Joe Staley: “We have to play more physical, get back to playing with that attitude, playing with that edge.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Joe Staley’s Wednesday interview.

Q: What do you guys have to do to turn this thing around?

STALEY: We have to stick together. We’ve talked to the team. This loss is not on one person or one group. It was a team loss. Team game. We have to stick together and figure it out and move forward and we will do that. Very close-knit locker room, lot of high-character guys, lot of good leadership, so we will get back to work and right the ship.

Q: You guys were very successful as a run-heavy offense the past few years. Is there a sense that it’s as simple as getting back to that?

STALEY: It’s not as simple as that. I think we have to do a better job executing what’s called. I think, watching the film, the plays are there to be made. We had a lot of opportunities in that game to make plays and we just didn’t do it for whatever reason. We have to do a better job of executing what we can control. As an offensive line, we have to do a better job of protecting the quarterback. When we get the run calls, make them work. Everybody’s got to be on the same page at all times.

Q: Do you stand by how you expressed yourself after the game?

STALEY: It was reported that I was basically calling out other people. I was saying we all played bad, and it was frustrating. When I said “dumb blocks” and “dumb techniques,” I was talking about us as an offensive line, we were making bad blocks. Not saying we were doing this because we were taught this. We were making dumb blocks and I was just frustrated. In that sense, what I really meant, what I was meaning to say was we all had a hand in this, we’re all responsible, we’re all accountable. I stand by that statement. That’s what I meant for it to come out. That’s what I was hoping would be reported but I don’t think it was.

ME: What did you mean by “dumb schemes” specifically?

STALEY: I was saying dumb schemes as in we’re all accountable. Dumb blocks, meaning the offensive line. Everybody has a hand in it. Coaches have a hand in it too because they’re part of this football team. I was frustrated. That’s what I meant, we’re all accountable. I’ll have to take a look at what we can do better as an individual, as a group, as an offense and as a team.

Q: Did you talk to Coach Harbaugh? Did you need to, just to clarify anything?

STALEY: No.

Q: I’m just asking.

STALEY: You’re pressing this issue. There was no issue.

Q: Steve Young was on the sideline during the Rams’ game and he said the team seemed broken coming off the field. Have you sensed a lack of passion or energy from this team?

STALEY: No. No.

Q: When you talk about poor execution, are you talking about missing assignments or technique?

STALEY: It wasn’t really the lack of assignments. I don’t think there were too many missed assignments, people not knowing what to do. Just technique. We have to play more physical, get back to playing with that attitude, playing with that edge. That has been missing the past few weeks. That’s something that we definitely have to do a better job with and identify it. We can talk all this stuff with you guys, but we’ve got to go out there and do it.

Q: You struggled against the Packers in the first game of the 2012 season. You had a very good game the next game, and you said it was just a technique issue. Is it a similar situation for you now?

STALEY: Yeah, I think it’s for everybody. I think…I wish I…yeah…yeah. I don’t know how to answer.

This article has 3 Comments

  1. Nothing like a grown man holding himself and other grown men’s feet to the fire. If somebody’s feeling were hurt, they may have been the main culprit.

  2. Will someone please explain why SF’s fumble was a Cleveland TD 4 days later? Where’s the outrage from the NFLPA?

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