New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton spoke on a conference call with Bay Area writers Tuesday afternoon.
Here’s what he said.
Q: How much of a contrast is there between these two teams? So much is made of your high-powered offense and this defense you’ll be facing.
PAYTON: “I think that San Francisco as has done a great job – not only defensively but as a team, of taking the football away and then protecting it on offense. I think that turnover statistic will be important in this game.”
Q: Have you practiced on grass this week?
PAYTON: “We were inside today with more of a lighter practice. We’ll be outside tomorrow. Thursday we’ll be outside, and then Friday we’ll have a practice at Candlestick – outside.”
Q: Why do you think there is a discrepancy in your offense’s production indoors versus outdoors?
PAYTON: “I think often times that can come with a dome team.”
Q: How have the 49ers evolved from the team you played in the preseason?
PAYTON: “In a lot of areas. We’ve seen now, over the period of a whole season, the progress of a quarterback and an offense. They’re playing with a lot of confidence. You see the big plays coming off of play action pass. Alex’s progress has been outstanding, and the confidence of his players around him you can see on film.
“Defensively, they’re real impressive. When you look at their ability to force a team to become one-dimensional – and that’s their ability, to stop the run, their first in the league in doing that – and then when you get into that third down and medium or long situation, here come the takeaways. They’ve led the league in takeaways this season, and they’ve led the league in giving it up the fewest amount. Put that with a real good kicking game and you have a team with the success like San Francisco’s had.”
Q: Do you think Frank Gore is a major threat as a running back after all these years and carries?
PAYTON: “Yeah, absolutely. We coached Frank in the ’06 Pro Bowl and he’s got that balance, that vision, he’s physical, he’s got real good elusiveness, and just having had a chance to coach him for a week you come away with impressions on players, and I know everyone on our staff came away from the ’06 Pro Bowl feeling like he was one of the top backs in our league, and better than that even, a great guy. Just to be around someone who enjoyed football, enjoyed competing.”
Q: Does playoff experience matter? There are so many guys in this 49ers locker room who haven’t been there before and you have a room full of guys who a lot of them have been to the playoffs.
PAYTON: “I don’t know that it does. Our game, it’s three hours long, so it’s going to be 12 to 14 series each, it’s going to be some plays in the kicking game. Last week the same question was asked before we played Detroit, and we’ve got a number of guys we’re playing without it. I don’t think it hurts, but it certainly doesn’t entitle you or guarantee anything.”
Q: How much did last year’s playoff loss in Seattle serve as motivation for this year’s squad?
PAYTON: “Well, when you finish the season with a tough loss I think that’s something you really remember forever. I think heading into last week’s game we talked about where we were a year ago at that date – after that wild card round, and how hard that was to have high expectations and to come away with just a loss in that first playoff game. So I think there’s certain things you learn from – you understand the finality of this time of the year, and you never take things for granted. And so all of us – players, coaches – will carry that tough loss with us, just as we will the wins we’ve had. You hope you’re getting something not only from the wins, but you hope you’re learning something from the losses.”
Q: Can you clarify what happened between you and Jim Harbaugh in that first preseason game – whether there was or wasn’t a phone call or a gentleman’s agreement, and if there’s any bad blood?
PAYTON: “There’s no bad blood. I had a chance to listen to Jim talk yesterday and the report was absolutely crazy. The thought that I would be waiting for a certain phone call – I just answered that same question with our media. We end up – if you watch our preseason games every offseason – every year you see us in one or two of those games, trying to blitz a lot, to get our packages in. But the idea he was offended he didn’t call is nuts, and the idea that we’re sitting here talking about it because some reporter reported it like it was fact is completely crazy.”
Q: So you didn’t ask Gregg Williams to bring on the blitz?
PAYTON: “No. I wish I was wearing a mic. I don’t think I’ve ever turned to him and said, ‘Let’s bring on the blitz now.’ I mean, just think about the idea of that. This mysterious phone call that we were expecting is crazy. If there ever was a time in the preseason, it’s usually the fourth game that you might make a decision in regards to what you may or may not do, but I know Jim – certainly know and worked with his brother. It was a bogus report and it’s crazy we’re talking about it.”
Q: What do you make of what Harbaugh has been able to do out here in just a few months, when most college coaches have not been able to do that?
PAYTON: “In fairness to pro coaches, college coaches – I think real good coaches that come in and have success in our league can come from both levels. To Jim’s credit, he’s found that niche and that enthusiasm with his players and the turnaround has been amazing. He and his staff have done a great job – the development of a number of players starting with Alex Smith, the way the defense is playing, it’s been very impressive. And the thing about it, every week we go back and watch NFL Network and we watch clips and highlights of all the teams that we play and see – they look like they’re having a ton of fun as well. I think that’s important in our game, to not lose track of the emotion of what we do, an enjoyment of what we do, and certainly when you win it’s a lot more fun, but it’s been real impressive. The turnaround in such a short period of time has been amazing.”
Q: Jonathan Goodwin came over from your team to the Niners and has been a key offensive lineman. Can you talk about him?
PAYTON: “We had a number of good years with Jonathan. He was a huge contributor for us. He’s a great individual. He’s extremely smart. And one of the things I would say about him is he was as consistent and steady a performer and a practice player and a game day player. You just knew what you were getting. He’d fight through injury, and he gave you that performance on a daily basis. We were fortunate enough to sign him from the Jets, and I think San Francisco is enjoying the same things that we had in him during our Super Bowl season, leading up to that season and then even the year after. He’s one of the special guys in our league.”
Q: How has Aubrayo Franklin transitioned to your team from this 3-4 scheme here?
PAYTON: “He’s done well. Our packages are a little bit different form the true 3-4 defense. He’s a great teammate, and what difficult sometimes – both with him and Shaun Rogers – there are certain weeks where their involvement may be a little less or a little more based on the opponent we’re playing, and how much we’re seeing the spread sets as opposed to the conventional sets. I think that he’s been very consistent, he’s remained healthy and this will be a game where we see a lot of Aubrayo and Shaun, based on a lot of the sets that we’ve seen from San Francisco.”
Q: Did you know exactly what you were getting with Darren Sproles? Has he exceeded some of your expectations?
PAYTON: “I think there was a certain element we felt comfortable with, but there are some areas that he’s really impressed us with. No. 1 I think he’s an exceptional learner. In a short offseason, really no offseason, he’s come in a picked things up very quickly. No. 2 he’s been a better runner for us between the tackles than maybe we would have anticipated. But his decisions during the game as a receiver or as a back have been outstanding, he’s a great teammate and he’s really given us a spark not only in the nickel but certainly in base situations.”
Q: How much do you take from last season’s game against the Niners?
PAYTON: “I think they’ve changed enough. It was a team a year ago that had a very, very good defensive front, they were very hard to run the ball against and so there’s some carryover. But I think it’s a much more complete team right now.”
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Good, measured answers by Payton. Smart guy. If I were him, I’d stay a little away from the sidelines. As Roman would point out, Niners are known for “violence at the boundary” :)
Niners are ready for the Saints. The only thing I fear is going into the game wound too tight. That used to be Sing’s specialty. Harbaugh and his staff should be able to take care of the mental side of the game. This is the biggest game in the careers of many players on whom the team has to lean on to win.
Niners need to go in loose yet hungry, focused yet relaxed, and most of all, have fun on defense beating up on these ballerinas. The defense need to disrupt and cause mayhem. I’m sure they will. Bowman will smother Sproles. Willis will blanket Graham. Culliver will push Colston around. Rogers will get his hands into the passing lanes. Goldson will tattoo any receiver who dares to catch a ball.
I don’t have much faith in Culliver. He gives up the big play too easy. I look for the Saints to exploit him.
The coaches have done a great job with the niners this year. One area I think they dropped the ball was giving up on Spencer. I think the existing coaches should have stepped up and talked about how well Spencer has played big receivers in the past. He’s played really well against Boldin and Fitzgerald in the past. He would have been better for us than going in with a rookie like Culliver.
I’m thinking Payton doesn’t want the manly hand shake and the pat on the back. :P
Seriously though, it’s hard not to like or be impressed with Payton (the other 80s Bears QB.) The guy took on a real hard challenge going in to New Orleans after Katrina and the Superdome fiasco. Some people thought they’d never play there again. So kudos to him, he’s always been a scrapper from the “Spare Bears” to coaching the Saints.
15+ blitzes in the first pre season game sends a message. Deny all you want Mr. Payton, we are not buying it. Anyone else notice the handshake between Payton and Schwartz last week? Sean said something and Schwartz smiled, in fact, almost laughed! I wondered if he told Schwartz, “Check out my handshake with Harbaugh next week!” This guy is shady and aggressive. I’d love to see JH, GR and VF outwit Payton. Much like the Niners were ready for the Rams’ “all out trickery”, I am sure they will be ready for on-sides kicks, flea flickers, etc. GOOOOO NINERS!!!
I don’t believe him either. That was pure bush league in my opinion.
I still believe that had that non-tackling Detroit defense tackled the score would have been much closer. Now the Saints will face a 49er defense that is quick, pursues and more importantly wraps when they tackle. Don’t forget Aldon Smith has come on strong in the second half of the season, I foresee Brees getting pressure and having to get the ball out fast creating errors and the secondary having a great day.
The 49er offense will rise to the occasion.
I don’t believe in this nonsense about a high powered New Orleans offense or commentator analysis, the statistics of ESPN acuscore or expert picks favoring the Saints.
This is the playoffs and San Francisco rightfully earned their spot for home field advantage. It comes down to any giving day.
This is 49er football time, 9ers turn to prevail.
The other guys, well their turn is over, their time is up, enough talk, put it on the field.
I predict a 49er win!
In wrapping up his position that NO will beat us, Charles Davis of NFL Network offered proof that the Saints can win outside by saying that in the last 14, 15, 16 outdoor games the Saints have lost only 2 or 3.
The Saints are 8-6 in their last 14 outdoor games.
So much for expert analysis.
@doc
Yeah. That Detroit D seemed like they were being paid off. If there was a conspiracy this past week in the NFL games, it was that Detroit was paid off to not try to tackle or cover NO’s players. That was a disgrace.
Also keep in mind doc, that the Nienr offense has had to play against some pretty good defenses all year long. Everybody (experts) dismisses the Cards and Seahawks D because they got off to such a horrible start. But, both teams finished nearly 8-8 after hardly mustering a few wins between them in the first half of the season.
The Nines played all but 1 division game in the last half of the season. And they didn’t get to face the crappy D of Seattle and AZ. Instead they faced a D which was top 10 caliber (2nd half of season) for 3 games. They also played a team in St. Louis who was fighting their hearts out for their coach to not be fired, and their D was actually decent.
Add to that Pitt and Baltimore and you have a good 1/2 your season right there playing against good Defenses.
Looking more at the first half, we played against and beat on the road Cincinnati who had a decent defense as well as the Redskins defense on the road as well. The Giants don’t have a horrible D, neither does Dallas or even Cleveland.
That is 13/16 regular season games. The Philly D was supposed to be great, and in part due to what the Niners did to them, they weren’t. Niners exposed them.
So the Niners are pretty battle tested against great/good defenses this year. And have a 13-3 record after those battles.
thats right boys!!! we are going to the SUPER BOWL!!! We will go to the tundra @ greenbay or dominate the giants at home…we are going to win these games..we have the unselfishness to go very far and we proved we can win against these playoff teams..4-1 in games involving this years playoff teams..GO NINERS!!!
Look out everybody. Look at what the Lions did in the first half of the last game to the Aints. Add on how much JH and SP obvisouly do not like each other. This is going to be a fist fight, that NO can not handle. I did not know that SP was on the Bears also.
He was the QB of the “Spare Bears” – the strike team in ’87.
I cannot make myself believe Payton has the same ability as Harbaugh in instilling a required mind-set for this particular scenario. Plain language – Harbaugh will have our teams heads exactly where they need be to suceed and Payton won’t. Everything thing else being equal – home field, natural surface, superior defense and coaching acumen tilts the scales to San Fran. And can you spell d-e-s-t-i-n-y??!
The guy lead his team to a Super Bowl. You may not like him, but he has earned his respect. Personality wise, he and Harbaugh are very similiar-savage competitors.
Whose gonna have the last laugh Mr. Payton? Certainly not Mr. Schwartz. It’s gonna be the 49ers, thats who dat.
I get the strange impression that the ‘Aints are going to attempt to out-swagger the niners in the first quarter. I also think that the niners are going to shove it up their noses. I see this game being one of those 2nd-3rd quarter gems, and I say that Brees doesn’t finish the game….I like him, but I think he’s going to be wearing ‘Cowboy’s’ brand on the sidelines.
You 49er Fans are a joke ! A 9er victory aint happening ! You had a nice run,now let it go. It’s over and
two reasons why ! Alex Smith
seriously AS will not be the total reason….NO defense for last month have only been giving up 17-20 points except for the lions playoff game…. if niners score 24 and lose then it will be on the niner’s defense
@blove
Two reasons why the Niners are 13-3, and have a better seed than your team:
Alex Smith.
Truth hurts.
At least the 49er losses this season did not come lowly teams like the the 31st ranked St. Louis Rams or the 29th ranked Tampa Bay Bucs.
49ers lost to respectable teams like Baltimore with their 3rd ranked defense after a short travel week. The Dallas team while the coaching staff was still implementing strategies on both sides of the ball after a short preseason due to the lock-out and If I am correct that was an over time loss.
Now who would have lost to those under 250 teams????……… the 31st and 29th ranked teams….mmmmmm……..
Wasn’t that the New Orleans Saints? Yes and that is confirmed.
Would much rather win a division champion playing smart football with a game manager than brag about a high powered offense that lost to two of the weakest teams in the NFL.
As I said above….. The other guys, their time is over.
Make way for the 49ers.