October 25, 2021 On an injury update for CB A.J. Parker: “We don’t quite know yet. My gut says he’ll be down for a little while.” On if WR Kalif Raymond epitomizes a player that found a roster spot who fights and his importance to the offense over the last few weeks: “I think he was a dang good pick up for us in the spring. Lif really embodies everything that we’re about. Just everything that he is made up of and he came through with some critical plays, some explosive catches yesterday. Here’s what probably doesn’t always show up for the naked eye is that dude blocks every play. Like, he is blocking somebody every play, the safety, support player in these runs. Teammate catches the ball, he’s looking for a block. He’s just – and on top of that, he’s a good returner. I’m glad we got him, and he is. He’s dependable is what he is.” On RB D’Andre Swift’s production: “He’s getting better. He’s getting better and he’s improving every week. I think that we find the runs that suit him best and let him go a little bit, but I also think that we can expand some things in the pass game for him would be the best way to probably say that.” On if he thinks RB D’Andre Swift’s performance is related to his groin injury healing: “I do. Look, it’s an issue that still shows up a little bit and it’s not necessarily – I would say he is getting better, but it’s something that I know he feels. But, we’ve been smart and he’s been smart, getting him some practice, but being smart with him and then getting him to the games to where we can get a load out of him. I think it’s all of the above. He’s settling in. Look, he didn’t play a lot last year, and so you could argue that he’s somewhat still a rookie as well. He’s just growing exponentially and he’s gaining a lot of confidence in himself, his teammates are. (Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs) Duce (Staley) is doing a hell of a job with him.” On if there was an issue calling in a play to QB Jared Goff on the delay of game penalty in the second quarter: “Headset issue. It’s a headset issue. He can’t hear it, it’s not coming in, so something was going on with that play because I know he couldn’t hear the play from (Offensive Coordinator Anthony Lynn) A. Lynn and neither could (David) Blough. It’s one of those things. It happened to us. It stinks.” On how often there are headset issues in a game: “I feel like those things popped up – they probably pop up a couple of times a game, maybe three times a game. We don’t really know why. We don’t know what’s going on with it. We’re trying to figure it out. When you’re on it about what’s going on, they say everything’s working properly, but it’s not obviously. So, we’ll just keep going. I would say it’s not anything totally abnormal. We had this in New Orleans, stuff would happen.” On how QB Jared Goff can run an offense when there are headset issues: “I think from now on, I’ll just call it and put it on a massive billboard on the sideline so he could see the number on the wristband and now we just keep going. So, lesson learned by me.” On how he avoids frustration from setting in after the 0-7 start: “I think that – it’s like I said last night, I’m frustrated like anybody would be. I’m frustrated like our players are, but it also just – I think there is more – it gives me more motivation and driven anger if you will to want to make things right and help these guys as much as I can and help this staff. That’s the way I’m cut. It makes me want to dig in more is what it does. So, maybe I’m stubborn that way. I said this – I told the team this before we ever started the season, but I’m built for adversity. This is what I do. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. I’ve done it. I’ve been in the highest highs and I’ve been in the low lows. I’m ready for this and I’m not giving up. I’m not giving up on any of these guys. I’m not listening to the lack of talent talk. I don’t buy into that. We’ve got more to give as a staff, these players have more to give as players and we’re going to find a way to win a game.” On if he sees signs of a win coming: “I do. I do because – we talked about it today – the bottom line is it is. We are what our record says we are, but we are competing. We are giving ourselves a chance to win these games at the end of the game, which is all you can ask for at this point, and then know that we are improving. And when I see guys like Alim McNeill and Jerry Jacobs and Levi Onwuzurike and (Derrick) Barnes and Jonah Jackson and D’Andre Swift, a ton of these young guys that are just getting better and better, that’s encouraging, A.J. Parker. We’re making some strides now. They are going to pay massive dividends sooner than later.” On if he would call a different play on the fourth quarter interception after reviewing the film: “There are multiple things that happened on that play. First of all, we need to open the window more for (T.J.) Hockenson, which really started with our rookie tight end. It’s his first start, first game. He can open the window by running a tighter post, taking the guy that’s got him covered and taking the post safety away. So now, that really opens up the window and gives Hockenson room to work, but more importantly gives (Jared) Goff a bigger window to throw into. That’s one. Two is Aaron Donald got us and I thought for the most part all day our O-line did a pretty dang good job. Aaron Donald did an Aaron Donald. He got a good jump on the snap and got inside and Goff couldn’t follow through on the throw and then (Jalen) Ramsey made a hell of a play. You fight that whole game, you’re fighting and you’re trying to contain Donald, which we did a pretty good job of. We made him play our type of game. You stay away from Ramsey and then what happens? Critical play in the game, Donald got us. He got us on one and then Ramsey makes a play. Those are two of the better players in this League if you will at their positions.” On how much they are evaluating players on one-year contracts like WR Kalif Raymond, LB Alex Anzalone and LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin for the future: “Everything is ongoing. We’re evaluating those guys just like the young guys we have. We’re evaluating practice squad players, everybody. I would tell you that the three you just said, we really like where they’re at. We sure do. They’re all getting better. Anzalone is playing the best that I’ve ever seen him with more confidence and energy. He’s our bell cow on defense and Reeves-Maybin has been – when we signed him, we knew the special teams player we were getting, but we were hopeful that he could help us on defense as well. We were intrigued with him and I’ll tell you what, he’s been all of that. And certainly Lif, Lif just – like I said, those three guys really embody everything we’re about and on top of that, you’re getting the production out of him.” |
