San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and quarterback Brock Purdy spoke to reporters after Friday’s practice as the team gets ready for its Week 16 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Here’s everything they said.

Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.

Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh

What’s been your evaluation of the run defense over the last few weeks and how can you kind of get it back on track?

“For sure. There has been some good, some bad. Didn’t like the way we finished last week. I take responsibility for that fourth quarter. We’re up three scores with nine minutes to go, playing more pass defense than run defense and I think they got about 57 yards on that last drive and a little over 50 yards in the run game. But, it’s definitely got to be firmer.”

How much of a challenge is it, especially this week, and now with some of the teams you have coming up?

“Every week is a challenge. Obviously all three teams if you throw Seattle in that mix, they’re very good at running the football. So, every game you go into, you’ve got to be able to stop the run. You’ve got to be able to try to make teams one dimensional, but it’s especially true this week with [Indianapolis Colts RB] Jonathan Taylor and their offensive line and the way they do things. They’re pretty darn good at running the football and we’ve got to be good.”

When you’ve got a game under control and you would prefer that they run the ball to work the clock, how much does the yardage really matter in that situation in a three-score lead?

“I gave up on yardage a long time ago. It’s about winning football games, keeping points down, doing whatever you can from a schematic standpoint and a play-calling standpoint to make sure that the other team’s not in the end zone. And if it means you give up yards then so be it.”

Last couple games, you’ve had some coverage busts where tight ends have been wide open and caught a touchdown. On those particular plays, is that the curl/flat defender’s responsibility to carry them vertical or what’s the breakdown there?

“Schematic stuff. Well, everyone should know. We’ve got to do a really good job with communication in terms of shoving the coverage and getting the corner off of it and stuff. But, it’s definitely something that we’ve got to improve on, otherwise teams are going to keep running it. We’ll be ready for it this time, [Indianapolis Colts QB] Philip [Rivers] (laughter).”

DL Jordan Elliott doesn’t get a lot of fanfare across the league. What does he mean for the defense and especially that run-stopping ability?

“I mean, he’s a big body, he’s stout. He has got good short-area quickness and good foot speed and he’s physical with his hands. When he gets off the ball and he strikes and everything’s aligned, he’s pretty dominant in there. So, obviously having him in there helps big time for the run game.”

What did you see from Rivers?

“You saw a guy who could make every single read, who’s still capable of getting the ball wherever he needs to get it to. It’s amazing. I mean, it’s five years without playing football. I know he has been throwing and he has been doing the coaching thing, but shoot, I roll out of bed and I’m sore. But, credit to him. I thought a lot of the things that he did it looked normal to me.”

How has S Marques Sigle handled going from starting the first seven, eight games to having a minimized role?

“I feel like he’s been doing a great job. I feel like he’s really taken advantage of his opportunities on special teams. I know [special teams coordinator] Brant [Boyer] loves him. Every week you feel like if Sigle’s not around, Brant’s going to have a heart attack. So, it’s a credit to him and the work that he’s put in. Sigle’s going to be a really good football player in this league. Credit to [S] Malik [Mustapha] and Tig [S Ji’Ayir Brown], they’ve just done a really good job holding on to those safety spots and getting better every week.”

What has been the feedback to Marques?

“His story’s not even close to over. He’s young. He’s going to, same thing I told you guys, he’s going to be a really good football player. He’s very deliberate, he’s athletic, he’s got great football IQ and it’s important to him. And you just know that over time he’s just going to continue to get better.”

When you first got here, how influential and important was it to have a guy like Indianapolis Colts DL DeForest Buckner to set the culture and do the things that you were trying to build when you first got here?

“Anytime you’ve got, from a cultural standpoint, when you first get into the building and you’re trying to set something, and not to speak for [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan], but when your best players are your hardest workers, it makes it so easy. And Buck is relentless, absolutely relentless in terms of his everyday process. And then on top of it, he’s an unbelievable person, an unbelievable leader, an unbelievable teammate. He checks every single box from a football standpoint. And when you have guys like that on your team, it makes it very easy to shift a culture.”

DL Keion White seems like he’s playing better and better football. How do you like to utilize him? What do you think of his upside? It seems like he’s got a lot of talent.

“No, for sure. We love the direction he is going. Absolutely love it. He’s going to be a really good player for us for a while. It hasn’t changed. He’s a first/second down edge defender and we kick him inside for pass downs on third down. We feel like he’s done a really nice job disrupting the passer when he gets those one-on-ones. Hopefully as the group continues to gel, and hopefully that accelerates and continues to get better, that he’ll continue to get more one-on-one opportunities, which can result in the more wins.”

With all the injuries you guys have had on offense, and especially on your side of the ball, what’s your reaction just to being in position to really controlling your fate in terms of the division and possibly the number one seed in the NFC?

“I think it’s a credit to the locker room. I think it’s obviously first and foremost, Kyle and [general manager and president of football operations] John [Lynch] and just the messaging that’s been instilled in this group since the day we walked in here back in 2017. It’s the same thing. I tell players, I challenge any of you guys to walk up to a guy like [LB] Tatum Bethune or [LB] Curtis Robinson and tell them that they’re not starters in this league. They just believe they are. They believe that they just need an opportunity. And that’s true. I’ve said it to you guys, and I’m not BS-ing when I do say it, the difference between player A and Z is an opportunity. It’s that big. It is a credit to those guys. They’ve been taking the challenge. It hasn’t been a smooth ride. There’s been a lot of highs and a lot of lows. But, the one thing that’s consistent with this group is they fight every single play and they show up to work, they’re deliberate in their approach and they put their best foot forward and whatever the result is they’re okay with it because they show up the next week and they put the same effort forward.”

Because the defense is still maturing, do you have to remind them, don’t look ahead?

“No. These guys, they go through their process, we’re human. I can assure you that a lot of the guys were watching the game last night. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t. It’s okay to have a carrot in front of you as long as you know how to bring yourself back to the moment. And I think these guys know how to do that.”

What’s your read on Indianapolis Colts TE Tyler Warren?

“Good player. Damn good player. I feel like they’re absolutely loaded on offense. All their skill guys, all three receivers, the tight end, the backs and obviously Philip being more than capable of being able to distribute the football anywhere on the football field. Their O-Line is really, really good. You could see why they were just absolutely steamrolling people. And it’s a damn good group.”

Everybody says this is going to be a great story on Monday night and it’s your job to make it a tragedy, I guess. That first game, he went underneath a lot, didn’t show a lot downfield, how do you approach a guy like Rivers when you know he has so much knowledge and yet you don’t have a lot of film on him?

“Well, I’ll say this, if he wasn’t capable of running their offense he wouldn’t be on the field. So, we’ll work off the assumption that he’s capable of doing all of it, which when you watch the tape, even though he wasn’t pushing the ball down field, you can tell that he’s more than capable. So, we don’t think anything of it.”

Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak

Did you get a text from your brother?

“I texted him. That was a pretty cool game. That was awesome. What a great game. So, pretty happy for him.”

How much of it did you even get to see?

“I had it on, we were doing third down and just had it on in the background and towards the end couldn’t take my eyes off of it. So, it was a good game.”

You guys have been searching for ways to generate explosive plays in the running game this year. Have you given any thought to maybe an end around, or a screen for WR Skyy Moore? He’s played so well on special teams. Has he earned that potential opportunity?

“Yeah, definitely. Skyy’s an explosive player. We’ve had stuff up for him. I don’t think it’s been called. It’s definitely something that we talk about, we kind of have up week-to-week. Some it’s timing, some of it’s just finding the right time in the game to call it. So yeah, it’s definitely part of the planning as we go through the week, and he’s a guy that we definitely try to have those plays for.”

What does WR Javon Baker look like in practice? He had a pretty good college career.

“Who’s that?”

Javon Baker.

“Oh yeah, sorry. I thought you meant [Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB] Baker Mayfield. Yeah, we loved him coming out. He was a guy who, we loved the way he came off the ball, the way he ran routes. He’s powerful. Super talented guy. We like watching him run routes out there. We haven’t really gotten him into the offense yet. He’s still learning it, but when you watch him on scout team, routes on air, we’re excited about him. You know, he is a talented dude, and I hope to get to work with him in the offseason, and as this year goes on, see if he can help us somewhere. But still a guy we’re integrating, but excited about him.”

There are not many teams that could have a backup quarterback start as many games for you guys to still be in the position that you’re in. How did QB Brock Purdy and QB Mac Jones help each other? Both, in-game, but also maybe in meeting room, things like that. Just what have you seen in terms of the way they’ve interacted?

“Brock’s role is just really of helping Mac understand how we go through the process of our game planning week and kind of the steps along the way. And kind of sharing probably his experience about how he prepares for the week, for how we put things in and how we kind of go through each day. I think that helped Mac a lot, you know. And then Mac just being around for that part of the season and seeing Brock go through it. Those guys are just good friends. They support each other. They’re good teammates. Mac’s a pro, like he’s a guy who’s just here all the time. This guy, he loves football and so there was no issue with him being ready and having his own process to prepare. So that’s what it takes to be a good backup. You got to prepare like you’re a starter and that’s what he did.”

How did you kind of just see them handle the situation, obviously, and a lot of guys in Mac’s position say, ‘I played pretty well. I have a chance to keep starting here,’ but he seemed like he had no problem. You know, this is Brock’s job. I understand. How did that kind of land with you guys?

“No issues. I mean, Mac understood. He knows his role on the team, was ready to go and play. And I know Mac probably wants to play. That’s why he’s a good player. But he’s here to support the Niners and be a teammate, and that’s what he did. There’s been no issues there. I know Mac’s competitive and he wants to play, but he’s going to do whatever it takes for us to win. And that means supporting Brock and helping us win games that way.”

OL Dominick Puni started the season a little rough and he’s ascending. T Trent Williams is coming off his best game. Is this offensive line playing as good right now as it has all year?

“I think so. I think with any O-Line it takes, whether they’ve played together or not, it takes time in the year to grow, to just kind of start getting in a rhythm and takes time playing together. Dom had an injury early in camp, and you’ve seen him get better every week. You see that unit kind of cohering as we’ve gone through these last few months. It helps that we’ve had [OL] Spencer [Burford] out there for an extended period of time too, so it’s been a cohesive unit. Those guys are getting better. They’re doing a heck of a job and knock on wood; hope it stays that way.”

From your standpoint, what has this year been like for WR Jordan Watkins

“The injury in training camp, I think set him back. We loved the offseason he had. Then you get injured and you miss time, and it’s just hard for a rookie to sometimes catch up. But man, he’s done nothing we haven’t asked him to do. He works; he has gotten better. I think he had another injury earlier in the fall too. It kind of had him at a setback, but then times when he is been called upon in games, I think about the New York game when you step up and made a huge catch in that game. He’s been preparing like a pro, like he’s going to play. And you know, given [WR] Ricky’s [Pearsall] situation now, we’ll see where Ricky gets in the week. I know Jordan’s fighting and preparing like he’s going to play, and we’re happy with where he is at. He’s just got to keep going and you never know when that time’s going to come where we’re going to really need you.”

Did you put him ahead of or behind WR Jacob Cowing?

“Jake’s been out. I mean, Jake hasn’t been practicing, he is still rehabbing those hamstring injuries that he is reaggravated. So, Jordan’s available right now, so Jake, we’re still working on getting healthy.”

What makes Skyy Moore unique? Dangerous as a weapon, as a gadget guy.

“He’s got speed for sure. That’s one thing. He’s extremely tough, he’s a guy who, you see it when he returns kicks. He’s going to take hits. He’s running fearlessly, that’s dangerous, he sees a hole, he can hit a hole. To me, that’s the biggest thing. It’s his mindset when he has the ball in his hand, he’s not trying to dance around. He’s taking yards. And that’s what makes him a cool player to watch.”

You see a game like the other day when Brock has had some good games since he’s been back, doing some of the improvisational stuff that he was doing running around. Does it make you feel better just about kind of where he is in terms of like, he feels more like himself at this point?

“Yeah, I think Brock’s natural way of playing is he’s got confidence of moving around making plays. And when you see him playing like that and he’s having a good time doing it, and he’s extending plays to me, that tells me he’s seeing the game the way he naturally sees it. He is not afraid to move around and run and throw the ball down the field when he is scrambling like he hit to D-Rob [WR Demarcus Robinson] in the game. I think it just tells us he’s playing with the right mindset and he’s confident and that’s where we want him to be.”

What does Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense look like? What’s the challenge this week when you watch them?

“Yeah, huge challenge. Schematically, just a lot of variables with these guys. He’s always been a guy who mixes it up. You never really know what you can hang your hat on with him. He’s going to change it up, play a variety of coverages, do a variety of blitzes, third down, you never really know what you’re going to get either. It’s a defense where you have to prepare for a lot of stuff and that makes it a challenge. And on top of that, they’re good at everything they do, so it’s not like they’re vulnerable in those areas. They’re going to play sound coverages. They’re going to get after the quarterback, and they stop the run. They’re one of the top run defenses. This is one of the best defenses we’ve seen. It’s going to be a huge challenge on the road with the crowd noise, and we have to be at our best.”

You see that Brock Purdy can extend plays and he’s very quick. Can he also read defenses like an old man? Like, would you give him the same compliment that you would give Indianapolis Colts QB Philip Rivers?

“I don’t know what that means. Old man – yes, Brock can definitely read defenses and he does, and he works really hard at that, at preparing and studying defenses so he can anticipate and that comes into play a lot during the game. But there’s also instincts that need to kick in. And there’s also times when you don’t know what the hell the defense is doing. You have to play ball, and you have to react. And he’s got that, and that’s what makes him a special player. So, I would say he combines the two things very well. He’s going to try to diagnose and be as decisive as he can be based on what he thinks the defense is doing, but shoot, when the defense lines up and you’re not real sure, you just have to go through your reads and play fast and make plays.”

Is it harder to decipher what defenses are doing in terms of coverage pre-snap than it was maybe 10 years ago?

“I can’t speak to that. I wasn’t coaching the NFL 10 years ago, but I’ve studied enough to, I would say, yeah, it’s harder. The defenses and coordinators have gotten so good at disguising things, at combining coverages, pre-snap looks and going to different stuff. You just see a lot of stuff. So, yeah, it’s harder. You still work at it though. You still work at trying to understand what’s happening and try to minimize the variables in your brain. So, hey, it’s either this or this. You try to get to that point on every snap. Yeah, I think things have gotten – things get added to the mix all the time in this league and coordinators evolve, so it’s harder.”

You’ve got guys like TE Jake Tonges and OL Connor Colby who were thrust into positions that maybe they weren’t expecting early, and then the regular guys come back, and they take a step back. How valuable is that time to put in the bank as starters in case they’re needed again?

“It’s huge. I mean, that’s really huge. You never know when those guys are going to be needed again. Someone like Jake who’s one snap away from getting right back to where he was in terms of being a huge target for us and it lets you know that he can do it. It’s not too big for him. It lets you know he’s a pretty darn good player, and it lets you know that he’s developing into a guy who’s got starter quality and us having that confidence, it gives us depth. We believe in the guy, and it’s just huge for us as a staff, as coaches, and for him as a teammate. It gives people confidence. And same with Connor. He’s a guy we know it’s not too big for him. If he gets called upon and we know he is going to step in there and be ready to play.”

You guys have one of maybe the deepest quarterback rooms in the league right now. After getting a three week look at QB Kurtis Rourke, what’s he look like? You guys obviously like QB Adrian Martinez. Talk to us about those two guys and what you like about him?

“Yeah, Kurtis, we got him back a couple weeks ago. He’s been practicing in the NFL for the first time, I mean, truthfully. And he looks good. I mean, he’s a big dude, good athlete, he can throw the ball. I’ve been watching him in Indy and how he throws and moves and in scout team, you can just see the talent. We love his brain. He’s been dialed in to every game plan this year, he’s learning the offense. And then, we know about Adrian and we’ve talked about him very highly this year. And so, I hope we get the chance to work with all those guys in the offseason and keep them around and keep developing them.”

In terms of Jordan, you mentioned that the really tough part about missing that month in camp was you felt that was the time to really prove himself and stand out. At this stage in the season, maybe it’s not the same being on scout team and not having that much opportunity there. Is there some truth to that?

“I think there’s always opportunity to stand out and to prove something and to show that you’re preparing the right way and that you’re practicing the right way, and that you’re taking advantage of those scout team reps. And he does get reps with the offense and when you go in, you know what you’re doing and you’re playing fast and you’re showing everyone every day that you’re ready to play. And he’s doing that. And, like I said, in this league, you never know when you’re going to lose a guy and you’re going to need to step up at this time in the year, and he’s ready. We’re happy with where he is at and I think he’s been growing this year, so I’m happy with where Jordan’s at.”

QB Brock Purdy

Did you watch the game last night?

“Yes.”

Do you ever tell your offensive players if I throw a ball to the side and it gets batted down and it goes in the endzone jump on it, it’s two points?

“Yeah, the thing with us is you go until the whistle blows. So, obviously that was crazy, the whole thing. I don’t know what else to say about that.”

You can learn from it right?

“Definitely, yeah.”

If it’s something you hadn’t thought about before, even the guy that picked it up, Seattle Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet picked it up and he looked like he just wasn’t even thinking about it.

“Correct. Obviously they’re fortunate to have just picked it up and then got the two points. So, obviously you just want to go until the whistle blows and you just never know, especially with screens and stuff like that, you don’t know if the ball’s going forward or backwards. So, obviously they were pretty fortunate to get that.”

How much of a boost does it give you guys to know that if you take care of business and win the rest of your games, you get the number one seed and a Bye week?

“Yeah, I mean obviously it’s nice, but we really do have to take it one day at a time because if we don’t obviously take care of business this week, then none of that matters. So for us, it’s how can we continue to get better just even this week at practice, handle business on Monday and make that everything right now. So, that’s where we have to be.”

What did you think of that final play? It was Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold and Seattle Seahawks TE Eric Saubert who teamed up, former Niners to help you guys out?

“Yeah, it was pretty cool. To be able to finish the game the way they did and come back and then obviously us knowing Sam and Sauby was pretty cool for them to finish that. So, it was cool seeing Sauby take his helmet off and celebrate and stuff. We all love him and Sam, so it was cool. But obviously, it’s good for them, but we still have to handle business this week.”

Darnold, when he was here, cited your prep as something that really helped him grow as a player and felt like you were really comprehensive in your approach. Where did that come from? Was that Penn State head coach Matt Campbell or was that high school? Where did you start kind of hitting every single variable on every play?

“I feel like just growing up, every stage that I got to, high school, I think my high school coach did a great job with teaching me just playbook stuff and being detailed. And then getting to college, coach Campbell and my quarterback coach, coach [Joel] Gordon helping me with my footwork and everything being timed up with my feet. And then coming here into [head coach Kyle] Shanahan’s offense and learning from obviously the guys ahead of me, [Los Angeles Chargers QB] Trey [Lance], [Los Angeles Rams QB] Jimmy [Garoppolo], [former QB] Nate Sudfeld and then being coached up by [former QB coach Brian] Griese and Kyle. So, just all of those things together I feel like sort of just have allowed me to understand the position of quarterback and what that entails and the mindset, the studying, the prep, the footwork, all of that put together. So, when Sam came in he helped me too just with his experiences and everything. It was a cool year that we had together and it was cool hearing him say he took some stuff away from my prep and the things that we did as a quarterback room that year.”

Three years ago, you went to Indy for the Combine, but what do you remember from how you did and just how it affected you?

“Yeah, I’m not a guy that’s going to really pop when it comes to the testing and all that kind of stuff, so to me that was that. But, I remember just being in there throwing and stuff and being like, ‘dang, this is pretty cool.’ Like, as a kid growing up watching the Combine and stuff, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and I don’t know, I thought it was like just a surreal moment. But, more than anything I just wanted an opp with a NFL team and to go from there. So, to be able to go back there Monday Night and actually play a game there this time will be really, really cool for me. So, just little moments like that you’ve got to appreciate as you go in your career.”

I know you’re not studying Indianapolis Colts QB Philip Rivers, but as a fellow quarterback, how do you explain like what he’s pulling off at his age, given the layoff he’s had?

“It’s insane. To be able to basically cold-turkey it and come back, what, five years later and to complete passes and go through an offense and compete and have his team in position to win games. Dude, that’s insane. And especially, for how physical the game is at quarterback. People think, ‘oh, the quarterback doesn’t get hit’ like, you’re dropping back and you’re getting hit after throws and you’ve got to scramble, throw the ball away and take a hit and then get back up and jog back to the huddle, say the play. All those little things that you don’t really think of, to be able to do that at that age, with that amount of time off and come in and compete right away, it’s very impressive. So, he’s a Hall of Famer and to be able to go up and compete against him it’s going to be an honor. We all respect the heck out of him.”

Do you see yourself playing in the NFL when you’re 44?

“We’ll see. You’ve got to take it one year at a time.”

What stands out about the Colts defense when you watch them?

“They do a lot. And I think they do a great job of just playing fast and hard. The physicality when you watch their film pops out. They fly around to the ball and I think just overall they’ve got playmakers. Their defensive line, they all play together, they’re really physical. And then the guys outside of that, they’re flying around and they make plays on the ball. So, this is a defense that you can’t slip up on, you can’t take a breath for one play. They’ll expose you right when you think you’ve got it. So, it’s going to be a four-quarter game of being discipline and attacking when we need to attack. But, we respect the heck out of them and what their D-Coordinator has done wherever he’s been. He’s a very respectable play caller. We’ve just got to be on top of it.”

Against Tennessee, you guys played some tempo and went a little hurry up. Was that your call? Was that part of the game plan? Do you like playing hurry up, a little tempo?

“No, that was Kyle’s call and just switching it up kind of thing for last game against Tennessee. He thought coming out and just moving the ball like that and getting some tempo would be good for us and obviously I think it was. And so, I’ve had history of high school, college, of going fast and picking up the tempo when you need it, not even in two minute, but just in random instances. I think it’s just a good switch up to be able to be an offense that can do both huddle and go fast. I liked it. I know Kyle did too, but it just depends on the game and the scheme and the team that we’re playing.”

In terms of delivery, mobility, playing style, River’s is just pretty unconventional. He doesn’t really look like a lot of other quarterbacks, but he has still done what he’s done. Is that just sort of an example of, you know how to run an offense and know where to go with the ball, don’t make a big deal about the rest of the stuff?

“Yeah, I think the game is 90-percent mental. Like with the scheme, knowing where you’ve got to go with the ball, throwing on time, knowing when guys are coming out of their breaks, when to throw a ball, when not to, just all the things. It’s making decisions at a high level. I think that’s a big part of it and Philip Rivers has done that better than just about anybody in the history of football at playing quarterback. So, he has done a great job with that. The way he throws the ball obviously isn’t, I guess, like what other guys have done in the past, but he’s a guy that gets it there on time. He understands how to play in rhythm and find ways to win and he’s a competitor. Obviously you guys all know that it takes so much to be a really good quarterback in the NFL and to be that consistently, and the fact that he’s been able to do that over his career while throwing the way he does, it goes to show you that it doesn’t matter how it looks, it matters at the end of the day you win, you compete, you throw the ball on time and you do that over and over and over again. And Philip’s done that.”