Yeah

... uh, and Mike McDaniel.

Um, I listened in on McDaniel's press conference this week, and I thought he handled it like a pro.

He sounded honest and authentic in, in his approach to, to trying to fix things.

And I like the fact that he's not panicking.

Like, he understands that this is a week-to-week league.

It's 0-3, but they can, they could turn things around, but they have to kind of get that first victory first.

Yep

With everything that happened in Australia to the Myles Garrett injury, you know, is it too early to panic? Or how do you feel about this team? Or do you think we overrated them way too much? Like, what's your sense after one week?

Well, the Niners ran for 175 yards.

They still can't really stop the run consistently.

That's always been kind of an issue with this team if you go back and look at this defense.

Because of the way they play this defense, they want to play with five, six defensive backs.

It's one of the reasons they went and got Puna Ford last year was to kind of help improve their run defense.

um so i do feel like um although they have a lot of talent up front obviously adding uh you know somebody the caliber of aaron donald is gonna um it's gonna it's gonna make your defense better um but i just feel like schematically they have to put their money players like Trent McDuffie and Jalen Watson in more positions where they can make plays.

Where is this team for you as you've talked about it a little bit? But just let us know in terms of, you know, going back to that, the whole situation and some of the decisions they've made this offseason and now, you know, into game one.

With everything that happened in Australia to the Miles Garrett injury, you know, is it too early to panic? Or how do you feel about this team? Or do you think we overrated them way too much? Like, what's your sense after one week?

Well, the Niners ran for 175 yards.

They still can't really stop the run consistently.

That's always been kind of an issue with this team if you go back and look at this defense.

Because of the way they play this defense, they want to play with five, six defensive backs.

It's one of the reasons they went and got Puna Ford last year was to kind of help improve their run defense.

So I do feel like although they have a lot of talent up front, obviously adding somebody the caliber of Aaron Donald is going to make your defense better.

Where is this team for you as you've talked about it a little bit? But just let us know in terms of, you know, going back to that, the whole situation and some of the decisions they've made this offseason and now, you know, into game one.

So diving into what culture means then, when there's no crisis forcing people to concentrate or no game day adrenaline lifting the intensity, what does elite look like during an ordinary midweek practice?

Yeah, I think for me, that was one of the strengths of Pete Carroll.

And one of the things I was impressed about him was his ability to get focus from players day in and day out, not just on game day.

And because of their consistent way that they practiced, the games were easy for them.

the first year I was there, Carol and the GM, John Snyder made nearly 300 roster transactions.

And so when you see that many guys are spinning through the organization, I think it grabs players attention and, um, they have more focus in terms of what they're going to do day to day.

So that was one of the things that I think that both Schneider and Carroll did successfully.

How does an elite organization distinguish a bad outcome from a bad process and when they make that change in direction?

Yep

... you know, s- look at the rosters, a lot of number threes where you're like, "Wow, that, that guy's played a lot of games," might make more sense for a team.

Um, and the other thing I would say is, you know, you mentioned, like, "Well, Stafford is hurt.

Like, they're done." I think it depends on the severity of the injury.

Like, if it's, like, a, a hamstring or something and he's only gonna be out a couple games, then you're talking about, like, that's the difference between either making the playoffs or not making the playoffs or having a higher seed and having a home game versus having to go on the road like the, the Rams had to do last year.

If you're able to have a guy that's competent that could come in, um, and, and win you, you know, half of those games.

Uh, you know, when I covered the Seahawks and Mike Holmgren was there, he always liked to have a backup quarterback that could move a little bit because he always felt like if the backup quarterback's in there, it's because we're injured, the O line's not very good, so I need somebody that can kinda move around a little bit and scramble because he's probably gonna be under siege, you know, because of injuries if, if, um, you know, my backup's in there.

So, like, to me, like, what do you focus on to, like, how are they gonna make the numbers crunch?

Yep

... you know, s- look at the rosters, a lot of number threes where you're like, "Wow, that, that guy's played a lot of games," might make more sense for a team.

Um, and the other thing I would say is, you know, you mentioned like, well, Stafford is hurt, like they're done.

I think it depends on the severity of the injury.

Like, if it's like a, a hamstring or something and he's only gonna be out a couple games, then you're talking about, like, that's the difference between either making the playoffs or not making the playoffs or having a higher seed and having a home game versus having to go on the road like the, the Rams had to do last year.

If you're able to have a guy that's competent that could come in, um, and, and win you, you know, half of those games.

Uh, you know, when I covered the Seahawks and Mike Holmgren was there, he always liked to have a backup quarterback that could move a little bit because he always felt like if the backup quarterback's in there it's because we're injured, the O line's not very good, so I need somebody that can kind of move around a little bit and scramble because he's probably gonna be under siege, you know, because of injuries if, if, um, you know, my backup's in there.

So like, to me, like what are you focused on to like, how are they gonna make the numbers crunch?

But, uh, just your impressions of Chargers, 49ers camp to start off, Eric.

Well, I mean, let's talk about the injury first.

I mean, this was their big free agent signing, uh, to get an anchor up front, an experienced center to go with Herbert and help him setting protections, and just kind of serving as, um, another set of eyes and ears, uh, along that offensive line.

And, um, looks like he might be losing that for a significant amount of time.

So, um, it's a big blow for this offensive line.

Similar to, you know, losing, um, Rashawn Slater last year in training camp.

You lost that person for the year.

[laughs]