Kyle Shanahan, 49ers players share takeaways from joint practice with Chargers
Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy and Fred Warner speak to reporters following 49ers' joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday in El Segundo.
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers players share takeaways from joint practice with Chargers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
How do you think, Caelen Black looked today his first practice back?
I thought he looked good, from what I saw.
You know, it was his first practice back.
It's always tough going against another team on your first day back, but he looked healthy, had some juice today, and hopefully he looks the same on tape.
He gonna play on Thursday?
Most likely.
Yeah, I haven't told the guys yet.
We'll tell them here this afternoon, so.
But yeah, he played today, so I expect him to go.
Do you have an early diagnosis of Mike Evans?
What, what did he no, they just said he had some tightness, so we're just being smart taking him out.
I don't think it's anything worse, so we'll see when we get in there.
But nothing that I'm worried about right now.
Stribling had a couple good catches in the red zone there from, from Mac and Brock.
Just how did he respond today and his action here and- I mean, those were two good plays.
You know, I think he had a couple rough ones, too.
So, I'll hold my opinion till I really see the tape, but, he's competing every day and, getting better.
When, when you're coaching him up on film, Kyle, what's his, like, reaction as you're pointing out whatever flaws he has?
I mean, I, I love how he handles himself.
He stays humble, he takes coaching really well, never seems to take anything personally.
He's been a real fun guy to coach so far.
When you say he had a couple rough ones, you mean mental errors or- Oh, no, I just mean not everything was perfect, like those two touchdowns, but that's my answer for everybody.
Kyle, the, th- there was a lot of skirmishes in the Titans practice, none today.
Was there Did you guys say anything different or what, what do you, what do you attribute it to?
No, their head coach had more discipline than Tennessee's.
No, I'm just joking.
I think, I, I, you know, a few things started early in the Tennessee practice, which when that happens, then everything just gets escalated throughout the rest of the day.
I wasn't on both sides, but you know, nothing happened early, and usually when nothing happens early, nothing happens late.
You guys have had some concussions among the linemen this year.
Is that a surprise just given that they're wearing the, the Guardian caps?
Yeah, it is.
I mean, I think it just shows you those only do so much.
You know, my favorite thing about those is quarterbacks don't break their hands as much on the top of them.
But I mean, regardless of what, what you're wearing, if you get hit the right way, it's not enough.
I know it does help.
But yeah, having those two in one practice a few days ago was, was unusual, and hopefully we'll have better luck with that going forward.
Coach, Harba said the starters are gonna at least do a series out there.
Do you expect your starters to get out there?
Yeah, not all of them, but I, I expect a number of starters to play, unlike last week.
So I haven't told them yet, but they'll find out soon.
But yeah, you guys will see a number out there.
Including Brock?
Haven't told him yet, but there's a good chance.
Kyle, yesterday, Pro Football Talk said, speculated that Christian is out at practice due to contract issues.
What, what's your comment on that?
I mean, people make a lot of assumptions, and that would be a, one that they're wrong on.
Is there a timeline for him to come back?
When, when, when do you think he might be able to practice again?
I think if it wasn't Christian and we were in a, in a game week, I think he would play today.
I- is it related to the calf or Achilles?
No, just some tightness.
People get sensitive when I say where, so.
I understand.
How, how about Bosa?
We saw him doing some stuff on the sides.
Is he, is he making progress?
Yeah, he's making a lot of progress, and he's, a lot less, lot less irritation, soreness, and tendonitis, whatever you wanna call it, than he had last week.
So we think he's going the right direction, and we'll see him similar to Christian.
George, George said that he expects to be practicing sooner than later is what he would tell us.
Where, where, where is he right now, and, and how soon can we expect to see him?
I mean, I kinda listen to George the same way you guys do.
George isn't a big put a date on it, and I'm not gonna be that dude either.
But I think you guys can tell how he's talking, how he looks, that I agree, I think it's sooner than later.
He told us dance beats.
Did he?
Yeah.
All right.
I'll, I'll ask the trainer.
One more along those lines.
What about Mykel?
Any, you know, further idea when- Yeah, I mean, he's further along.
I mean, he's further away than those other guys you guys just asked about, but we do think he's close.
I mean, I, I do think week one would be a long shot, but we haven't ruled it out yet.
But he's progressing very well.
Christian Kirk has been out since that, that first practice.
Yeah.
How is he doing and- that's been unfortunate for him 'cause he had the same thing in OTAs, so he missed that, you know, and he hasn't been ready to go, so he hasn't really had And he did the first practice before he even got a team period.
So I know he's been extremely frustrated with it.
We love the guy so far, but hopefully he can have some better luck going forward here so he can get some reps out here.
Kyle, George said that Pharaoh's having a much better camp than last year, and he, he said that it's hard to sometimes learn this offense in one year.
What are you seeing from Pharaoh in year two?
I would totally agree.
I think he's definitely a lot more confident just knowing what he's doing.
I think he And when you go through a whole year, you know how to prepare for it, to me, a, a different way.
And I think he came into OTAs prepared at a different level.
And it's carried right over to training camp, and, I think he's having a hell of a camp.
How generally did you feel about how the offense performed with the play against- Uh- it was pretty competitive.
Yeah, I, I liked it a little more at first, didn't, didn't like it as much later.
You know, I thought we struggled a little bit in the move the ball periods, didn't score in two minute.
So there was some ups and downs, but I didn't really like how we finished the day.
You, you did foreshadow last week that you wanted to get, Carver Willis involved in the competition.
How, how is that thing shaking out right now about the guard?
It's still a competition.
You know, no one's really, completely made it easy on us yet.
I still think we got a, a lot more time to go.
Not a ton, but enough for guys to step up and do it.
I think Carver, you know, missing that time has made him a little bit behind the eight ball on it.
But it's good that he's gotten a full weekend, and hopefully he has no setbacks, so we can make that opinion here in about two weeks.
Before practice, Harbaugh talked, kind of said a lot of nice complimentary things about you and, and your program.
Just from looking at his program from across the field, what stands out to you about Harbaugh?
Just how hard they work.
I mean, you can tell.
I, I liked how their whole team handled themself.
I mean, they weren't out here, trying to cause anything.
They were just out here to get to work, which usually starts with the head coach.
You know, I mean, him being in San Francisco, you know, there's a lot of guys in our building who speak really highly, highly of him.
And I got a lot of guys who used to work for me, who now work for him, who speak the same.
So, hung around him a number of times, but, I feel like I know him even better than that Take a couple more guys.
Watching, you didn't watch the offense today.
How much has Mike Daniels, presence been an influence on their offense?
I mean, I'm sure it's gonna be a ton.
You know, Mike does a great job.
What he does do, they, is totally different when what they've always done in the past.
I think it'll fit their personnel very well, and I think it'll be a real good thing for the quarterback.
Brock, what'd you think of the day today?
How you guys did?
Honestly, I don't think it was our best day.
I feel like fundamentals and stuff were just a little off and whatnot.
I mean, obviously there was some good stuff, some, some stuff we need to work on, but just feel like we could've came out with a little bit more chip on our shoulder.
Offensively, I don't know how our defense did, but, yeah, that's just overall thoughts.
What do you think, Kaylon Black has added coming back from his injury?
How has he added to the offense?
Yeah, I thought he looked good, hitting the hole and running hard.
Like, you could tell there's a different level of intensity when he touches the ball and, and, I'm excited to see what he does in live action too with, you know, breaking tackles, hitting the gaps, and stuff like that.
But I thought, you know, from the jump, KB came out running pretty hard, so I was excited to see him, see him back.
It's part of the struggle of just having wide receivers that have been out of camp and moving them back and forth from injury.
Yeah, that, that's sort of part of it.
I feel like I've dealt with that before.
But yeah, obviously you wanna have the same guys out in the field and whatnot getting your chemistry down.
But, I think we've, we've done a good job though of the next guy being up and ready and, and going in and, it's not too big for them.
So that's how I feel about it.
I love all of our receivers and stuff.
I know we've had some, some grinders and some practices, you know, last couple days and stuff.
I don't know if that had any effect or whatever on them today, but, you know, it's, it was one day at practice, and they're gonna bounce back and we're all gonna be good, so.
Brock, you had a, you had a pass deflected, I think intercepted and stuff, like on like a throwaway pass.
You've only had maybe one or two interceptions all camp.
Is that like something that you went into camp, "I wanna cut down on interceptions," or whatever happens happens?
I mean, my mindset is go in and try to execute every play.
Obviously, you don't wanna turn the ball over.
But, you know, I just try to be efficient, you know, get into a habit of, you know, if it's not there, check the ball down, throw the ball away.
I feel like I've done that at camp.
Down there in the red zone, I don't know if I'm gonna throw that well in the game, but I wanted to try, you know, putting a tight ball onto Luke, and there was good coverage on the backside by the safety, and he just poked his hand out and popped the ball up.
So that's practice.
But I think it's also good work to see if it, if I can get that done or not.
So, yeah, that's sorta just been my mindset for camp.
You guys are working through the, the options at left guard.
What, what have your just ear- early impressions of Carver been since he's kinda gotten more opportunity here lately?
Yeah, I think he's done a good job with coming in and, you know, there's a lot within our offensive run scheme and everything.
So as a, as a young guy to come in and, and learn that quick, is, it's a challenge.
And so, I think he's, he's been able to handle it pretty well.
And, I know he's gonna keep getting better with more reps.
But any, any guy that is in front of me, man, I'm gonna have their back, and I know they're gonna give it their all for me.
So, I'm gonna keep believing in him, working with him, and, and, yeah, I, I got a lot of trust in him.
Before practice, Jim Harbaugh told us that he really wanted to meet you.
Did he end up meeting you?
I haven't met him yet.
I might meet him after this, but yeah, yeah.
The defensive line over here had a good day.
I know you haven't been able to see their practice, but what have they shown you throughout the practices with them?
Our defensive line?
Yeah, man, I think, you know, Coach Krzerke does a good job with just, like, their intensity, man.
Like, every play they're gonna shoot their gaps, and you're gonna feel them and, and especially on the edges, too.
Like, I really gotta step up in the pocket, you know, against our guys.
And, they do a good job getting around the edge.
And also on the keepers and stuff, they're there in our face.
Like, you can just feel them every play, and it feels like we, they do a good job with rotating guys, and the next guy that comes in, they're gonna bring it, too.
So, I feel like that's, that's o- obviously a huge part of a team, you know, down in the trenches, man.
If you have a good defensive line, you can go really far.
And, I believe we have that.
So obviously when we get Bosa back, too, that's gonna be good.
And, Mykel Williams, so it's, it's gonna get even better.
Is Osa a guy you feel in the interior?
Oh, yeah, Osa is a baller.
I think, you know, one of m- the more slept-on guys in the league.
So I'm extremely excited that we have him, and every single play, like, he's, he's almost gonna sack me it feels like.
So, he's done a great job all camp.
Had a little bit of a challenge tape from the defensive backs today.
What were they doing over there?
Yeah, it's hard to tell, you know, when you're in the battle, right, what's exactly going on.
You gotta see the tape to really see, what it looks like.
But, you know, any time you get to go against another team, it's a great opportunity to see where you stand.
And, I al- you know, I, I always look forward to joint practices for that reason, right?
So to come out and be in a game-like setting, against another opponent.
So luckily it was, it was a good test for us.
Osa seems to be getting a lot of pressure on the interior as well, that he, definitely affected the pocket.
Yeah.
Osa just seems like he just keeps getting better and better, right?
I, I love the, the mindset, the tenacity, the physicality that he brings to the position and to our defense.
We know how important it is to get pressure up front on the quarterback and in the run game.
So I think Osa's just gonna continue to get better as we keep going.
What kind of treatment do you have to do on your ankle as you get through camp here?
Obviously it doesn't look like it's bothering you, but I'm just curious how that goes.
No, I mean, I s- I can't tell you how thankful I am, honestly, of, like, just how it r- it recovered, and I really don't have to think about it much.
It doesn't require any ex- like, extra, like, after practice treatment or anything like that.
I mean, God is amazing in that way, that, you know, I feel back to myself again.
And, and I don't have to constantly be like, "Oh, man, my, my, my leg's throbbing," or something.
It's, it's honestly just regular football soreness at this point, you know?
And, but when you don't play for over half a season, your body feels pretty fresh.
And, you just get to go out there and fly around.
You're done swimming still, aren't you?
No, the swimming gotta, gotta get put on hold for a little bit, you know?
Right now it's all about just ball.
That's pretty helpful.
It was really helpful.
You know, just the pumping the ankle, when I was unable to walk, being able to get back in there and, and get the cardio in.
I think that was a big reason for why I came back in the playoffs as quick as I did, in as good a shape as I was, you know, without the, the ability to really run and, and get my cardio that way.
So I think the pool helped a ton.
Since, from the, from the first start of training camp Has there been a change in emphasis with punch-outs, you know, when, when one of your ball carriers is carrying the ball or even doing a joint practice like this?
For me, no.
I, you know, I'm, I'm always, that's my, my emphasis every single play, honestly.
You know, does every play, have a punch-out op?
Not necessarily, but I'm gonna try to find it, you know, where I can.
And, you know, something that I've just, you know, you know me.
Over the years I've just tried to practice it so much where it's not even a, a thought in my mind, it's just second nature at this point.
And so, you know, it's beyond the point of me trying to just get punch-outs.
It's, like, how can I, you know, be infectious to the rest of the team and have it on everybody's mind?
And we talk about it, you know, affecting the football in all d- all different sorts of ways.
You know, but game on the line, gotta have your moments, you know, where we need to make a play.
I, I try to definitely have it on my mind in, in those situations.
And the reason I ask is because, in the first der- couple weeks ago or a week or so ago, said that that's how Jordan Jenkins was, was injured with a, a punch-out that, that went awry.
That play specifically, you know, I know there was, like, a clip that circulated with me and Jordan.
That wasn't, you know, that wasn't the play where he got hurt.
It was just honestly just an un- unfortunate collision between Jordan and I when we didn't have pads on.
It wasn't, you know, me intentionally trying to go in and punch the ball out on him, it was just accidental.
Which of the, the young linebackers stood out to you in the game against the Titans?
A lot of 'em.
I mean, all of them.
You know, I think, everybody had, had good, good things and things to work on throughout that game.
You know, we had two backers get sacks in that game, which is, you know, you don't, you don't see that a lot.
You haven't seen that a lot from, from our group in the past.
But to see young Larry get in there, get a sack, and then Tatum bulldoze a running back to get a sack.
You know, Doug did a lot of good things in, in that, in that game as well.
Wallow has been phenomenal all camp.
He had a really good track tackle out in s- out in space.
You know, Nick Martin blowing people up, unreal.
You know, so there was a lot of guys that did a lot of good things.
I'm sure I'm missing somebody, but, I, I, I liked what I saw from the group.
Fred, those young guys learn from you and Dre, quite a bit.
Do you find yourself trying to be a little more verbal in the meetings to try to kinda show them the way a little bit verbally?
Yeah.
I mean, I speak up where I can, but, you know, at the end of the day, I try to lead by example more so than just by words, you know?
I think words are cheap.
I think every day you gotta go out there with something to prove.
It doesn't matter what I've done in this league or what Dre's done in this league, I think what makes us great is just our hunger for the game and wanting to prove ourselves every single day, and I think that feeds, you know, the rest of the group.
It's a hungry group, and KJ's done a phenomenal job as our, our linebacker coach, and Johnny o- obviously overseeing stuff as well.
So, we all still got a lot to improve on and I'm, I'm looking forward to just continue to get, be at our best for, week one.
