even if you’re a little under? Yeah, I think it show, you know, shows a lot of our toughness, a lot of our resiliency. I think uh at the same time though, man, it’s how you how you respond after you lose is is also important how you respond after you win. And uh you know, after a game like that, it’s important to get back to the drawing board, correct the mistakes, and continue to move forward and try to get another one this weekend. Christian, I’m interested to know you was a big storyline headed into this season and to have a rookie like Alfred Collins make that game-winning, you know, punch out at the end there. How much confidence did that give the team and the youth, but then also a guy like Alfred Collins trying to make plays to find his way in the NFL? Man, it’s huge. I think, you know, youth is often talked about in this league as a bad thing just because there’s a lack of experience, but I think youth is great. You know, it’s it’s new energy. It’s fresh energy. It’s guys that play fast, who are hungry, and if you can get everybody dialed in mentally and up to the standard, it’s it’s an awesome thing. I think our young guys have shown so much spark, and uh that play that he made was one of the best I’ve ever seen. So, um definitely excited about our youth like in the huddle because coming to a close and we see the goofy side, fun side, but when the game’s on the line like that, what’s he in the huddle and going through all that? in the huddle. I mean, he’s calling plays. You know, it’s there’s not a lot of uh external banter, but um you know, he was dialed in, poised, calm, collected, kept everyone calm and collected, and um he was awesome. What was Baker like as a teammate when you had to see him grow from before Carolina? I I I can’t say enough good things about Baker, man. I I I love playing with him. Um you know, he’s he’s a was a great teammate and a great friend and just have the utmost respect for him. Talk about the young guys. You’ve had two tight ends fitting in for George KD who are used to being out there. How have those guys? They’ve been incredible. Um they’ve been they’ve been so on it. You know, it’s a tough position to play physically, but also mentally and that there’s a lot on those guys plates and um you know, I would say when you lose a guy like George, it’s not you know, it’s not one guy that can that can step up and beat George, but it’s a collective unit and a collective group and those guys have done awesome. Christian, you’re on on pace for a record number. Um, obviously that’s great. I mean, is there any like to get the ball out, but is any part of you? I don’t know if it’s sustainable. No. How impressive is it that Levante David still lining up against you all these years later? Yeah, it’s I’m sick of him, man. I’m sick of him. Um, no, he’s a hell of a player. uh always brings a big challenge and um just somebody that has always played the game the right way and uh to my opinion doesn’t ever give get enough credit. So once again just their whole defense and guys like him when you have a veteran like that um they spark a lot of challenges that you got to be ready for. How tired do you get any questions about how many touches you get per Listen I I don’t get try not to get tired of anything you know but uh I feel great for what it’s worth. back on the field. It’s been a long time, huh? Yeah, it’s a blessing for sure. So, you know, long process, but it’s my second time going through it and I kind of knew what to expect going forward. A different like unorthodox approach this time, but you know, great training staff, great, you know, strength staff. They got me, you know, back on the field. So, I’m just blessed to be here. Thank God for everything and, you know, glad to be out there with my brothers. So, I know you came off a strong season last season and you weren’t able to, you know, participate early on, but now you’re able to get back and the team is winning. They’re playing well, the youth is playing well. How exciting does that make it? Like, how much more exciting does that make your return? Oh, it’s super exciting. You know, it’s definitely a different identity. I feel like this year, you know, Sal’s been great with the defense. the young guys have stepped in, you know, kind of setting that standard last year with the young guys and now just seeing this group of game guys, you know, contributing early as they have, you know, started with like Maris Seagull and Marel Williams, Upton Style, you know, CJ West, like the list goes on. So, those guys have just bought into our standard and it’s just nice to have those young guys step in at such a, you know, young time in their career and now I’m able to, you know, just pick up where I left off. So, just really excited to get back out there. What’s been unorthodox about this recovery? uh just you know college you know schedule you know just maybe like having to go to class after rehab and everything and now it’s just more so just kind of focusing on you know different types of movements you know not just focusing on my knee but just you know focus on other areas of my body in totality so I think you know just it taught me a lot about taking care of myself and learning different parts of you know my body to kind of help me you know build that longevity going forward you going to be the same confident heat seeeking missile so to speak that you’ve been since you got here as soon as you step out there. I mean, I didn’t get surgery on my brain. So, you know, it’s it’s the same thing. So, I’m just trying to pick up where I left off and, you know, keep the main thing the main thing. Not to be too invasive, but you spoke and gave credit to your upbringing with your parents for your mentality and your mindset each time you step out there. Just wondering if either one of them gave you some type of nuggets going through this kind of time to recover from an ACL surgery before you step back out there. I mean, I feel like my mom and my dad, you know, just kind of made sure to always keep God first. That was my main thing. You know, maybe I feel like a lot of people, you know, aren’t there for me in certain situations where I’m just by myself or I feel like I was left behind or things like that, but you know, God was always there with me. So, you know, I just try to keep my faith uh number one thing, you know, whether I’m doing football, whether that’s stuff off the field, you know, always trying to keep that the main thing and, you know, everything else is going to play out how it’s going to play out. Do you play this Sunday? Of course. Yeah. Do you feel ready? Yeah. You’re a big hitter. You’ve always been seems like a big hitter since you’ve been here. Where where did that start? Is that always the way you’ve played the game? I mean, I grew up kind of, you know, being undersized. So, it was just like a thing where where can I separate myself, you know, just being a little kid. So, just having, you know, that mighty mouse mentality, being a, you know, big dog, even though it might not show it physically, but mentally that’s going to give me the upper hand. So, just it wasn’t different when I was in high school. It’s not different in college, and it was definitely not going to change when I’m in the league. So just throughout my football career, I have to try to keep that the the same motive. How did you over the last five weeks just having to be on the sideline? I mean, it’s definitely difficult, but at the same time, this my brothers on this on this team are the ones that’s keeping me up. And I just, you know, just love to see the guys go out there, go to war, and they’ll put their best foot forward. And it’s just a blessing that we’re four in one, and we’re just going to keep this thing rolling. How long have you been? How long you felt that way? Since I got surgery. Yeah, last one. I wasn’t terrible. Dropped took the line on my hand. I mean, just getting back into the routine, getting back to the mix. Don’t try to do anything crazy. Don’t try to do the big thing too fast, you know, just take it step by step. Same thing how it was with my rehab. Not trying to do too too much in a short amount of time. And now I’m getting back to the swing of things. And, you know, once once I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go. I’m curious. Uh, I know you said on the Manning cast on Monday that you were disappointed you lost those two coin coin tosses, but had you guys won the toss, were you guys uh going to defend? Did Shanahan want you to defend? Yeah, we would have kicked. Yeah. Yeah. What was that like going on the Manning cast? You were on there for quite a while. Yeah, it was fun, man. Anytime you’re with the Manning brothers, they keep it light, keep it uh keep it fun, light-hearted. So, it was fun. Good time. Last week ahead of the LA Rams game, I asked you like what was it that made you feel like you belonged in your rookie season? And then Alfred Collins goes out there and make the play that he made down towards the end as a rookie. How excited did that make you? Any flashbacks for you? And what’ you say to him after? That was three questions. Yeah. Right. Uh let me just say that I’ve had a lot of punch outs in my career and I’ve never had one of that magnitude in that kind of situation. A got to have it moment on the goal line. Um incredible play. One of the best plays I’ve seen by any player um because of the play itself and in the situation. So, um, I for sure never made close to that type of play my rookie year. He’s far ahead of where I was, so the sky’s is the limit. What’s impressing you with Baker Mayfield and that offense right now? Just the confidence, man. The confidence of playing the position. I mean, everybody’s always talked about how great of a competitor he is, but the way that he’s delivering the football, knowing exactly where it’s supposed to go, the decisiveness of him uh throwing the football and uh creating the explo the explosive plays, knowing when to check it down to his playmakers and allow them to kind of do their thing. So, he’s playing the position at at the highest level I’ve seen him. with your versatility, do you go to every game just kind of with your own mindset of what you need to do specifically, you know, to help the team best? Um, you know, I think uh yeah, every every week’s different, but our system is is what it is. It’s not too complicated. Most teams know what we run. It’s just about us running it to the highest uh highest ability possible. My goal every every week is to try to take the ball away for my team. You know, uh I do have the ability to to do that regardless of if the quarterback’s throwing it to me or or not. You know, I feel like every time I approach the ball carrier, if I can knock it if I can knock it loose and that that gives my team a chance to to create a takeaway and help us win the game. You guys have had success winning on the road in past years. What does it mean this year to do it with like a roster that’s evolving? I mean, it means everything. Just you look at you look at the start of this year, it’s the complete opposite of how last year went, right? Um uh we found ways to lose last year early on and this year we’re finding ways to win in those in those uh those one possession games towards the end especially on defense closing games out. I think that’s been major for us and uh provides a lot of confidence going forward as a defense it hasn’t been pretty by by any means. I feel like if we’re able to play the type of defense I know we’re capable of playing is when you can really start seeing us take off. But um you know it’s just about getting better every single week. Have you ever had a chance to talk with Levante David after the game and what do you respect about him and his longevity? Yeah, absolutely. We’ve had conversations uh over the years and I put Levante and Bobby in that in kind of in that same that same world. Um I think obviously Bobby’s been more recognized in terms of accolades, but Levante has been incredible and you look at his numbers, the stats, uh takeaways, big plays. I mean, he’s one of the best to ever do it. Um, and the longevity is is incredible. Um, you know, they he’s just so good. They they can’t get rid of him. So, uh, continues to do so this year. You saw it last week in Seattle, the biggest moment in the game, get an interception to help their team win that game. So, uh, you know, much respect to Levante. And there’s a lot of season left, but how big does this game feel considering both four and one, tied for the top in the NFC right now? Yeah, these the moments you dream of, right? Um, best on best in uh in a in a in a away game. So, I know they they flex the game for, you know, all the reasons that that we’re speaking of. So, it’s uh it’s going to be a great challenge for us. You talk about being legendary almost a lot. What does that mean to you when you go out on that field? Um, you know, nobody cares about what you’ve done in your past. Uh, it’s all about what you do now going forward, right? um no matter what we’ve done these last however many weeks, five weeks, what are you going to put on tape and what are you going to show this Sunday, 4:25 Eastern against a really great Tampa Bay team, right? And so that’s my mindset is I’m looking to prove it every single time I step on that field and it doesn’t matter what I’ve done, everybody wants to see what you what are you going to do next. That’s that’s ultimately it. Fred Baker Mayfield was saying that uh he enjoyed looking at the Rams film because he could watch you and Stafford looking at each other and him trying to move his eyes and you necessarily going for it and that whole chess game. How good is Baker in that stuff? He’s great. Uh I see it all over the tape. Him him being able to manipulate defenses, especially in zone coverage or man coverage. They’re plug players that maybe trying to take away certain routes. um his the ability to pump uh you know with bringing the hand off to then try and get a guy to bite and doing those sort of things that just shows the quarterback is in complete control of the offense and knows exactly what he’s doing right so being able to identify coverages um and manipulate those things to create the explosive plays the big plays uh he he does it better as good as anybody in this league do you know of any other quarterback in the league who does a lot of shoulder shakes in the back field shoulder shakes like just shaking guys he’s like wide receiver coming off the line of scrimmage. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I I think that’s a great comparison. Uh the the route releases back there are are great. He I mean, yeah, he he’s he’s one of those guys where you see it over and over again, week in and week out. Guys have a tough time bringing him to the ground. And we saw it even last year when we played him um in those crucial moments of the game, just finding a way to get out of those would be sacks. And so, uh we understand the challenge. We’re going to have to bring it. I’m just tired of everybody talking about Jake Moody. talked to him the other day and you know he’s he’s a great kicker. I messaged him the other day and you know he’s he’s going to do well in this league and he just had a bad stint here and sometimes you just need a fresh start and you know he’s got my support and he’s going to do well. Teddy, your 59 yard might have been from 65 or 66. Uh would you did you strike it any differently than you normally strike it? Yeah, I I knew I had to hit it a little harder than I usually do. I mean um I had to drive it a little bit more. Um, I was just grateful to get the opportunity for coach to give me a shot, you know, with everything that happened before I got here. Um, I was super blessed that he gave me a shot. As a kicker, what can changing teams or just being in a new system do for a guy like you or a guy like Jake Moody, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it does a lot. Sometimes you need a fresh start. It’s happened to me, you know. I I’ve needed fresh starts from other teams and just a new set of eyes, new set of of of teammates, coaches, um, you know, just a restart. So, you seem like a pretty fiery guy. We’ve seen some of that on on the field on the sidelines. But when you’re going to approach a kick, are you in your head fiery or are you calm? No, super calm. I mean, I just know what’s at stake and sometimes I let my emotions, you know, get the best of me, but um you know, I know what’s at stake. I see these guys, they’re blood, sweat, and tears on the sideline just working their butt off, you know, and that’s and that’s that’s what I that’s what’s going through my head. I need to make this for them. And, you know, they’re they’re working their butt off. Kyle jokingly called you out for taking so much time on the field. What are you doing as soon as the clock’s hit zero? Yeah, I was that was super embarrassing. Um, I was uh doing a Spanish interview with a uh with a reporter there and I was telling them, “Hey, I need to go. Everybody’s waiting for me in the locker room.” And they didn’t let me go. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t have done it. But I had no choice. They told me, “No, you have to do this.” So that’s what happened. And then I tried sprinting in the locker room and everybody was just looking at me. It was the most embarrassing thing ever. But um I’m I’m happy he wasn’t too mad at me. So, and where does where does your routine start? You’re making the most interest of a game. Are you preparing when the team gets to a certain yard line? Where is that process start? Yeah, I would say about like the 40 yard line, I kind of start kicking some balls into the net and just mentally prepared to to go in and and try to do my job. So, uh kick in overtime that kissed the left up. Yeah. Did you think you had it all the way and then once you saw it deflect in? Yeah. I mean, I I didn’t hit it the best, but I felt like it had a shot. And then once it uh French kissed the pole, um I’m going to be taking that pole to dinner soon. So, yeah. [Music]

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San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, S Malik Mustapha, LB Fred Warner, and K Eddy Piñeiro shared insights on the team’s resilience, the impact of the rookies stepping up, and what it takes to maintain focus and execution week after week.

Chapters:
0:00 RB Christian McCaffrey
3:34 S Malik Mustapha
7:29 LB Fred Warner
13:22 K Eddy Piñeiro

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