John Lynch on how impressed he is by Brock Purdy's demeanor, Deebo Samuel's injury | NBC Sports BA

all right John A lot of times when a team loses one quarterback the season's over you guys have lost two how do you feel about where you guys are positioned right now with Brock Purdy for the final stretch of the regular season yeah well when you first answered the or asked the question I chuckled and there's nothing funny about it because you know you really hurt for those guys we'll Trey who started as our starter then Jimmy and uh you know now we're on to to Brock I will say that you know every step of the way we had a lot of faith in In Trey um you know late in the process you know we we kind of directed towards hey we got a roster built to to do this thing this year be ashamed and not be equipped and uh it's funny because we came in the year probably with Trey Lance and and sudfeld as the backup and that that's kind of shifted uh in a big way to hey we let's let's have Jimmy around here in case to insulate ourselves uh if something were to happen and then Brock earned his way on our roster you know we like them a lot during the during the draft process so much we waited till the last pick but we did really like them I mean we we didn't have them in here on a 30 visit just to throw people off you know because he was a guy that laid in the draft or as a free agent uh our guys greasy and Kubiak clay Kubiak Brian Griese that worked with the quarterbacks did a great job spent a lot of time with them really recruiting him along with Steve sloak who was the area Scout then and I think we had a good shot I've never asked Brock that I need to ask him would we have had you as a free agent but we liked him enough we didn't we didn't want to make it an issue so we took him with that last pick and I will say from day one he's kind of engendered confidence with the way he's conducted himself with the way most importantly he's played and every step of the way he's kind of checked the box so it was practice then it was preseason games and then it was you know regular season practices and then he goes in these games the last couple weeks and really has handled himself well and uh you know we're very fortunate to have him well certainly you can't speak for the other teams in the league but you know the fact that he did last until the final overall pick in this draft once you got him in here what qualities think he had that might have been undervalued around the league and maybe even bought you guys a little bit Yeah I think that the very quick processor you know can can handle a ton of information uh the work ethic to make sure that he's buttoned up and he's going to have the answers he knew where to go with the ball but then you start to watch him he's got some um you know some guile that comes with you know some manipulating linebackers to open up Windows to throw and he started doing that right away I think the thing that first impressed me you know with with Kyle with in this league number three quarterbacks that's what he was at the time they don't get a lot of reps but he really made those reps count and so it's pretty bold to go in there try to move Fred Warner with your eyes or body when you only have three a lot of people are going to really play it safe and he would take those chances and I think so it showed another quality wasn't afraid to take some risks but there were very calculated and he he made all of his reps really count and made an impression on everyone and I think just a also a lot of focus I mean he really you know very focused about his work staying after practice to go through the scripts that he didn't get because you know he wasn't getting those reps when he's doing the cards you know Kyle talks a lot about and every coach will talk about try to put you know you basically have to translate okay I'm looking at these cards but translate it to what we do this play is a lot like this player I think Brock's done a really good job of that a lot of experience against a really good defense because he's running the scout team most of the time so all those things have contributed to us having a lot of confidence did we know it would go as well as it has absolutely not he's uh he I will say Kyle was incredibly calm you know about the prospect of Brock playing and that that gave me confidence I said if the guy who's with them all the time feels this good about it I I'm gonna feel good and Brock every step the way has earned that let's backtrack to the off season you mentioned for most of the off-season it looked like it was going to be Trey Lance as the number one and Nate sudfeld as the number two do you remember the point in time when when Brock Purdy leaped over Nate sedfeld and that the organization yourself Kyle Shanahan were satisfied that you know what rock Purdy could be the number two behind Trey Lance that was of course before Jimmy you knew Jimmy would be back yeah all those sequence of events there were so many of them I think the first conversation and there was nothing against Nate we liked Nate a lot but again looking at our roster and saying man we we've got a shot this year to to do this whole thing we really liked where we're at and that really probably prompted us to to focus on the Jimmy conversation start that conversation but again Brock just kept pecking away pecking away pecking away pecking away and there was some time where Jimmy still had some some stamina to work up to be ready to play are we comfortable with Brock going in there and being a being a two if something were to happen and ultimately we were I don't remember but again he just kind of kept growing on you and you know there the nice thing with them there was a lot of film to study at Iowa State so it wasn't like we had brief amount of film he he started 40 you know over 45 games at Iowa State so you got to see a lot about what made him he changed the culture made it really a winning program I think you you can see when he's left they're struggling you know so the guy he's got a way of making an impact and he certainly has here yeah so the first two games you probably thought you knew what to expect but maybe didn't it because you never know when a rookie steps in there what impressed you most about how he performed when he stepped off the sideline against the Dolphins and then he got his first start against Tampa Bay a little bit of everything you know first of all you go to composure there's a lot going on you got the head coach in your ear you got defensive people moving all over you got other people in the Huddle we're subbing in and out you gotta you know you got a second clock that you're having to deal with to get in and out of the Huddle just so the whole operation I think the command of that that improved from week one to week two there was a lot of week one we're getting out of the Huddle and you're going come on let's go let's go and that's you expect that but I think um you know so I think the composure the toughness I mean Miami uh through the kitchen sink when they saw him in there that wasn't their plan versus Jimmy I think they quickly changed and said okay we got blood in the water let's go and uh he stood up to it I'll never forget that George Kittle play you know where he's got an all-out Blitz Jalen Phillips is coming after him and quickly uh knows what's coming stands in there in the face of you know put his face in the fan as they like to say and delivered a strike and so those type of plays really impress you last week playing through you know he got injured early in that game played through it we don't even know until you know the second half that he's that he's hurting and so I think you know every step of the way he's got a he's the athleticism I think you see him in the pocket extending eyes downfield so he's impressed us in a lot of ways I think Brock would be the first to tell you there's still great room for improvement but he's done a really good job of panel in that position and why do you think he is appears to be such a good fit for Kyle Shanahan's system what is it about his style of play that lends itself to what you guys are trying to do offensively I think what I was talking about he makes decisions really quickly I think Kyle's going to put a lot of put a lot on quarterbacks in terms of a lot of information even calling the plays there's a lot of verbage to him Brett can handle all those things he's always going to be prepared I think you know when I keep saying surprised I think what the play-making ability probably has surprised us more than anything and that's in Rhythm it's also extending and creating plays downfield and so that's probably uh but I think that's why that you know it allows him and he can match he can match wits with Kyle he can hang with them you know and that's tough to do so it's been a friendly environment these last two games now Thursday going up to Seattle what are the challenges that he faces going up there and playing in that environment there's a lot of challenges I mean it's it's probably the loudest place in football to go play the fans know that you know this is a really important game for Seattle so we're going to get their best shot on a short week they're not happy with the way they've been playing defensively they're a prideful group that we have a lot of respect we know what we're going to get from them that's a challenge for any player let alone a rookie quarterback and so Brock knows what he's in for and if not he'll he'll figure it out really soon Thursday night and I just think he's been ready for every Challenge and you know I I believe he'll be ready for this one so let's take you through the emotions of seeing Devo Samuel carted off the field and then the good news is Kyle Shanahan revealed on Tuesday that it's looking like a three-week injury more or less so take me through that what what was going through your mind and just how relieved you are to know the diva will be coming back yeah I was fearful you know it didn't look good I do always have this belief Debo's just different he's built a little different and while the normal human body couldn't take something like that I did have him saying that our guys now Debo's going to be all right he's he's all right and then sure enough I went down and saw him at halftime because I was concerned on you know wanted to hear what the the early conjecture was I know Debo was emotional so I wanted to go down there and see him and I think by then he had taken a deep breath and and felt to himself like I'm all right I'm gonna be all right he was moving his ankle I said just chill out and you know I think he got a little bit more sore overnight but then we got some good news back um you know not for the immediate we're not going to have him for this week um and and you know there's some timeline things but I think the everyone a big sigh of relief that it wasn't worse and we feel good about having him back at some point here and he'll work his tail off to get back so now what's what has to happen offensively for the team to compensate for the loss of you know a dynamic player like Devo Samuel uh you you can't replace a guy like that he is incredibly Dynamic he's so good after you know the balls in his hands in a variety of ways whether it's running the ball catching it so you can't replace that but but we believe we're well stocked we got a lot of weapons and so I think in the immediate um you know we've got guys who will step in Juwan Jennings has been our third receiver he's a he's a fantastic player um clutch always steps up you know ba has been tremendous all year I think a guy like Ray Ray McLeod that we've really enjoyed we've seen him in the return game get some looks on offense he'll have a bigger role as will Danny gray who's been getting a little bit better each week I was I was proud of him got his first grab last week late in that game and we really like what he brings to the table and then you know we've got you know Christian and Jordan Mason uh you know we'll see who that third back is all the tight ends we've got some weapons and we just gotta everyone's gotta step their game up a little when you lose a player as talented as Debo look on your defensive line and you're depth is being tested there with defensive tackle position you got Eric Armstead back now who will be playing for the third straight week but Javon kinlaw is Kyle had mentioned that it's looking like you might be opening the practice window on him what's your expectation for what Javon kinloch can bring to the team if he's able to get back yeah he's done a nice job Javon has I think we've taken a slower approach trying to give him the best shot and give us the best shot to have a healthy Javon kinlaw back they've been ratcheting up the intensity as much as they can without practicing because we haven't opened his window they want to do that even more so we want to do that even more so this week and then hopefully our hope is next week in preparation for the commanders get them out there open his window you know the the first test is can he endure you know cranking it up another level this week our hope is and our belief is that he will you know that's exciting the defensive tackle spot with Javon with Eric early for a long period of time Kevin Givens just went down a lot of guys have gone down Ridgeway who's been a really good player for us but thank God for guys like Ty McGill you know Akeem Spence likely we'll see some action here uh probably being flexed up from the practice squad so you know we've we've our scouting Department led by Adam Peters Rand carthon RJ Gillen have done a tremendous job just picked this kid up from Houston dump four so we'll just keep rolling them and hopefully at some point we stabilize start getting some guys back so uh I look at you guys are going back up to Seattle and one of the the memories uh of games up there there haven't been very many positive games for the 49ers in recent years the last decade but Drake Greenlawn makes that play uh outstanding performance in that game but he might be coming off an all-timer against Tampa Bay and picking off Tom Brady and 15 tackles and then having Tom Brady autograph the football but what has enabled Dre Greenlaw to take that next step to being a legitimate Pro Bowl caliber player fantastic player and I totally agree with you you know I played with one of the greatest linebackers of all time and Derek Brooks and that game last week was reminiscent to the games that I watched Eric Brooks play and um you know covering a lot of space underneath we put a lot Andre but then not just making the tackle but just not giving an extra another inch you know defending every when he hits them they go down nothing illustrates that better than the tackle he made in Seattle uh to send us or to to grab us the division and that play will go down as his in history but I think Dre has taken his his game to new heights I think he's been fortunate to be around some great leaders and players guys like Fred Juan Alexander I think had an influence on those guys but then to be around Johnny Holland every day to be around D'Amico Ryan's that he's been coached really well he's incredibly talented and we're we're really seeing him flourish I think he's playing as well as anybody in the league at the linebacker spot and uh that's including the guy that's right next to him and Fred Warner who's as good as there is so we're very blessed to have those two guys playing for us along with disease you're blessed to have great depth too I mean you look at pretty much all these positions where you've lost the quarterbacks you know running backs offensive linemen here and there the defensive line and it just doesn't seem like there's been any noticeable drop-off when you've gone from starters to backups what why has that happened what what is it about the players you brought in or just the the way the roster is comprised that you're able to step you know bring a backup in and that there's been no drop off I can tell you we wish it wouldn't happen it's you know it's it's happened more than we'd like and and look there's no just like I said with you but when you lose an Eric Armstead you're going to take a it's a gut punch when you lose kinlaw I mean those guys are Big Time Players I think first and foremost Kyle does a tremendous job our coaching staff our leaders on our team of no excuses I mean um you know Carrie Edwards you know has long said to me around here you don't ask someone to step up you ask them to step in and I guess that's something Bill used to and I think that's what our guys mentality they're not stepping up they've been ready for this and they're stepping in they're the next guy up and we expect and we've built our team such that you have to insulate yourself probably some experience of having having injuries before and not being quite as equipped and so you work really hard I think the fact that we work really well as a Personnel staff with our coaching staff the support we have from ownership to be able to do the things we need to to put a competitive roster that has us equipped to endure some of these things but more than anything it's a mindset that and we can't miss a Beat and a lot of that depth shows up on special teams where you guys made it a priority this off season to improve that area do you feel good about those strides that have been made to now have you know three phases of the game all playing really solidly yeah that's been tremendous I think Brian Schneider and his group have done a tremendous job we put a focus on it in free agency we needed to improve there you know in part to hang with Seattle they're so good at special teams year in year out we needed some guys and so you go add a guy like George Odom who's played at a at an All-Pro level and special teams or in Burks who helps a lot at linebacker but a really good special teams player you know Ray Ray McLeod those kind of guys kind of put some life in our special teams units but then I think everybody else is up their game and really function at a high level right now I feel like we're close to about breaking some of these punt returns that are really close with Ray Ray kick returns I feel like we're about to bust them and hopefully I'm right okay so you go up to Seattle a chance to clinch the division title how much of an importance do you guys put on going up there you know checking that box but also putting yourself in position here over the last month of the season to compete for that number two overall seed in the NFC yeah it's the next game there's obviously so much to play for but the most important thing this is the Seahawks and you're right they have had our number up there for the most part and so we know what a challenge it will be we know we're down some guys but we got to go up there this is a mindset game it's a short week these Thursday games are tough for players to get ready but it's about who's going to have the mindset that hey we're going to take all the challenges we're going to face them and you know it's a great opportunity to go up there and do something special you know I know we'll be ready all right John thank you very much for joining us on 49ers game plan

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Length: 19min 2sec (1142 seconds)

Published: Thu Dec 15 2022