Did you get the sense as you guys were installing the offense this summer that there was an emphasis on bringing back the running game or making it as productive as previous years, maybe after taking a step back last year from a productivity standpoint?

Yeah, I mean, having Joe Graves come in and, you know, this offseason, I feel like we've had some meetings and stuff where it's like, hey, you know, this is who we are.

This is the Niner standard of how we run the ball and how important it is, you know, opens up our play pass and then drop back passes and all the things like it all ties together for our offense.

And so for us, running the ball here is huge.

And so Joe Graves has done a good job coming in and sort of, you know, re reestablishing like hey this is who we are and having meetings and watching the the o-line be intentional throughout camp and stuff by you know getting up to the second level and running hard and having the backs hit the right gaps and taking it one gap at a time like these are all things that you know i've heard since i've been a rookie here but um just harping back on it like we need this to get going you know for us to have success and i thought we had we showed that um you know in la running the ball really well and those help get drives going and help sustain drives.

And in the pass game, it opens up and stuff when teams load the box and things like that.

So that's who we are, and we've got to keep it up, you know, every single week throughout

anyway, was that, I don't know, I think you'd already thrown a touchdown pass, so you were kind of, you know, in the game, but did a play like that give you any more confidence or, you know, that like you belonged or you could handle, you know, obviously that was Flores bringing all sorts of heat.

How did it feel being in front of 100,000 and 21 fans out there?

Yeah, it was awesome.

I thought the energy that the Australians have out here, man, was really cool.

They're passionate about sports, and I know we've heard that from a lot of people, but being out there, looking around, I was like, this is pretty cool, man.

It's pretty special, and they were into it the whole time, and they had their different chants and stuff with songs, and they had fun with it.

So for us to be able to come here to an amazing country, an amazing spot, obviously win, But then to be able to enjoy Melbourne and the week that we were here with all the people, it was a great experience overall.

So shout out, Melbourne and Australia.

Makes sense.

Like at what point or what's that process like for you from the end of one season to basically the beginning of the next? What do you try to accomplish off the field to put yourself in a better position heading into the next year?

Yeah, it's funny.

I think when I was young, the first couple of years in the NFL, it was like, all right, I need to get to work.

I need to chip, chip, chip away on all these things and be a better version of myself right now.

And the last couple of years, what I've sort of learned is like, I'll get there.

And you have to like go back to the basics and break things down on the film.

where was I good this year and where do I need to get better and grow and slowly like make those steps in the early off season, going into OTAs, going back to my fundamentals and my base, my throwing mechanics, throwing on time.

So how do you balance that?

For you, what are you taking away from preseason games and kind of what is the emphasis, you know, for you going into these?

Yeah, I feel like it's obviously just getting ready for a game, the emotions, uh, you know, studying up a little bit on their defense and trying to have answers, uh, when you get out there, and then really just, you know, going through your reads and trying to convert on third downs when you feel the pressure of the game.

It's a little bit different than practice.

And so, um, it felt good out there yesterday to be able to go out and do that.

Um, obviously it's like you, you s- you get competitive and you want a couple more drives and all that, but trying to be smart just for obviously what matters in the regular season.

But, um, yeah, man, preseason's been good, and the camp practices, the inter squad scrimmages, like, it's all, it's all great, but it's all just leading us up to, you know, what really matters, and that's week one and, and moving forward.

Does it feel like that, and what do you think about this current roster with where you guys are?

Yeah, man, we're excited obviously just with who we have, um, the new faces, the new guys, uh, Raheem Morris, our D coordinator.

Is that, like, something that you went into camp, "I wanna cut down on interceptions," or whatever happens, happens?

Um, I mean, my mindset is go in and try to execute every play.

Obviously, you don't wanna turn the ball over, but, um, 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.

Uh, down there in the red zone, um, I don't know if I'm gonna throw that ball in the game, but I wanted to try, you know, putting a tight ball onto Luke, and it 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.

I know you haven't been able to see their practice, but what have they shown you throughout the practices with them?

How would you just assess this camp for you, not only in terms of performance, but in the way that you've maybe had to, you know, take on a little bit more in terms of leadership or whatever, however you view it?

Yeah.

Um, you know, obviously with Kyle being out and stuff, like he ...

You, you could feel Kyle, um, out there as a coach, um, when practice is slow and guys aren't on top of things.

Like he's a, he's a voice and a presence.

Obviously, he's the head ball coach, but, um, you know, he will bring us together sometimes and be like, "Dude, we need, these next two periods ne- we need to be on it.

We need to bring it." Um, and so I think when he's been gone and stuff, I've had a couple opportunities just to be able to, I guess, use my voice and just my actions with, with the guys on offense and, um, just being able to pick guys up and, and, um, and al- also hold some guys accountable with things at the right time.

How, how has he been, you know, early on and, and how has that progressed for you two?

... what did that mean to you, have Mike, NBA champion coach Mike Brown b- breaking it down?

Yeah, it was cool.

Um, you know, Kyle sort of gave him, like, a, a little lead off on, "You know, we got a special guest here, and, uh, like, a great background with sports and championships," and then all of a sudden he walked in the huddle.

I didn't even see him, and I was like, "Whoa, this is cool." So, um, but to have him sort of just explain to us, you know, what he's seen, uh, with the similarities in all the other championships, um, that he's won and all the different teams and over the years from, you know, the early '03 Spurs 'til, you know, the last one that he just won, um, you know, I think it was cool to hear him talk about, you know, what it takes as a team and the sacrifice, the similarities, the connectivity you have to have as a team, the belief.

Um, but it's cool 'cause it wasn't just with one group or squad of guys, it was over the course of, you know, 20-something years, um, with different guys, you know.

Um, and so I think for me, just hearing that, I was like, all right, you know, we get different guys in and out every year, we get new teams, but, um, the bottom line is, is what he said is true, is, like, how can we find a way to connect with one another, um, have the same belief, the sacrifice, the way we work.

You know, it doesn't matter who gets paid what.

Y- you know, we see more and more Kyle, but if Kyle isn't 100% there, which he clearly hasn't been for the few sta- first few days, have you seen that? Have you felt the need to do that?

When the text came in from Kyle, just what was your instant fear and reaction? And then kind of as a leader and captain on this team, how do you weigh whether who you share that information with?

Yeah, I got the text from Mandy Shanahan first.

And yeah, when I first read it, I was like, I don't know, like is this real kind of thing? And then sort of sunk in.

I called George and I was like, hey, is this? And he goes, yeah, it sounds about right.

So, you know, it hurt really bad just reading that text.

I'm like, first off, like, is he okay? What's going to, what's next? Like, is he, how is he and all that? And then so I reached out to him and then he hit me back up.

So once he texted me back and stuff, I was like, all right, he's good.

If you guys do get down to week one and have to go out there without Shanahan because they don't want to rush him back given his concussion, how seamless do you think that would be?

Um, tell us how you process it, and more importantly, like what you guys do going forward to, to make the most out of practices until Kyle comes all the way back and, and, and your words to Kyle perhaps.

Yeah.

Um, you know, they, he, he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot, so obviously he and I texted back and forth and praying for him and everything for his healing and everything.

And, and this whole organization and our team, uh, we all got his back.

We, we love Coach and know he's gonna be just fine, and, um, it's encouraging, you know, even seeing him yesterday at practice, you know, out in the back with John Lynch and stuff.

Um, so knowing that he's, he's watching, he's around, and, uh, I'm sure we'll, we'll see him soon.

But, um, you know, it, it does suck when we heard the news and stuff, like we really couldn't believe it.

How do you balance sort of how, how much you guys showed last year versus how it ended and these NFC West rivals that you have to slay? What's the mindset?

Um, tell us how you process it, and more importantly, like what you guys do going forward to, to make the most out of practices until Kyle comes all the way back and, and, and your words to Kyle perhaps.

Yeah.

Um, you know, they, he, he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot, so obviously he and I texted back and forth, and praying for him and everything for his healing and everything.

And, and this whole organization and our team, uh, we all got his back.

We, we love Coach and, and know he's gonna be just fine, and, um, it's encouraging, you know, even seeing him yesterday at practice, you know, out in the back with John Lynch and stuff, um, so knowing that he's, he's watching and he's around.

And, uh, I'm sure we'll, we'll see him soon.

But, um, you know, it, it does suck when we heard the news and stuff, like we really couldn't believe it.

How do you balance sort of how, how much you guys showed last year versus how it ended and these NFC West rivals that you have to play? What's the mindset?

Sure.

Yeah, you know, he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot.

So, obviously, he and I texted back and forth and praying for him and everything for his healing and everything.

And this whole organization and our team, we all got his back.

We love Coach and know he's going to be just fine.

It's encouraging, you know, even seeing him yesterday at practice, you know, out in the back with John Lynch and stuff.

So knowing that he's watching, he's around, and I'm sure we'll all see him soon.

How do you balance sort of how much you guys showed last year versus how it ended and these NFC West rivals that you have to slay? What's the mindset?

Tell us how you process it and more important, like what you guys do going forward to make the most out of practices until Kyle comes all the way back and your words to Kyle perhaps.

Yeah, you know, he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot, so obviously he and I texted back and forth and praying for him and everything for his healing and everything, and this whole organization and our team, we all got his back.

We love Coach and know he's going to be just fine, and um it's encouraging you know even seeing him yesterday at practice you know out in the back with john lynch and stuff um so knowing that he's he's watching he's around and uh i'm sure we'll we'll see him soon but um you know it does suck when we heard the news and stuff like we really couldn't believe it and um but knowing that he's he's alive he's good and and we're all here for him and the cool thing is him and john have done such a good job with setting up a culture where the assistant coaches, the coordinators, the right guys in terms of player personnel.

We all have been able to have a system where we just keep going in terms of we can run practice, we can go through our meetings and still be a culture and a team where we keep it going for him.

And obviously when he gets back, we're going to be even better with him as our leader and everything.

So, yeah, that's where we're at.

1-800-GAMBLER.

Yeah, you know, he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot.

Um, tell us how you process it, and more important, like, what you guys do going forward to, to make the most out of practices until Kyle comes all the way back and, and, and your words to Kyle perhaps.

Yeah.

Um, you know, they, he sh- he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot, so obviously he and I texted back and forth, and praying for him and everything for his healing and everything.

And, and this whole organization, our team, uh, we all got his back.

We, we love Coach and, and know he's gonna be just fine.

And, um, it's encouraging, you know, even seeing him yesterday at practice, you know, out in the back with John Lynch and stuff, um, so knowing that he's, he's watching, he's around.

And, uh, I'm sure we'll, we'll see him soon.

1-800-GAMBLER.

Tell us how you process it and more important, like what you guys do going forward to make the most out of practices until Kyle comes all the way back and your words to Kyle, perhaps.

Yeah, you know, he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot.

So obviously he and I texted back and forth and praying for him and everything for his healing and everything.

And this whole organization and our team, we all got his back.

We love coach and know he's going to be just fine.

um it's encouraging you know even seeing him yesterday at practice you know out in the back with john lynch and stuff um so knowing that he's he's watching he's around and uh i'm sure we'll we'll see him soon but um you know it does suck when we heard the news and stuff like we really couldn't believe it and um but knowing that he's he's alive he's good and and we're all here for him and the cool thing is him and john have done such a good job with setting up a culture where the assistant coaches, the coordinators, the right guys in terms of player personnel.

We all have been able to have a system where we just keep going in terms of we can run practice, we can go through our meetings and still be a culture and a team where we keep it going for him.

How do you balance sort of how much you guys showed last year versus how it ended and these NFC West rivals that you have to slay? What's the mindset?

Um, tell us how you process it, and w- more important, like, what you guys do going forward to, to make the most out of practices until Kyle comes all the way back, and, and, and your words to Kyle, perhaps.

Yeah.

Um, you know, they, he sh- he had shot me a text and told me, you know, what had happened and whatnot.

So obviously he and I texted back and forth, and praying for him and everything, for his healing and everything.

And, and this whole organization and our team, uh, we all got his back.

We, we love Coach and, and know he's gonna be just fine.

And, um, it's encouraging, you know, even seeing him yesterday at practice, you know, out in the back with John Lynch and stuff.

How do you balance sort of how, how much you guys showed last year versus how it ended and these NFC West rivals that you have to slay? What's the mindset?

How has it been so far?

It's been fun.

Just seeing all the guys and even the, you know, the present, uh, tight ends, yes, but also, like, the legends, you know, that have built up, um, what it means to be a tight end.

For them to all be out here and still running routes, being a part of it.

Um, so just being a quarterback, being able to come and throw to them, it's an honor.

What did you learn from him?

Man, I think, um, just how efficient, you know, he was a quarterback.

You know, if the defense didn't give, you know, what we were trying to, trying to take and attack, Mac did a good job of getting through his progressions and getting the ball out of his hands and staying on the field and, um, you know, not trying to make, like, a bad play worse.

With that, uh, what is the carryover from season to season? I know you obviously get new players and you lose players, and is there a carryover from a past season to a current season? How have you seen that transpire throughout your time in the NFL?

Yeah, I think, I mean, you lose guys, you add guys, all, all that.

That, it's, you have a new team every year.

You do, but, um, obviously the way organizations build up culture and the base root guys that, you know, have been there, obviously Kittle, Fred, Bosa, Christian, Juice, myself, like we have these guys that, you know, still maintain that standard.

So whoever does come in that's new, we teach them and show them the standard and, and then they, they get along with us and, and then we go and, and find a way.

So, um, I mean, that's a credit to top down and to the guys that you guys just saw up here on the stage.

Like, those guys that have laid the foundation th- for what it means to be a 49er f- going back to the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s in, in the success.

[laughs]

Is that an accurate depiction? Like, why do you think whenever you came back in there, it was a different level? Sitting back, rehabbing injury help you? Like, why do you think you kind of hit your stride in the way that you did?

Yeah, I mean, you know, even before the season, like, I wanted to come in and play my best brand of ball.

You know, year four, I, I felt like, you know, pretty hungry to do that.

And, you know, we go into Seattle week one, and we win the game, and, and obviously, I deal with the toe thing.

It's like, come on.

But I don't know, man, maybe that was God's way of, you know, having me sit back and see, you know, the big picture with everything and, and see another quarterback, have Matt come in, and how he ran the system, and learn from him.

And, um, you know, and how Kyle calls plays, like I, I thought it was pretty good for me to sit back.

Was it understanding what's going on defensive side? A- and how quickly were you able to figure that out? And when- was there a moment where you're like, "Okay, I think I got a pretty good grasp on what defensive coordinators are gonna do to me?"

How has that change been?

Yeah, I mean, I think two different styles of coaches.

Obviously, Brian Griese played the position.

He played for 11 years, um, his dad, obviously a Hall of Fame quarterback.

So he's had this more of, "Hey, I played it, this is what I saw.

I can relate to you by, you know, the situational football." And, and I learned a lot, um, from his perspective and things.

And I think with Mick, he's been... he's just really smart, you know, Xs and Os, he keeps it black and white.

But somew- how in this psychotic mind, I always felt like I had something.

That said, what do you say to people who think you could have gotten more based on your situation, your leverage, your performance? What do you say to folks, "Coulda gotten more, Brock?" What do you say to that?

I mean, you know, there's, it's a business so there's a bunch of different things that, you know, can happen.

Um, for me, it's, you know, getting what I deserve, yes, but also, you know, we gotta put i- put together a team and guys around me and, you know, let's, let's win.

At the end of the day, man, let's win, um, and that's all I care about.

And, you know, to keep fighting for more, you know, millions of dollars and things like that, it's like I gotta keep it simple and I know what's most important in my life and that's my family.

Um, you know, if my faith and, and then obviously coming here and, and elevating everybody else's game and helping, helping us win.

And, um, you know, for me it (laughs) another however many millions of dollars, like that's not gonna satisfy me.

Do you agree, Brock?

Mm-hmm.

I wasn't playing at the time, so I...

I didn't really, you know, have an opportunity to talk to him.

But, um, when I have talked to him, uh, he's been nothing but great.

He's supported, you know, this team and how I've played and stuff.

And so just to be able to hear him, um, you know, sort of show some gratitude and stuff.

For me, it's like, dude, that is a legend.

You got something on him?

So, let's go back to, what, Gilbert, Arizona and you thinking back to probably the best recruiting story that you have from that time.

Man, um, (sighs) I think, you know, I got offer...

I got, um, a preferred walk on to Alabama, and then they ended up extending it as an offer, and so I took an official visit there.

And, um, you know, we walk in to have our meeting with Saban and, uh, you know, he has the button that he presses, the door opens and it closes, and then you walk in, you sit down, and- and he sort of just gave me like a run of, you know, what he thinks of me as a player and where I'd fit in with their- their program and stuff.

And- and so basically, it was just funny 'cause, I don't know, you walk in, you see his hat that he wears at practice up by his desk and everything, and- and then I'm like, man, dude, we're in Saban's office, he's got all of his rings opened up on the table, all the national championships, and then he just runs through a list of like how, like, you know, like who I am as a quarterback and my accuracy and all this kind of stuff.

I mean, you probably heard the stories of how he said I was sort of average in all those areas, but if you come here, you know, you could help us win a national championship.

And I'm like, "All right." (laughs) So, I didn't really know how I felt about the meeting, but, um, more than any other-

Did you not believe him? Like, did you not believe him when he said that to you?