Shanahan on 49ers preseason opener: ‘Too many mistakes’

The San Francisco 49ers opened up their exhibition slate with a 30-9 loss to the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium over the weekend.

Here are postgame comments from head coach Kyle Shanahan, backup quarterback Mac Jones, and more players as the 49ers prepare to get back on the practice field ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Raiders in Las Vegas.

San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan

Opening comments:

“Injuries from the game: [LB] Tatum Bethune left with an ankle, he returned, [S Marques] Sigle had a knee, didn’t return, [RB Ameer] Abdullah left with ribs, and [DL] Robert Beal [Jr.] at the end there left with a groin. Go ahead.”

Obviously this game is what the young guys can do. What did you think about CB Chase Lucas? He had some pretty big plays in the first quarter.

“It was fun to watch Chase today. He flew around. We kept him a nickel the whole game. He’s kind of our Energizer Bunny. He was on practice squad all last year doing it, helping on offense and defense. He’s had a hell of a camp and thought he did a hell of a job today.”

Why didn’t CB Upton Stout play?

“His calf was tight. We were cautious with him.”

Did you get any update on DL Mykel Williams?

“Yeah, he hyperextended his knee. That will probably be a week or so.”

 What about S Richie Grant? Why didn’t he play?

“Some issues with his knee. He’ll probably be about a week or so too.”

 I know you want to go and watch film, but what are your early thoughts of QB Mac Jones?

“I thought Mac seemed like he performed well. I liked how he came out. It was a challenge, especially going against that defense. Had a bunch of guys out there too. I loved the first drive. The next one I think we went three-and-out, but I was happy with Mac today.”

You played the two rookie defensive tackles a lot in the first half. I know you have to look at the film, but what did you think from them initially?

“I felt pretty good with the defense in the first half. I thought we made a few mental mistakes, kept a couple drives going. I didn’t feel a lot out there, you know, with the pass rush and stuff, but I’ve got to get to the tape to really know for sure.”

Four turnovers. I know these are backups, but were you frustrated the offense didn’t seem to move the ball very much?

“Yeah, it was frustrating. I liked how we started out, but after that there wasn’t much to be excited about. We didn’t get many first downs. Four turnovers, the three picks, the fumble. I felt when we did make a play, whether the quarterback did, then the receiver was off. I felt we made too many mistakes and it was a frustrating two-and-a-half quarters.”

You never return punts live in practice or in a scrimmage with the Broncos. How much weight does WR Junior Bergen’s 28-yard punt return carry? It looked like it was special teams, there was blocking on it too.

“He made a good cut and there was a guy down there and he made that guy miss and broke their contain. I thought it was a hell of a play. Those are his opportunities. Wish he got more in the game, but that was a hell of a play by him.”

Denver Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto had a series that he completely ruined. How do you feel about your backups at offensive tackle right now?

“I mean, he did ruin that whole series. One was on our tight end going across the formation. He just played pass all the way, so that wasn’t on a tackle, but it was three plays in a row. The next two plays, we went on the quick count and were lined up wrong. So, he was able to jump to the snap. So, I thought that was a little tough for [OL Spencer Burford] Spence. Then on the third down, we had a bust by a player who was supposed to be outside presence on him. Spence was expecting a chip, so he was just sitting there inside out, and there was no guy there. Bonitto is a hell of a player. We knew that would be a challenge. But I thought those three plays in a row were a little unfair to Spence.”

What did you think of WR Jordan Watkins’ debut? I guess beyond the 50-yard catch?

“I thought he did some good things. I mean, especially that 50-yard catch. But he also had some plays where he struggled too. Getting that pick, he had a busted route on that, which that was a big one. So, making that big play on the first third down of the game in our third play is what allowed us to get that opening drive with a score. It was kind of a typical rookie game. There was some positive in it, but a lot of stuff that we can challenge him with when we watch the tape with him Monday.”

What have you seen from Marques Sigle and is that injury anything to be concerned about?

“I don’t think so. I don’t want to speak too soon, it looked more like just a knee bruise and stuff, but we’ll have to see. I thought he was one of the guys who flashed a lot tonight. He got a little bit late start on being injured in the offseason. I think it was a few days into camp where he really got going. But he’s had a hell of a week here and finished it off good today.”

DL Sebastian Valdez, the undrafted rookie defensive tackle, did he flash?

“Yeah, I’d say he flashed the most today. Just noticed him out there.”

Was it a bit of a surprise or did you guys think when he came in that there was something there?

“He’s been flashing a lot in practice. He’s been a problem in one-on-ones, and it looked like he played the run well today. When our O-Line coach talks about him in practice, that means he’s doing some stuff, and it was good to see it carry over to the game today.”

Where’d he come from? I mean, was there somebody in the draft process that you remember banging the table and talking about Valdez? Because he has been impressive. 

“I don’t remember exactly. We ended up recruiting those guys hard after the Draft, but I know he was the guy that we targeted.”

DL Kalia Davis seemed to make some plays. Has he taken another step this offseason? 

“Yeah, I think he has. I think Kalia, one, I thought he had a really good offseason last year and was having a good training camp and then got hurt at Tennessee pretty bad and it set him back a ways. But I think this offseason has been very similar. I think he’s had a real good training camp and I thought he had a good first half there too.”

With New England Patriots QB Joshua Dobbs and Tennessee Titans QB Brandon Allen competing last year and you didn’t really seem to know who you were going to pick until it came up to it. Do you feel more secure with Mac, a guy who’s got one style as opposed to two guys that have different styles, and you head into the season knowing what you’ve got?

“Yeah, I mean we’ll keep going through it, but I mean, I feel fortunate to have Mac. I think Mac’s a good quarterback. I think he’s done some really good things in this League. He’s had a hell of a camp with us, and I think he did a real good job today. It’s always hard when you’re having the two and the three compete, they’ve got to split those reps and that’s what we’ve been through here the last year. But we kind of have much more of an idea now who our one is, obviously, who our two is and we have our three and four competing now.”

Are you healthy enough for sure to have the joint practice?

“Yeah, we are, but I mean it’s definitely getting hard. We had 19 guys that didn’t dress today because of injuries and that’s not counting the PUP guys and things like that, or there’s about probably seven healthy guys that I sat. Hopefully we can get a bunch of guys back for Monday. I mean, it’s real important that we get two good practices in Monday and Tuesday. So hopefully we’re in a better spot Thursday when we go against the Raiders.”

On that first interception, was that, was there some sort of miscommunication with Watkins or was it just? 

“Yeah, he just got confused on the route.”

Do you still expect CB Renardo Green and WR Jacob Cowing back next week?

“I hope so. It depends on how their workout goes tomorrow. We were hoping, we were planning on getting them back this week. Hope it’s sooner than later because I don’t want their first practice to be against another team, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Was the plan for Mac to just play those three drives or were you kind of just letting him play it out? 

“Our plan was 10 to 15 plays with him. He got eight on the first drive and three on the second, I don’t know what he got on the third. So, I think he finished right around 16 plays.”

What did you see from LB Nick Martin tonight?

“He ran around, got a lot of playing time. He had a couple misses, especially on a big third down on a shallow cross across the field, just got his eyes a little too nosy with the back. But, I like how Nick’s been going. But, I think there’s a lot of tape that he can get better from watching this today.”

I know I already asked you about WR Jauan Jennings and is this possibly related to business. You said ask Jauan. I don’t think we’ve had the chance and I don’t know if we will today. Has he told you that there’s anything to do with business with him not practicing?

“No, not at all. And this actually is why Jauan missed OTAs, because of his calf. It’s the same injury he had last year during training camp, which made him miss a couple weeks during training camp last year. We didn’t get him until the end of training camp last year and it’s the same thing on the MRI and same thing he is going through, but hopefully we’ll get him back sooner than later.”

San Francisco 49ers QB Mac Jones

On the missed play with you and WR Jordan Watkins, was that due to chemistry with you and the receiver or the wrong route?

“I’ll have to watch it, but I know what I saw on the field was just the safety kind of went to the right. So, I had the one-on-one and me and him are, he’s a rookie, right? So, we’re working on our timing and everything. I thought he played well overall and made a great play on that down the field throw early in the game to kind of set the tempo of the game. But he’s doing a good job in practice. I feel like we’re connecting a lot in practice and we’ll just continue to grow. It was his first NFL game and I thought he did a good job.”

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he pretty much knows who the one is and who the two is but threes and fours are still questioning. How did you feel about being out there today? How did it feel to be out there? How’d you feel like you played?

“It felt pretty good just to get back playing football. I was talking to some of the guys, it’s just been a minute since everyone’s played football, a real game. And for me, I’m on a new team again and you just get more comfortable as time goes along. Definitely started off fast against their one defense, which is good. I felt like the guys answered the question there and we just have to, really me, have to just play better in those other two drives. And the good news is we get hopefully another chance next week to go out there and do it.”

It takes some quarterbacks a year to get real comfortable in the system, but you seem pretty comfortable. What would you attribute that to?

“Yeah, I think just focusing on my footwork and my reads and really just doing what I’m being coached to do and try to apply that. I’ve done a good job in practice and did a decent job tonight, but really just want to keep improving my footwork and my reads and my throws. And that’s going to take time no matter what offense you’re in. But we’ve been working hard at it and I’ve got a lot of room to grow. So, I’m looking forward to the challenge of getting better each day.”

The first time we talked to you, you talked about how different this was going to be in terms of the system and that you were looking forward to that. As it’s gone along, has it been more of a revelation every day like, ‘wow, this is a great system for me?’

“Yeah, I think every day you learn something new in the system and obviously you get the chance to go out there and play in the game and kind of just feel things out. It’s my first time taking real snaps in this offense. So, I’m looking forward to the growth that all of us will be able to do and definitely want to play better and put more points out there. And that’s all you can do is kind of just take it day-by-day and see how you can do better.”

What’s your process like? When will you watch this film again? Do you watch it with your teammates, with your coaches? Do you like to watch it alone?

“I definitely will peak it and put it to bed, but also learn from it and watch it with everybody, really, the coaches. If I see something that was wrong or whatever and I want to talk to somebody about it, receivers or whatever, then I’ll tell them whether that’s tomorrow or whenever. And that’s your job as the quarterback. You want them to do the same, like, ‘Hey, what were you seeing on this play? I was open’ or whatever. So, it’s all about open communication. Then obviously in the NFL, moving on quickly. We get a chance to have a joint practice again and obviously have a couple practices next week us against us and that’s where you can kind of make the adjustments and do better the next week.”

Do you talk to QB Brock Purdy in between series at all or is that just all with the quarterback coach and the coordinator?

“Yeah, I talked to Brock. Yeah, he was good. He was chewing on some sunflower seeds [laughter]. So, he was enjoying the game. He did a good job just before the game giving us our space and also just encouraging everybody and just being Brock, that’s just kind of a laid-back guy. That’s probably interesting for him to see other guys playing. And at the end of the day, I’m trying to learn from him every day. We talked about the interception and things like that and what I can do better out there. So, it’s a group effort.”

San Francisco 49ers DL Kalia Davis

How do you feel like training camp is going for you and carrying into this game?

“I feel like I’m having a good training camp. I’m still here, healthy, so that’s a big thing. I feel like there’s still some things I can get better at. I’m going to watch the film today and be hard on myself and get better.”

Head Coach Kyle Shanahan said you took a step in the offseason last year and then again this season you’ve had some flashes in training camp. How did it feel to be out there today? What did you do in the offseason to take that step?

“I think the biggest thing for me was the experience I got last year. I played the most I have in the games last year. So just being in the games and getting that experience really helped me a lot. So I took the experience and I knew what I had to get better with this off season and I worked on it, that’s pretty much it.”

What was that experience like for you last year? Kyle just talked about that Tennessee game, in the preseason, where you were having such a good game and then that injury derailed you for a while. How did you get through that and what was that like going through that?

“It was unfortunate, but everything happens for a reason. I just feel like when you’re going into a season with an injury it’s going to take a few weeks to get back. Camp really hardens you, so you’re going to lose that hardness that you get from camp. It just took me a few weeks to get back to myself last year and I’m just happy that I can be out there competing this year with the guys.”

When you watch yourself on film where do you think the biggest improvement you’ve made is?

“I feel like just being out there, to be honest. Just being out there with the guys and competing and working on my explosiveness when I’m tired. I don’t know what, how many weeks we’re into camp, but my legs are dead. So just working on recovery and stuff like that.” 

 

San Francisco 49ers CB Chase Lucas

How do you feel like you played today?

“I been telling everybody in this building, once I get an opportunity, I’m going to run with it. I feel like [Defensive Coordinator Robert] Saleh gave me that opportunity and I just feel like I just took advantage of it. I felt great out there though. Like I was telling the other reporter, I felt like it was college again. Like I was out there playing like a kid. I had a lot of fun tonight.”

Head Coach Kyle Shanahan specifically called you the Energizer bunny. Do you think that you have earned that nickname?

“I don’t think I’ve earned that yet because I know Kyle hears me talk, but at the end of the day, I am just being me. At the end of the day, if I have to get my teammates riled up, I’m going to do it. That’s just naturally who I am as a person. So if I have to take that nickname, I’ll take it.” 

After this game, what’s something you’re looking forward to for the next few games going on?

“Just continue the success, I don’t even call it a success because we lost. I will just say just fix the little things. I feel like it was a decent game, but there were some things I still need to fix, so just have to keep getting better.” 

What were the little things you think that you just spoke about?

“Really that fourth down, that fourth-and-five we were playing man coverage and he ran a slant on me and got the fourth down. It was a good ball, good catch, and he beat me opposite of my leverage. At the end of the day, I feel like I’m good enough to make those plays. So I think those are just the little things I need to start correcting a little bit more.”

 

49ers DL C.J. West

I saw you split a double team early against the run successfully. Is it different from college or is there a higher level of intricacy from the linemen at this level?

“For sure. At this level, offensive linemen are smarter, they’re faster, and they know different ways to bend the rules just a little to give themselves an advantage. On that play specifically, it was just me sticking to my technique, playing as hard as I possibly could, and understanding that as a rookie, you’re going to get humbled. Today was definitely humbling, going up against the starting offensive line and this other team. There’s a lot to learn in order to get better.”

Is it strange to play in a game where it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose?

“Honestly, I didn’t even think about that. Even though it’s the preseason, this matters to me. Every single snap matters because I want to prove that I can do this, and that I can be there for my teammates. So everything mattered to me. I wasn’t thinking about whether we won or lost or if it counted toward our record.”

What was your biggest takeaway tonight?

“Consistency, for sure. I have to be consistent in how violent I am with my strike. I need to keep working on that, watch the film, and see where I went wrong and what I did well. I’ll carry that into the next game and into our next practice against the Raiders.”

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

Preseason

• Saturday, August 16th – @ Las Vegas Raiders – 1:00 PM PT
• Saturday, August 23rd – vs. Los Angeles Chargers – 5:30 PM PT

Regular Season

• Sunday, September 7th – @ Seattle Seahawks – 1:05 PM PT  *Season opener*
• Sunday, September 14th – @ New Orleans Saints – 10:00 AM PT
• Sunday, September 21st – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:25 PM PT
• Sunday, September 28th – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – 1:05 PM PT
• Thursday, October 2nd – @ Los Angeles Rams – 5:15 PM PT

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