SANTA CLARA – Here is the transcript of C.J. Beathard’s Wednesday press conference – his first since Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL.
Q: What is the first step for you when you come in and look at the game plan?
BEATHARD: It’s early in the week, so the more the week goes by, the more comfortable everyone will be with it. Today is the first day getting the game plan, so we haven’t even gone out and practiced it yet. Just trying to get it down better and better each day.
Q: Does your routine change? Have you carried over anything from what Jimmy Garoppolo has done to change your routine up this year as opposed to when you were playing last year?
BEATHARD: You’ve got to prepare as the backup guy as though you are the starter, so I’m doing a lot of the same things, except I am going to meet with Kyle and the quarterbacks coach a little bit more, just to go over little things here or there after practice or before practice, just to make sure we’re all on the same page.
Q: You mentioned after the game you felt like the experience you got last year would make it a little easier this year stepping back in. In what ways?
BEATHARD: Just having that experience. Having gone out there and played in five NFL games, there’s nothing you can do to simulate those reps in practice. The only way you can do it is by going out there and actually getting those game-time reps. And just being another year in the system, Kyle’s offense helps a ton, the knowledge of the offense, getting through progressions quicker and that kind of stuff.
Q: He said you would have a better understanding of the whys. Do you feel you have a far greater understanding of that stuff?
BEATHARD: Oh yeah, definitely. It’s Year 2 for me in this offense. With any extra time doing something, the better you get at it. I’m definitely understanding more of the whys, why certain things happen, why we think this guy will be open, why we attack certain things versus certain coverages.
Q: It’s a cliché that the backup quarterback always has to be ready. Can you describe the mentality every week when you never know when your time could come?
BEATHARD: People say it, but no one really believes it. You really are one play away. You just never know when that play will be. You could play zero an entire season, or you could be playing in the third game of the year. You never know. That’s why you have to make sure you’re prepared as much as possible, and prepare as if you are the starter, just for situations like this.
Q: You have to look at this as an opportunity, don’t you?
BEATHARD: Yeah, no doubt. Obviously, I think there’s more focus on this team. I think there’s a lot of people doubting us and counting us out. I think everybody has the ability, we’re excited and we’re ready to get rolling and win some games.
Q: Everyone was impressed with how tough you were last year. I assume you don’t want to have to show how tough you are to that extent this year. What can you do to minimize some of that punishment?
BEATHARD: Just try to get the ball out of my hands quicker. I think we’ve got a lot better team than we did last year. I really like the group that we have. Obviously, doing what I can do to get the ball out of my hands quicker, making reads quicker. But as a whole team, O-line, receivers, running backs, everyone can add their part to help that.
Q: How does it make you feel to hear so many guys talk up your toughness?
BEATHARD: Yeah, it’s a good thing. To be a quarterback in the NFL, you have to be tough. You have to have certain qualities to play in this league. It’s awesome to hear my teammates say that about me. I think this is a real tough team. I think we’ve got a bunch of tough guys on this team, offense, defense and special teams. We’re excited moving forward.
Q: How did it make you feel when you heard Reuben Foster say you ain’t no roody poo?
BEATHARD: Yeah, people asked me about that. I still don’t know if I know what that means. I haven’t seen the entire interview yet. People were telling me to check it out, it was pretty funny.
Q: Have people come up to you and given you that vote of confidence personally?
BEATHARD: Yeah, I’ve got a lot of support from the team, guys saying they believe in me, which is great. But, nothing drastically crazy. It’s just the next man up. That’s our mentality. Throughout a season, a lot of guys are going to get hurt, whether it’s the quarterback or any position on that field. You’ve got to have that mentality of next man up, and you’ve got to believe in that teammate no matter what the position is.
Q: What has it been like to talk to Jimmy this week as you prepare to start?
BEATHARD: It has been great having him around, just being able to talk to him and ask him about certain things. Just having his presence in the facility, being supportive of us and the team. Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with him going forward. Hopefully, he can recover and get back as quickly as possible.
Q: Is he like having another coach now?
BEATHARD: Yeah, I guess you could look at it that way.
Q: In what ways has Kyle helped you improve as a quarterback the most?
BEATHARD: I think just the knowledge of how football works, how certain plays scheme up against certain defenses the best. I think Kyle is the best at that, at drawing up plays versus certain looks and coverages that work the best and why they work, how to expect and anticipate certain things.
Q: How much confidence do you have in him to put you in a position to succeed?
BEATHARD: I’ve got all the confidence in the world in Kyle and my team. I think it starts with coaches, and obviously the players have to go out and execute. I’ve got confidence in every last person in this building.
Q: A year ago when Kyle benched you and informed you he was going with Jimmy, what did that do to you? How did that sit with you?
BEATHARD: I don’t know. That’s so far in the past. It’s hard to look back to that. I looked at it as an opportunity to grow and learn and get better, and try to be the best backup I could be all the way up to this point, and just learn from Jimmy and Kyle.
ME: Kyle said some quarterbacks need early success to build confidence. You got thrown in right away and you took some lumps. How did the lumps help you? How did you prevent the lumps from hurting your confidence?
BEATHARD: I’ve got a strong faith in God. I’ve got a good support system with my family and teammates. Just to know you’ll never get down on yourself in any situation in life. I think that having not played last year, it would be a lot different situation at this point, being my first game. I think I would be a lot more nervous and whatnot. I think it also helps having played in those games, my teammates have confidence in me because (they think), ‘He has been there before, he can do it.’
Q: What are your initial impression of the Chargers, and are you excited to face the team you grew up rooting for?
BEATHARD: It doesn’t matter who it was we were going to play. It’s crazy that it is the Chargers. I grew up being a Chargers fan. But, I’m just excited to go out there and play whoever it was going to be. In this case, it’s the Chargers. They’re a good team. They’ve got good guys on defense. They’re explosive on offense as well. We just have to go out there and play as a team, play solid on offense and defense and special teams. Hopefully, we’ll walk out of there with a win.
Q: The Chargers defensive scheme is similar to what you run here. Is there any benefit to that?
BEATHARD: Yeah, I think so. A lot of the same style of defense. We have gone against in camp and OTAs. Obviously, they sprinkle in some different things. I’m sure there will be some new things they will game plan against us that you’ve got to be prepared for, but the base stuff is there. They’re a three-deep team and so are we. Obviously, having gone a defense like that helps, but you can never count on what they’re doing. There’s always something different.
Q: Kyle talked about your preseason and said you did great. How do you assess your preseason? Were you pleased? I know you were dealing with a foot injury.
BEATHARD: Yeah, I was pleased with it. I just felt a lot more comfortable back there. Obviously, there were plays I missed that I wish I had back. But, I think for the most part the ball was going to the right spot most of the time. That’s good.
Yeah and home game ticket prices are dropping too.
As much as It sucks to loose JG I’m gonna remain optimistic and remember that CJ had us right there in alot of games with a worse roster…That and a year of learning a new system as a rookie and he played ok…Pre season he didn’t look good,but hey crazier things have happened.Hopefully he comes out with a chip on his shoulder
Not being a preseason game where lineups are mixed and some players are very raw, I’d expect CJ’s play (driven by Shanahan’s real-game scheming)–to be reasonably solid. If we get decent offensive play, and the defense shows up, we should win this one. And yes, special teams need to play very well.
“we should win this one.”
Yeah this was one of those games I thought would be the difference between 8 wins and 10 wins before the season.
The offensivr game plan should be very similar to what we see with Seattle and Jacksonville. Work the underneath routes and expect a lot of targets for the TE and RB’s.
Rivers isn’t as mobile as Mahomes, easy to say, so the pass rush has a chance to be a little more bothersome this week.
Definitely a winnable game.
Joey Bosa out for this game helps too.
Bosa is a china doll and I’m glad he’s sitting this one out.
CJ go out there and create a QB controversy for next year!
How twisted and appropriate would that be…9ers finish with something like 8 wins and CJ tossing 24 TDs to 7 INTs.
Even funnier if a wild card slot is earned and the 9ers make it to the NFC Championship Game.
CJ ‘Freakin’ Beathard…
That would be a wonderful story. If it plays out like you say, I wonder if the front office will be biased by the huge salary they’ve given Jimmy G.
The other players need to reduce the mistakes and execute better. If they do the Niners can win some games. If they don’t Aron Rogers wouldn’t make much difference.
A brief change in topic:
The Patriots are working out Jeremy Kerley. Not a big deal. Just to say that after I saw him play for us a bit, I thought that if he had Brady as his QB, he’d catch a lot of footballs. Now let’s see if they want to sign him.
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2018/09/patriots-work-out-jeremy-kerley
Why do you guys keeping coming to this miserable site where the boy host and the most proliferous commentators just spin the same old mean spirited trashing of players & coaches. Over and over and over again.
Is that really get your jollies by reading the same old whining about those more talented and successful that yourselves?
Sad.
This is whining.
It would be fun to see some of the double posters get called out. Like that time Prime lost a bet to Bay and was supposed to stay off the blog for a week but welched and commented under a different name until being caught.
That was classic.
This pleasant fellow is using a proxy server. It says he’s in India. It’s probably Kyle Shanahan :)
At least he/she isn’t guaranteeing $750 per week by clicking _________________.
I always click on those. I’m rich now.
Called my Mom something really derogatory and it was one time, so Hammer suck it!
Prime,
You were trolling me for a couple days and I thought it was you and it was confirmed. It wasn’t one time.
When you got called out you went into full “it’s not me” “prove it” mode with Grant.
It was pretty hilarious.
I think you are losing it Hammer. The daily nit picking of Shanahan, Garroppolo and now this. You are an A hole now but if that’s your game, have at it. People, not even me, calling you Seb now. What does that tell you?
“What does that tell you?”
Some people can’t handle objectivity when it doesn’t match their own personal beliefs? ?♂️
JH is being called Seb?
.
I consider that a compliment. ;p
It’s a derivative of Game of Thrones… Hotpie anyone?
Footballfan,
Probably for the same reason you come back here.
I believe in CJB…..he has the confidence now……I foresee a QB controversy in the near future…..
Good luck Beathard. Also good job on the question Grant.
Thanks, Mid.
Good Question but it didn’t get answered….
Disagree. Beathard essentially stated that the lumps from last season have helped to understand what it feels like to be a starting QB, and his faith and the support of his family and teammates help to the lumps from shaking his confidence.
Disagree. I find that a non-plus answer.
What did it feel like to be a starter? What did you learn? What mistakes did you learn from? What was your biggest disappointment? How did it feel to be replaced by JG and see him win with the same players?
Answers along those lines is what I think Grant had in mind, but Grant can correct me if I’m wrong…
None of those questions were asked by Grant. Beathard answered the question that was given to him.
Grant
Youve seen much more of these guys in training camp and practice than we have, I’d like to hear your predictions or outlook on CJB. Just for kicks
There is nothing Beathard did last season or this preseason other than take a beating that leads me to believe he can play competent NFL football at his position.. He is not accurate and reads at a pedestrian speed.. Feel free to prove me wrong CJ..
What don said.
And now you have to cover that for 4 long months, that’s boring
Coach him up, Kyle.
By the way, “Chris” is Prime Time.
How many times has Prime Time done that now?
And I’m Godzilla…
Hit a nerve did I? Good luck covering Shanny now
He didn’t like that comment Chris. You did hit a nerve!
You enjoy being a clown, don’t you? ?
No clown here jerk! You believe him makes you the clown
Thank you for proving my point Chris A.K.A. Prime Time.
Haha!!!
Seriously? Good grief.
Seriously.
I thought you were kidding.
Don’t tell anyone I’m really Darren5000…whoops.
Hahahahahahahaha. I could tell.
Same IP address.
I haven’t the words. But it does explain a lot.
Oh my, does that mean that SebastoPaul is really Jed York?
Dee, what a hoot.
.
Jed is not verbose.
Hey Don… Let’s come back at the end of the season and check your assessment. You may be dead on. You may be a ways off. I have no idea how he’ll perform–not Aaron Rogers, not Jim Druckenmiller. I’ll enjoy the season none-the-less.
My recollection is that after the Giants game last year, everyone thought Beathard was improving. Then he got hurt the week after and Jimmy threw a touchdown. Beathard was hurt and Jimmy had to play and went on a roll. Is that a benching?
Change of topic…
Think back to the 70s, 80s, and 90s when many players had nicknames. Recall any former 9ers?
Remember Jim Druckenmiller earning the moniker Jim Drunk-on-miller? For a very short time Montana was called ‘Big Sky’…the result of an ill-conceived contest.
Our blog’s behavior when things get intense…start at the 35 second mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Y9aNntfK8
That’s hilarious
That was great Cassie, any body want to name the four from the blog like who is sponge bob? Mickey?wastje other two an ardvark and bear of some kind,and if the four are blog members who is the road rage guy that gets pummeled, than who is the two that are in the van behind filming and laughing during the incident? I have ideas but I may offend too many people!
Colin Krap-and- Stink? ;-)
Jim Kur-Plunkett
How about the offensive lineman that was famous for eating raw meat. I’ve seen him a few times playing golf at Northwood out in Monte Rio. I’m pretty sure he had a nickname. LOL I googled Forty Niner raw meat and Bob St. Clair came right up. Too funny. “The Geek” was his nickname.
I think this video represents this blog sometimes. Maybe more than sometimes but that’s what makes it entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq6T5BojXc8
That reminds me of the game day live blogs
If you slow it down it’s a pretty good representation of the 49ers during the York years.
I was sad when bob stclair passed away!
Probably a more pessimistic viewpoint, but JG’s health concerned me after seeing him go down backing up for Brady. I hope the Brady back up curse isn’t in effect. I don’t remember the name, but there was a Ravens lb special teams player we brought on board after we lost the Super Bowl. He used to be a bit injury prone till he upped his workouts to include yoga. Makes me wonder if adding that to a NFL players routine would help curb injuries. … .. that said, here is my questions
First, how well has the offensive line played so far? Second, how much has CJ grown in the system and how much of his pocket awareness improved? Third, how much push has our defensive line gotten so far? Opinions ap!preciated, thanks!
Looking at the remaining schedule I would say the 49ers have 4 games where they are relatively close in terms of talent. AZ 2x, Raiders and Giants. Other potential wins could come against Chicago and Denver because they are home games against teams with poor quarterbacks even if they are far more talented. If everything broke right I could see 6 or 7 wins. Realistically however, I think a good season would have the niners getting 3 or 4 more wins.
The biggest reason for this that I think KS/Lynch the GM has failed KS the coach.
CJ is a great mind I’ve followed him since he was at Iowa. I do believe there success to be had for him, however the 49ers need to clean up there game. No QB could win with the amount t of mistakes that have been made up to this point. CJ will never light a defense up with peyton manning numbers but he can produce an Alex Smith type game plan and I think he has an underrated arm. If he could be more accurate with his outside number throws. But the receivers have to catch the ball.
They seemed like a 9 win team entering the season, 10 if they got hot & lucky tbh. Once Jet went down I thought they’d go 8-8 or 7-9. Now with Sherman injured, Jet down, Jimmy G done for the season, Colbert/Tartt both dealing with injuries, Witherspoon’s guest friendly kitchen open for business, S. Thomas inability to rush off the edge, WR’s inability to beat man coverage, & the teams just lack of playmakers overall I’d say this is a 5 or 6 win team now. Sweep Arizona, split wit Seattle, beat Oakland. That’s 5 wins right there. Possibly the Giants for the 6th win.