49ers-Giants transcripts: Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick met with the media

49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Postgame at Giants, November 16, 2014

Q: Are you amazed that your defense has been able to continue to play the way it has?

A: It was a spectacular performance by our defense today. So many guys stepped up and played great, living in the moment, competing like the dickens and making tremendous athletic, football plays.

Q: You guys seemed to run the ball especially to the right today... What told you that running to the right would be effective today?

A: We did both, but we thought right or left, both is good.

Q: The offense had some issues today, but they seemed to ... Is that just what this offense is?

A: I think we are moving the ball. Picking up first downs and how many times did we punt in the game?

Q: Aldon [Smith] made his debut today... Was something wrong with Ahmad Brooks where he wasn't able to come back in the game?

A: We have something we are working through.

Q: Are you concerned about your second half, particularly your fourth quarter offensive production?

A: Tremendous win for us on the road against a very good football team. I think our team did what we had to do to get a very important win and those wins are huge right now.

Q: Did you say Ahmad is working through something or you are working through something?

A: Yeah, we are working through something. I'm done. I have answered the question.

Q: How did Aldon look?

A: I thought he did some good things. Corey Lemonier did some good things. Aaron Lynch did some good things. Chris Borland, amazing performance by Chris. Michael Wilhoite. Good pressure, I thought we had up front and our secondary was competing all around, backs against the wall. [We] came up with a tremendous goal line stop.

Q: Can you expand on the goal line stand there in the fourth quarter?

A: Chris Culliver as well. I thought Chris Culliver played a great game.

Q: What did it mean to you when he gets a pick and runs over to you and gives you the ball?

A: I loved it. That was great. That has happened a few times in my career in college and pro, but that was great. I was just happy for him, and tremendous play by him. I was touched.

Q: Are you going to keep the ball?

A: No, I am going to give it to him. It is his ball.

Q: What made the [Michael] Crabtree play work?

A:  It was an outstanding throw and a great route and Michael really hit the yards after reception and he was playing football. It looked like he was having fun and he was going to get to the goal line. That is what it looked like. He had a seam. [Colin] Kaepernick drove it through the defense. Heck of a throw and catch.

Q: You guys have won back-to-back road games now... You pulled into a second place tie with the Seahawks today because they lost... Do you like where your team is standing right now?

A: We will enjoy this one. It will be a happy flight home, and then we will get on to the Redskins. I feel really good. Our team is playing with a lot of heart, with a lot of fight and it means a lot to our players and coaches.

Q: 47 tackles, the key fumble recovery last week and two picks this week... Has this defense missed a step with Chris Borland in there instead of Patrick Willis?

A: I said it before that the standard that Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman have set for inside linebacker play is at the highest level. Chris Borland, Michael Wilhoite, they are playing great with a capital ‘G' and rising to that level. It is great to see.

Q: Speaking of [Bowman], will he return to practice Tuesday?

A: We will see on Tuesday.

Q: Were you frustrated in the first half just getting field goals instead of touchdowns?

A: I am glad we made them. The field goals were important. They were the result of some very good drives and one was a result of a great turnover by our defense. Capitalized. Yeah, you would like to get the touchdown, but you do come away with points on the board and those are critical. Very excited about the win.

Q: Does it concern you at all that you guys aren't scoring in the red zone and you are settling for a lot of field goals?

A: We would rather have the touchdown, but you want to come away with points on the board when you have a drive. One time we didn't do that when we got down in there and those are critical to get. Score more points than the opponent and with a great defensive effort, that was enough today. You do what you have to do to win the game. I thought our team did that.

Q: Is Ahmad's future with the team in doubt?

A: We need Ahmad Brooks to win a championship. I feel that whole-heartedly, and have felt that way.

Q: Sum up how you feel now versus how you felt after the Rams game?

A: Much better feeling to win the game.

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick
Postgame at Giants, November 16, 2014

Q: What was your take on this game and battling and having to run the clock at the end to go on to win.

A: Our defense played great.  I think that was the biggest thing we got from this game.  They continue to play great and put us in a position to win.

Q: Can you talk about the touchdown to [Michael] Crabtree and explain what happened on that play?

A: I had a short post on, made a great play catching it, breaking a couple tackles and running away.

Q: Is it frustrating to not be able to sustain a drive in the fourth quarter and have to keep giving them back the ball in a really tight game?

A: You want to score as many points as you can.  But at the end of the day, we got a win and that's what matters.

Q: You guys have won back-to-back games on the road now.  Do you feel this team is a lot further along and you have a lot more confidence of where you guys can go now?

A: At this point, we're just taking it one game at a time.  Trying to make sure we're ready for the week that we're in and that's going be our approach the rest of the way.

Q: What made the pass to [Michael] Crabtree work? Tell me about that play.

A: Offensive line blocked well. He ran a great route and made a great play after the catch.

Q: Are you feeling any empathy when you see an opposing quarterback throw as many picks as Eli Manning did?

A: No.

Q: What do you think about the spark Chris Borland's bringing to the team right now? Offensively, can you guys feed off a young player making those types of plays?

A: Yeah, he's been playing amazing.  Stepping up. Our defense hasn't missed a beat with him in there. He's made a lot of plays and he's someone I think since training camp and OTAs everyone was excited to see what he could do when he got the chance and I mean he's taking full advantage of it.

Q: After [Michael] Crabtree's touchdown, you and he and [Frank] Gore were talking on the bench and it was even more happy than usual, it appeared.  What was that about? Just love? What was it?

A: We were just giving Crab[tree] a bad time. Messing with him.

Q: How so?

A: Just joking with him.

Q: Because it wasn't third down?

A: Nah.

Q: You can't share?

A: Nah. We'll keep that in house.

Q: Colin, how much do you look at the big picture? Seattle lost today, you guys are now tied with them. Are you aware of all that stuff? Are you just trying to look at, like you said, one game at a time?

A: We're one game at a time from this point out.

Q: How about the overall mojo of the team now versus after the Rams game? It looks like you're having more fun now.

A: We're trying to take full advantage of the opportunity we have. We know our backs are against the wall, so we have to play every week like it's our last game.

Q: You've had trouble scoring in the fourth quarter all season long. Is it becoming such a routine frustration to you guys that you don't know what you can do to fix this?

A: No. There's always something you can do to fix it. Execution is number one on that list. I think the biggest thing for us is we just have to make sure we're on top of everything when we get to those situations.

Q: It doesn't seem that you're that far off?

A: Nah.