In case you didn't know, the 49ers defense had a lot of penalties on Sunday. So many that they were cruising towards a record. Not since the Houston Oilers in 1993 were the 49ers able to rack up six, count them, six offsides penalties before halftime.
Young team, badly coached team, or just simply an undisciplined team, it's anyone's guess. One of the more solid spots on the line, Ian Williams talked about the penalties. The 49ers nose tackle will be entering free agency at the close of the season, and while he won't be the hottest commodity, it's safe to assume a few teams could definitely use him.
Being injured the last couple of years and playing this year. How much more comfortable do you feel being that you've been able to string these weeks together and start to play well.
Feels good just to be able to say I made it to week 16. Body's sore, but it's a good feeling. But it's a big step and I've just been working hard these past years. Just trying to get back healthy so I can make it back to this point.
Obviously you, your status with the team is uncertain. Have you had any conversations with the team about your contract status heading into the offseason?
Not me personally. I told my agent if they have any discussions, just leave me out of it. After the season, fill me in. but just during the season, I don't want to think about it. I still have a lot to worry about during the week and on Sundays.
Would you like to come back?
I'd love to, I'd love to. This is where I've been this is what I know. Guys on the team, it's where I'm comfortable at, I'd love to be back.
Jim [49ers head coach Jim Tomsula] talked a little bit today about the offsides penalties, how do you look back on that, what do you think caused that and how frustrating is that it's still happening this late in the season?
It's very frustrating, but there's no excuse for it. It's something we got to get better at. We can't let it happen that many times. I can understand once or twice. I had one last week, and I think I had one this week too. I mean, it's uncalled for but, what did we have? Eight or nine? It's crazy, but it's something we need to work on and get better at.
Why is it sometimes there's a snowball effect? I mean it's happening and you're aware it's happening. Do guys get extra jumpy trying not to make that mistake?
Guys are just anxious trying to make a play and trying get there. Guys are just trying to do everything they can; get back there and get a sack, make a play, make a game changing play, do something for the team that helps the team.
Was Detroit doing anything special to the snap counter? Center doing anything to the ball? Was there anything on their side that can explain what happened?
No they were using a simple snap count just like most quarterbacks use. Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, all those guys use, we just happen to be susceptible for it.
When you prepare for opposing quarterbacks, there's no volume on the film, but are you able to get audio of different cadences and is that something you guys do as part of preparation?
Yeah you can. You can have game copies. They played the Saints on Monday night and I think a lot of guys watched that game, I did. It's like I said, it's uncalled for. Eight or nine of those penalties is uncalled for.
Going back to your next season. Drew [sports agent Drew Rosenhaus] and the 49ers have quite a history of working out deals and getting things done. Are you surprised it hasn't happened yet?
No I'm not surprised. I'm sure they wanted to see me make it through the season healthy. I don't know. I'm not worried about that, I'm trying to finish out the season strong and do what I can to help out my team, my teammates.
Just focus on that?
Just focus on that
After it's over?
Yes.
Beyond the penalties how do you think the defense played yesterday? Jim was talking also about some missed tackles. That were kind of frustrating. Did you see too many of those and how do you think that can be fixed.
Just simple, just need to come to balance and make those plays. When we're in a position to make a play, we just need to make it. But we're taking steps. Since the Cleveland game, we've done better in the rush, and that came from breaking it down and going back to the simplicity of run stopping. It's helped us the last couple of weeks.
Do you think you guys maybe have been tried to be little bit too complex the last couple of weeks?
Not too complex, we got a lot of new guys out there. A lot of guys playing with guys for the first time. So there's going to be mistakes there's going to be, "Well I thought you were here/thought you were there." There's going to be a lot of that. So it just needed to be ‘guys, walkthrough, simple' get back to the basics, and that's what we did and that's what's been helping the past couple of weeks.
Do you guys feel like you're building, for something? In the past you had the team established. Do you see signs that things could be better down the road?
We are, just what you asked in that question, means you're seeing stuff too. Which is, that's what we want. We're building. It may not be a 12-4 season or a 10-6 season, but we're getting there. We're making strides and we have guys that here that are willing to get better and wanting to get better and in this offseason will get better. I'm excited just to keep this snowball going and see where this thing is going.
Do you think Jim Tomsula is leading that building effort? Obviously at 4-11 there speculation about his job status. Do you think he needs to be a part of that building project?
He's building something. We all see it, you guys see it. The record may not show it, but you know, the culture here, in the locker room, just what we're trying to do. It's going to be seen and I'm hoping everything works out. Guys want to see the success continue with what we have going on right now.