You've obviously switched modes from the preseason to the regular season now, but in terms of your mindset, where are you at going into this?
"We're just trying to prepare to make sure we're ready to go out and get a win."
You've had six months of preparation now. Where has this team gotten in the six months to convince you of that?
"We're a lot farther along than where we started. So, I think this team has confidence in what we're doing and we need to go out and execute."
You guys obviously kept stuff in reserve, a lot of stuff in reserve during the preseason. Would you say you kept more hidden than in previous years or is this just typical as far as what you showed during the preseason?
"It's not really hiding things. At the end of the day, you go out, you play football. It's not really about what plays you're running. It's about the players running the plays and executing them and using their technique and getting the job done."
In June, you talked about cleaning a lot of things up and you wanted to take on a greater load to carry this team. Where do you feel like you've come from, you know, in a matter of those three months since mini-camp?
"I think I've improved personally. I think this team's improved. It's something that everyone in here has worked everyday and tried to get better to make sure when we did get to Week 1 of this season that we'd be ready to go and ready to go out and compete."
It's a team game, obviously, but personally, you're 4-0 on Monday Night Football. You've got nine touchdown passes, no interceptions. What is it about the lights of Monday Night Football that kind of makes you ramp up the game?
"Well, I really didn't know that. But, I've loved playing under the lights since high school. Just kind of takes you back to the old days of being under the lights. It's a different vibe then when you're playing in a day game and I think everyone likes that feeling."
And I know, also, you're looking forward to a new start, new beginning. But also, looking back a little bit, what's the biggest lesson you took from Jim Harbaugh?
"He taught me a lot. A lot about professional offenses. A lot about the defenses, how they can react, how they can change based on what you're doing and what their game plan might be. So, I really can't say one thing. He's taught me a lot."
How do you think the offense has adapted in camp and the preseason as far as the faster tempo that you guys are trying to implement?
"I think our players have adjusted phenomenal. It's become second nature for us. It's something that we don't think about anymore. We just operate at that speed."
You don't seem like a guy that's really worried about outside perception given everything that's happened this offseason. As a team captain, how do you relay that message to block out all that outside noise to the rest of your teammates?
"I don't think that's something this team really needs to be talked to about. They come to work everyday and work their butts off. So, it's something that this team kind of handles by itself. It just naturally comes about."
How eager are you to see TE Vernon Davis turn the page? I'm sure all of you turned the page on last year, but he especially wants to get things started in a positive direction.
"I don't really see it as turning the page. We just need Vernon to be Vernon. He's a phenomenal player, a great talent and someone that can make great contributions to this team. So, when we step on that field, I think everyone will be excited to see what he does."
Head coach Jim Tomsula was saying he wants ‘Colin to be Colin.' How do you be yourself in this league? What do you want people to say about what kind of quarterback you are?
"To be honest, I'm really not worried about what people say about me as a quarterback. I'm worried about what my teammates think and what my coaches think about me as a quarterback. So, that's ultimately who I give that ability to judge to."
A couple years ago, you had the dual-threat. You took pride in being a dual-threat. Is that something you want people to take notice of again?
"Once again, I'm really not too concerned about peoples opinions of what they see or view me as. I mean, I was also the black quarterback with tattoos. So, once again, not something that really crosses my mind."
What sticks out to you about Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer's defense. What are you looking out for?
"They do a lot of different things and they do them well. They play fast, they play hard. Something we're going to have to be ready for everything."
Are any blitzes unusual or a lot or is that something you have to prepare for in particular, the blitzes?
"Every defense blitzes, they just do it different ways. So, we have to get ready for the way that they're going to blitz us."
Have you found the virtual reality to be valuable in preparing for opponents? How much are you using it this week, for example?
"A little bit here and there but really haven't used it too much. Something that we have to kind of progress with as the technology progresses."
Will it be special to see coach Tomsula? It's his first real game as head coach and you know how far he's come to do this.
"Yeah, it'd be great for his first game to be a win. So, that's what we're going to try to do."