49ers RB Kaelon Black shares how he hopes to improve after NFL preseason debut
49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black speaks to reporters following San Francisco's training camp session on Saturday in Santa Clara.
49ers RB Kaelon Black shares how he hopes to improve after NFL preseason debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Look at the tape.
What'd you think of your performance?
I would say I had a, a solid day.
Still some things to clean up on.
You know, playing the first game in the NFL is definitely big.
Was just blessed to be out there and, you know, playing a game that I love.
A, a, a few weeks into training camp now, can you speak to the, the difference in intensity in college practices versus NFL practices?
Yeah, definitely.
Both very intense, but I would say in the NFL it's more, you know, even more about the details.
I came from a program that was very key on the details, but the NFL is even more.
It's a whole different level, especially coming in as a rookie.
Just learning the offenses, learning blocking schemes, especially in our offense as well, where it's a lot of, complicated schemes.
So, you know, just coming in knowing that, everything is way more intense.
Is the last piece of the puzzle getting in the, the pass game?
It looked like they were making a concerted effort in this practice to, to nail that down for you.
Yeah, definitely, man.
Really just all around game.
You know, in the run game, pass game, and just making sure that everyone is really keyed into what they're supposed to be doing, to help the offense, you know, flow, as good as it can.
Seems like you've really picked up on pass pro concepts here in the preseason.
Did it help at Indiana, with that transition, just the, you mentioned emphasis on detail and Yeah, I would definitely say it helped, coming from the system that we did and, you know, having to scan and just being keyed into certain people.
Even in the league, you know, having to be keyed into the details, seeing safety shells and paying attention to linebackers, seeing, different tells and things of that nature.
I also have a very detailed coach in Bobby Turner.
He's very, you know, hard on me and making sure that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing on the field, and he's very, he has very high expectations for me and, you know, I'm, I'm up for the challenge.
Get on you about the most specifically?
Man, my, my tracks.
You know, just being very detailed into every single thing.
You know, being in the right spot, before the play and even after the play.
Very big on landmarks and, you know, just being, you know, the best all around football player that you can be.
Just being focused at all times and you're never having those brain farts.
When you say landmarks, are you talking about, like, the wide zone and, and just getting out far enough before you, you cut it back in?
Really just the all around game, especially in our offense, in terms of, you know, certain areas on the field, where the ball is supposed to, you know, cut back to where it's actually supposed to be as opposed to where it'll end up after the play is going on.
So little things like that.
Jalen, you had a great college career and, and yet they didn't invite you to the Combine.
How, how much did that serve as maybe a little extra motivation for you?
In my mind I would say a lot, but you know, I'm, I'm a man of not much words, so I just use it as that motivation and, you know, just keep me going each and every day.
Staying prayed up, talking to the Lord each and every day, you know, give me the strength, the motivation to just keep going and, you know, just being me at the end of the day.
Never letting, you know, outside noise get to me and, you know, just always playing hard, playing ferocious.
Teammates have, have talked about you kind of have an advanced understanding of outside zone, where you're not afraid to kind of hit the hole, put your foot in the ground and go.
Where, where does that come from?
Is that just over years of, of working it, or is it, is it kind of an innate ability for you to see it and, and just go?
I would definitely say just time, time put in.
You know, just being focused to the details.
I ran a lot of outside zone at Indiana, and even at James Madison with the same coach, so you know, just being used to it, but also just knowing that you, you're on a different level now.
This is the pro leagues, so you have to stick your foot in the ground, you have to get vertical and, you want to impose your will on everybody regardless of who it is.
Coach Miller, you had him at JMU, you also had him at Indiana.
How much do you credit him for the fact that you're standing here right now?
Man, a lot, man.
That's my guy.
When I, when after I got drafted I talked to him, he was the first person I called because, I told him, "Man, I was, I want to be the first one that you have drafted."
And you know, I was, and I just gotta give all credit to God, you know, for putting me in this position.
And you know, credit to God for having, giving me a coach like him to allow me to, you know, grow, over time and just be me.
