SANTA CLARA – The transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.
Opening Statement:
“Getting ready for a good Detroit team, playoff team. The strength of their front, probably lies with their front four, they bring a lot of D-linemen to the game. They roll them through there to keep them fresh. There’s times when they’ll load up the front, it’s no secret. Kind of an old school group, here we go. It’s man coverage, let’s play football. Tough, aggressive defense, attacking style. Pretty multiple relative to what they were when we played them a year ago. They’ve got a lot of different schemes now on defense. Got a one week lead in here, so we are sprinting to get ready for this game against a really good team. Any questions?”
What’s your secret for playing turnover-free football?
“There is no secret. There is no secret to that. It’s everything. We preach it, but we don’t preach it to the point of suffocating people with it. Everybody understands what we’re trying to get done. I think our guys understand and we’ve got great leadership with [RB] Frank Gore for example, in terms of being very secure with the ball. We emphasize ball security, how to hold a football, how the defense tries to strip the ball. We do all the different things to educate the players on what’s coming at them, and then it’s really smart play by the quarterback.”
In this NFL era, how does a team go six games without committing a turnover? Especially your offense, when you’re going in and out, it seems like that would increase the margin for error as far (Inaudible)
“It’s every man’s responsibility when he’s on the field. Everybody’s got a job to do. Anybody that handles the football understands that they’ve got the collective fate of the team in their hands. Whether they’re in, they’re out, they’re in the whole game, that’s of no consequence. If you’re in the game and you have the ball it’s your job to protect it. So, it’s that simple. It’s a credit to our players that have played in those six games. I’m not sure where that stands or ranks or what not, of playing that length without turning the football over. I don’t understand where it ranks in the historical sense.”
It would be an NFL record if you guys don’t turn the ball over this game.
“Ok. Well, historic then. It’s a credit to the players, it’s a credit to the players.”
What kind of role, if any, does your defense play in helping the offense in practices?
“It’s a tremendous, tremendous role. As we said earlier, as iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another. Never truer words than on the football field. [LB] Patrick Willis, great at stripping the ball. He’s gotten us a few times this camp. Our DB’s, very good, always attacking the football. Huge, can’t emphasize that enough. When it happens in training camp, as a coach you’re almost a little bit happy because you can bring it to light, a little bit happy, not a lot, a little bit. But it’s a great opportunity to emphasize how a defender is going to attack the football.”
I know that the Lions, the defensive front is going to approach you the same, I mean, they are who they are, differently, but they are who they are. As you watch the film from the end of their last season, also their first game, how many wrinkles and changes are you seeing? How much more differently do you prepare for them than before?
“I think they’ve added a lot of different looks to their defense. It’s something we’ve just got to prepare for. I think there’s more to prepare for. There’s no telling when they’ll pull it out. They line their D-line up in different configurations. They pressure more, they’ll blitz you more. Not a heavy blitz team, but at any point in time they’ll dial up a blitz. So, you’ve got to be ready for it. I think it’s really added to their profile. They don’t blitz nearly as much as the last team we played, but they definitely give you a lot of different looks.”
Regarding the same defensive front four, you talk about a number of things. Are they more of a pass rush or do you see them more as better at run stopping?
“I think they’re good at both. I think they’re scheme compliments – I mean they are rushing, they are attacking. They are trying to destroy blocks, destroy blocking schemes on the way to the quarterback. Just because you’re in pass rush mode, doesn’t mean you’re not playing the run because you’re getting penetration, you’re freeing up, you’re getting an offensive lineman’s shoulders turned, you’re freeing up linebackers. If you have four D-lineman that are screaming up the field, and then you’ve got four linebackers, or three linebackers and a safety sitting right in there behind them, that’s a pretty darn good run defense. So, it’s not just hey these guys are up the field, they’re just playing the pass, not so fast. They do a great job of destroying blocking schemes, getting penetration and when they choose to play a bunch of eight-man fronts, there’s always somebody sitting there, unblocked, to try to make the tackle.”
How much does G Leonard Davis change when he comes in, obviously we saw him block on that right end a lot as an extra tight end, how much flexibility does he give you when you face this defense?
“Well Leonard’s a big, physical, –just he’s big and physical. He’s a big, massive, powerful man. And when you get him in there, he gives you an opportunity to maybe get a size matchup on somebody, and take a really great offensive lineman like Leonard and get him into the game. Get him participating, getting him having a role towards us winning. Leonard is a very important part of the team and he’s a massive guy that’s played a lot of snaps of football in the NFL. It’s great to be able to get him involved in the winning effort.”
Obviously you bring in a lot of extra linemen, did you pick that up from someone, just kind of loading and loading your line with huge people?
“It started at the high school level, yeah. Just said, hmm, what would happen if we did this? It worked pretty good. We did it in college. It’s also a great tool to develop young linemen, especially in college. At Stanford we did. We’d get the younger guys that were promising, give them a chance to get game experience and start their development so the first time they’re out on the filed it’s not, whoa. It’s a really great step in the development of a lineman.”
Was that back in New Jersey?
“Yes.”
Is there something to be said for getting everybody involved in a game? Kind of increases the camaraderie in the sense that everybody contributed to the victory?
“I think you could make the case for that, for sure. But the reality is, is everybody that’s involved in the game, is in there for a reason and we feel they can do what we’re asking them to do. We’re not going to put guys in positions they’re not the best at, or we really feel good about. I think the net effect of that is, now everybody has a role, everybody has a chance to contribute, everybody’s excited about the week of practice. Getting ready for their role, and supporting roles, in case somebody else had to get out of the game. I think it just adds to the, like you said, I thought you put it well, adds to the camaraderie and how everybody has a role in helping the team win. Thankfully we’ve got a lot of really good players that we can do that with.”
What makes RB Frank Gore so effective, because he’s not flashy? Why is he so effective?
“I’ll tell you what, Frank is an unbelievable running back, unbelievable football player. He’s one of the most unique guys I’ve ever been around, in terms of, it gets thrown around a lot, but throwback, old school. Frank, we could go anywhere, chalk up a football field, pads, no pads, how you want to play it, let’s go. Frank’s going to play and he’s going to compete. He’s an unbelievably tough, passionate, competitive [player]. He’s got an incredible will to win that he wears on his sleeve. There’s only one Frank Gore. His running style is very unique, can’t say that I’ve quite seen anybody quite like him, with his size, weight and then what you see on the field, he’s just so unique. He’s got so much quickness, power, and just short area of vision. He’s just got one of the strongest wills to succeed that you’ll find. So, I think that’s the best I can do quickly to sum up Frank. He’s a special guy. Really, we all feel really glad to have the opportunity work with him.”
Short area of vision, you mean seeing it right away?
“Right away, quick decisions. He just has a feel. His brain and his feet work in tandem. I’m not a scientist or a neurologist, but his brain, those pulses get quickly to his feet.”
Is that why you ran the ball with Frank against Detroit last year? Has that been the template for the way you want to run the ball against everybody and is that kind of the option he gave you for guys? Anything you want to do against them?
“Every week’s different. You’re always going to try to run what your running back’s good at, what you feel your offensive line can block. And it comes down to, guys’ scheme is so overrated. It’s all about guys knowing what to do, how to do it and having the want to to get it done. And that’s what we hang our hat on, is executive and want to. And scheme is way overrated. I don’t care what play you call. It doesn’t matter. Ultimately the players make it work.”
Can you go back to Frank Gore for a second and talk about how did it look on film, that touchdown run, how did that work other than spinning around on the sideline?
“It was really good job, on that particular play, [G] Daniel Kilgore, [G] Leonard Davis sealing off the edge. [FB]Bruce Miller came around with [G] Mike Iupati, did a great job of sealing. Bruce Miller did a great job. He forced [Packers CB Charles] Woodson to basically hurdle him, which freed up Frank. And then Frank just made a guy miss and spun in the end zone. Wasn’t perfect, but it was a great run. A lot of good things happened on it. We loved the end result.”
There was a lot of talk in the offseason about whether Alex Boone would be playing guard. How did he do in his first regular season game?
“He did some things that were great. We were all thrilled to see some instinctive things he did. Played physical, played to his personality, which is aggressive, passionate, old school, nasty. He had a lot of fun out there. Boone loves playing football. He’s a beauty. But he played really well, really, really well and did some really outstanding things in that game. So it was a good start for Alex and got a big challenge this week with this front four coming in.”
Not to harp on this subject, but QB Alex Smith has the team record now, having 185 passes without an interception. How extraordinary is that and how does it be a part of your guy’s mantra?
“It’s huge and it’s a credit to Alex. Alex is a guy with a very, very strong, he’s a high, high character person. He is not the person who is going to get led off the cliff with the rest of the lemmings. He understands the purpose of his job is to distribute the ball, execute the offense and help the team win. He’s got an innate feel for risk management on the fly. But as well, when I say that I mean, he knows when to be aggressive, when to let it rip, and when to make a certain throw. It might be a little bit high and away, low and away, away from the defender. There’s been a lot of very, very small instances over the course of the time you talk about where he’s had just really, really, really good ball placement, relative to the defenders leverage. A lot of that goes unseen, but it’s all calculated by him. It’s really a credit to him. He’s a winner. And done an incredible job, historic, let’s keep it up, let’s keep that going.”
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I’ve list all respect for Aaron Rodgers. First he backs out of his bet. Then he’s on camera whining about calls that didnt GO HIS WAY???? Those same refs that they hand picked gave them 15 points. Now he is on Favre level. Hated fiercely FOREVER FOOOREVEEERRR….. The way squints says it on the sandlot.
MD, Rodgers is a great QB but you can tell he gets frustrated with people in his face. I witnessed this also when he was in college. He is a pouter.
BTW, he must be related to 23welcher regarding the bet. Shows that certain people are not very honorable, pretty sad in both cases!
He is no doubt a great player. As a person I can’t stomach him. I thought he was a good genuine guy. But to sit there and try to take away credit from my team. Doesn’t sit with me very well. I wished there were more players that kept it real like the old days. You get your a$$ whooped. Say it. And come back next time with a chip of pride on your shoulder. And kick some a$$. He’s a scumbag now. Lol
Well see him again in the playoffs!
He already said he would wear the jersey next week. He actually admitted that there was blocking in the back on the Cobb return and that shouldnt have been a score. He wasn’t happy with the officiating in general, he didn’t blame the loss on them. He credited the Niners for being a very good team.
Bigp… Not the interview I just saw with deon.
Big P, I was going to say the same thing. I saw the same interview you did. He said the mentioned the block in the back.
And just a side note, that “overrated” LB Clay Matthews now leads the NFL with 6 sacks. Kind of puts in perspective how good of a job the O-line did in GB and that perhaps, just perhaps, Matthews isn’t that “overrated”.
2legit aka onelame. Steerike two buddy. You just won’t go away will you? How pathetic is it that you keep coming back with more names when you aren’t wanted? And now talking in 3rd person. You can call it what you want, but we know who owns who. Buahahahaaaaaa.
Chris…. Are you a packers fan? The gb defense also had 7 sacks last night. The Bears O-line is horrible. Staley “a pro bowler” got punked. Straight up.
I’m not a packers fan at all. I am giving credit to our line and calling out just how out of touch some comments on here are. l said Staley would not be able to stop Clay matthews. There were 30+ comments saying Staley was a probowler, the media loves Matthews, and he isn’t even a good LB. He’s overrated. Well, that overrated LB is GB’s version of Aldon Smith and leads the NFL with 6 sacks.
All that being said, it is relevant this week because next up for this O-line is Suh and Fairley. I’m sure the whole Suh being overrated argument will come up this week as well.
Prime
I said, to many peoples dislike here, that AR lacks the ability to remain cool when things go bad as well as other QB’s.
And the guy cries like no other. He’s got weaknesses. Despite the press saying otherwise.
Chris,
Matthews has come out on fire no question about it. We’ll see if he can keep it up. I watch a lot of games and Matthews was not an elite player last season. He’s feasted on one on one matchups with Staley and Webb and if he keeps it up I’ll have to change my stance.
As to Rodgers, I didn’t see the interview with prime but he was very complimentary to the Niners and even insinuated they were robbed by the no call block in the back on the punt return when he talked earlier in the week. He’s a great player and ultra competitive and when you have that type of personality you can’t accept losing. I think Rodgers is a class act personally.
“I said, to many peoples dislike here, that AR lacks the ability to remain cool when things go bad as well as other QB’s. And the guy cries like no other. He’s got weaknesses.”
Harbaalke would trade Smith for Rodgers in a hot second if the deal was on the table. Every single GM in the NFL would. Rodgers lead the Packers to a 15-1 record with the #32 defense last season. Where would the Niners be with the #32 defense? I’m happy with Smith’s progress, but your anti-Rodgers rants make you sound like a fool.
In Rodgers defense he DID say that the Refs missed the “Push in the back” on their KR for a TD on a ESPN radio clip.
@f49er
Did he also try to tell the refs that during the game?
That sounds like a woman’s argument F49er when you try to explain screaming at the TV is really helping your team. No, you don’t think they are actually going to call you at half time for your opinion, but in case they do, maybe you should clean the house incase we have company.
I don’t stop my car when I see an Officer pull the car over behind me for speeding and say, Officer, I think you need to go ahead and write me that ticket.
There really needs to be a ten minute delay in posting comments on this site. An idiot buffer. Then, when your fingers get ahead of any real sense of intelligence, you can go back and delete it, saving face.
I think you meant that comment at DS, not F49er. I still laughed though. DS is like a woman on here. Always needing to add her opinion whether it’s relevant or not. Mostly NOT.
I’ll take your advise though and just start replying “buffer” HAHAHAHAHA
chris
Who said anything about screaming?
Jason
Stop trying to hit on me. I’ve got enough suitors on this site to keep me busy.
Thanks sweetie.
:- )
My apologies F49er I was refering to the DS comment that was completely senseless.
@ Jason, thanks for pointing that out for me.
@ DS, try reading that a little slower. Its a general example not a personal reference to any one individual. Explaining the joke is pointless. Either you get it and can relate, or you don’t. I’ll borrow Jason’s line and say “buffer” to your comment.
No competitor or man for that instance aside from Jesus Christ is going to go to the referee and say, “hey, my teammate didn’t really catch that ball, go ahead and take the points back off the board.” The stupidity of the arguement is in the same relevence as the joke about yelling at your TV on gameday as if the coach is going to call you up at halftime to coach the second half.
Roman says “He’s a winner”
Exactly what I have said the past two years!
Smith has been partying with Charlie sheen the last couple of years. Now the bye-winning tiger blood is coursing through the veins of #11. Harbaugh who? Lol
CRachal is playing tonight. hmm.
Not starting
Should he be? lol
Hof I would not start him on my scout team he is so bad!
I miss Rachel. He just never had the coaching. ;-)
“buffer”
MD,
The same coaches that kept Smith, sent Rachal packing.
So this Thursday Night game appears to be the first ever played without an offensive line on either team.
But both QB’s are elite, they should have no problems. It’s only the precious that can’t get it done with no line.
Ah – leave it to Prime to make it about the Precious.
After 6 years of total crap Prime is finally right. Congrats to you little guy.
Drinking and getting hosed has made me see the light, thanks lemons, your an inspiration!
Oh man. I can’t wait to play the bears this season. That o-line looks like certain death for cutler.
Stop Forte, pressure Cutler, should be a win.
JCutler calling out his OLT after the CM sack. First the stare down by JC then the verbal calling out. Not a good thing!
That’s not leadership!
Hey Primate, what do monkeys know about leadership?
They know that when you spell your name, you spell it the same everytime.
Nick
“…what do monkeys know about leadership?”
They kind of do.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moral-lives-animals/201104/how-leader-human-or-animal-can-affect-groups-moral-culture
DS Nice work!
Prime
Considering monkeys get more attention on this blog than the Niners long snapper, I felt it might be time to put some thoughts regarding monkeys to rest.
LMAO, Cutler just threw another pick!
I see that the Bears were able to stop the Pack at home in the first quarter as well. Last year that didn’t happen once. In 2 games this year, it has happened twice.
DS
Thanks for sharing that. There’s hope for Primate afterall :)
Hey Prime, how many INTs does Cutler have tonight?
Prime… It’s not. He needs to do that in the huddle or on the sidelines. Calling them out in front of the other team is classless. But then again it’s cutler.
Too many! My QB dont throw INT’s, does yours?
Good run D, Bears. Not!
Can’t wait for Chicago either!
Barring injuries, I think the Niners will crush Chicago
Should go 4-0 against that division!
Watching Benson gash the Bears after the 49ers shut him out is revealing. Bears front 7 isn’t even close to the 49ers.
Wow, fake FG for a TD.
Looks like Rodgers is still hearing footsteps from last week.
The Lions have gone 6-7 since losing to the 49ers. The score this week will be 31-20 49ers, and it won’t even be that close.
+1
They came into that game last year so pumped up, and I get the same feeling this year. We’re gonna burst their bubble again.
Maybe Harbaugh needs to have a “no discussing the handshake” talk with Jed. Wheeeew.
http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/09/13/12/49ers-owner-takes-verbal-shot-at-Lions-c/landing_lions.html?blockID=790115&feedID=3701
Attaboy Jed!
The justin beber comment was priceless. They defintely talk crap better than anyone in the league. I guess when you lose as many games as the Lion’s you have to get good at something.
After watching the video, ” …just because we had a big game last week doesn’t mean we’ll automatically win next week.”, it sounds like Jed isn’t concerned about “this week” against Detroit. He’s worried about “next week” (against Minn).
Still a great reference though Jed!
It would’ve been good had the guy actually squealed.
Ha ha, that video was from the Fox Sports Detroit web site. I bet they are pissed off in Detroit! Time to whoop their asses even more!
My prediction for the Niners-Lions game can be summed up in two words: blow out. 32-10 Niners, and it won’t even be that close. Part of the Lions score is a pity touchdown near the end of the game when most of the starters have been pulled.
“pity touchdown”. Ha!
Freddie P. Soft…
2legit2quit says:
September 14, 2012 at 2:08 am
“Good one Prime.”
2legitBanned! (lol)
after watching green bay dominate chicago last night i only have one question. how good are the 49ers?
@ old coach:
Very.
old coach,
It’s hard to assess when teams offer different aspects in matchups, but it’s pretty clear the Niners are an elite team right now. If they can avoid the injury bug this could be a very special season. One game at a time though.
I could answer Coach, but I’ll let the sixth Lombardi Trophy the Niners capture at season’s end speak for itself.
What’s that goon Schwartz up to? He’s been quiet this week, in a rat-like sorta way.
Turn on your squeak monitor C15. The noise from him is deafening when you do.
DS94 – Ha Ha….I hope I get to see that rodent Schwartz’s winced eyes, grimacing after every Niner score.
Gotta have this one or GB game was “all for nothing,” at least to me.
Hope Niner players are not over-confident.
Jim Schwartz is a total d-bag and his team reflects the head coach’s personality. Schwartz comes from the Gregg Williams cheap shot school in Tennessee so I expect the 9ers to get a full dose of late hits, chop blocks, and dirty play. We can rely on that freak Kyle Vandenbosch to have 5-10 dirty plays on Sunday night. Hopefully, the refs call it tight early to limit all the crap the Lions are going to pull. I think the 9ers win by more than a TD but it will be a 60 minute fist fight.
Not to worry, Houston. Harbaugh has been known to throw a dirty punch or two in his day, too.
He’ll bring the nastiness out of our team to counter Detroit’s. Plus, he probably already has a retaliation plan in place …..like whooping their collective a$$es on the field, running up the score, and shouting “Know the game!!!!” across the field at Schwartz all night long, lol!
A few (only a few) of the Packers got chippy and I was impressed with the 49ers players’ self discipline to not get caught retaliating. I think that would be part of “playing well with their minds”.
This one likely to be a football brawl. I’d think the Lions will be more likely to lose their composure and get flagged.
Dirty or not, no team will out physical the 49ers.
what he said!
Harbaugh’s policy of not allowing fights during camp sets the tone for no stupid penalties during games. but in the words of the very memorable mike singletary we do play physical with an f
Seahawks nab another 49er with Person signed to their practice squad. Incidious.
Razor,
I think he would have to be signed to their 53, if taken from the 49ers’ practice squad.
To be clear, he was signed to the Seahawks practice squad. He (Person) did not make the final 53 man roster that is the San Francisco Forty Niners.
They can’t beat us with the leftovers…keep taking our 4th stringers Pete.
@exgolfer:
He wasn’t on the 49ers’ practice squad. He was cut by Indy.
Also, Chase Beeler was dropped from the Eagles’ practice squad. The Seahawks should be signing him in 3…2…1…
Correct ex golfer.