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49ers QB Blaine Gabbert
Press Conference – August 26, 2016
San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers
You guys had more than 400 yards of offense the first two games. I think it was like 183 this game. What was happening today?
“I think the biggest thing [49ers head] coach [Chip] Kelly talked to us in the locker room about is we were inconsistent. Had some good drives, had some bad drives. Shot ourselves in the foot a couple times and when you’re inconsistent on the offense side of the ball, you don’t execute at a high level. It shows when you don’t move the ball, you don’t score points, drives stall. We put our defense in some tough positions and ultimately you lose the game.”
You had that nice second drive. You got the score a little bit sooner than the first two games. Do you feel good having gone out of the game after that sort of drive?
“Yeah. Being a competitor, I wanted to play more. But, it was just kind of how that first quarter panned out. They ate up a bunch of the clock there and we only had two drives. But, yeah it ended on a high note, scoring a touchdown in there on the second drive was good for the offense. Kind of got into the flow of things, got into a rhythm and did a good job punching it in the end zone. We were close there on the first drive to [49ers WR Quinton Patton] QP on that deep ball. But, it was good to score on the second drive.”
Going out on a high note like that, what does that do for your confidence going into the regular season figuring you don’t play--?
“It just shows that when you’re clicking in this system, you can score at a rapid pace and you can pick up big chunks of yards and you’ve seen kind of bits and pieces throughout the games in the preseason of that. But, like coach Kelly said, we’ve just got to be more consistent. When we’re consistent, we’re going to be tough to beat.”
With three games, three touchdown drives and then you’re on the sideline, do you wish you would have that opportunity to keep that rhythm going?
“Yeah. You just want to get into the flow of the game. And all quarterbacks are competitive. You don’t want to have to come out, especially after scoring a touchdown. But, that’s what the preseason’s for. Everybody gets reps and it’s nice to end on a touchdown but being a competitor, you want to stay out there as long as possible.”
T Anthony Davis and G Joshua Garnett, how have you seen them take this opportunity with the first team and your thoughts on them?
“They’ve been doing a tremendous job. Those guys are battling up front. There’s a lot of competition there in the offensive line room, but the depth we have there is phenomenal and all those guys can step in and play. Josh is a rookie. AD’s new at guard and they’re just working their tails off, coming in every day with that mindset of just trying to get better, learn the position and help this team moving forward.”
You seemed to make good decisions and deliver the ball on time. How would you assess your accuracy and your placement on throws?
“Being in this offense, getting the ball out on time and being accurate is, I would say, the most important thing the quarterback can do. This offense is based so much on timing, staying in rhythm, getting the offense into rhythm and when we’re in a rhythm, you see kind of how we just flow and pick up yards. It makes my job easy. I just try to get the ball out to the playmakers and let them go to work and score points.”
Were you pleased with your accuracy tonight?
“Yeah. I think, maybe I only threw three balls. So, it’s just kind of a small picture, but yeah for the most part, the ball was delivered accurately and on time.”
As you saw though, Green Bay had the sustained drive and that’s what led to QB Colin Kaepernick coming in, just so you can get equal snaps. Do you think that this offense has the ability to sustain a lengthy drive if needed?
“Yeah. I think Houston, I want to say we had a 12-14 play drive. Had a long drive in Denver. I don’t know how many plays we had there on the scoring drive at the end of the first quarter. But, yes. There’s no question in my mind that we can sustain long drives and we’ve proven that in the first three games. But, like I said earlier, we’ve just got to be consistent in sustaining long drives throughout the game and not put our defense in tough positions.”
What was the read you had on RB Carlos Hyde’s run down to the three?
“It was a good one. I thought he was going to get in, but we ended up scoring the next play. ‘Los has been running so hard. This offense fits his skill set perfectly. Once he gets downhill and through the second level defenders, running on safeties and corners, it’s a big back to bring down in the open field.”
How do you feel about your body of work the past few weeks and whether you’ve done enough?
“We’ve scored points when I’ve been in there. It’s just one of those deals. It’s the preseason. So, you’re not going to play the entire game and you just try to make the most of the opportunity and the plays when you’re in there. But, for the most part, the ball’s been delivered on time. We’ve been inconsistent at times, but we’ve kind of gotten a little picture of what we can do when we’re in a rhythm. Just trying to get better from here on out.”
WR Bruce Ellington went out with a hamstring injury. If he’s out for an extended period, what’s your comfort level with WR DeAndrew White playing out of that slot position?
“DeAndrew’s been doing a great job. I don’t know what the medical diagnosis is nor am I going to talk about one of my friend’s injuries, who knows how severe it is. But, I know DeAndrew and Bruce have been working their tails off all throughout the summer and training camp learning that position in the slot and that’s such a pivotal role in this offense and those guys have been doing a great job.”
You keep mentioning rhythm. How can you get it on that first drive?
“Just execute the play called. It sounds so simple, but you’ve just got to go out there and make it work.”
49ers QB Colin Kaepernick
Press Conference – August 26, 2016
San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers
Was there any rust or anything getting back out there after such a long layoff?
“No, I don’t think there was rust. It just felt good being back on the field. I was excited to be out there. Wish we would have done a little bit more, but it was good to get out there and get my feet wet.”
How’d you feel about how you played when it’s been so long?
“Yeah, it has been long I will say, about nine or 10 months. I think we should have done a better job on first and second down. We got put in a lot of third-and-longs, trying to make something happen there. But, I think overall I felt confident in my reads, felt confident with what the offense was doing. Once again, we just have to be more productive on first and second down to stay out of those third-and-longs.”
How did your arm feel?
“It felt good. Haven’t had any issues since I’ve been back. So, feeling strong.”
Considering the offseason, you’re rehabbing, you missed almost two weeks, is it realistic to think that you could win the starting quarterback job at the beginning of the season?
“Yeah, I think so. That’s really up to [head coach] Chip [Kelly] and the coaching staff, but in my mind I can go out and win it.”
What do you think you had to do tonight or have to do going forward to win that?
“I think next game we have to be more productive, put points on the board. Ultimately, that’s what you want to do as an offense and as a quarterback. So, I think that will be a big thing for next week.”
It looked like there was some serious blitzing going on. Did you expect that?
“It wasn’t too serious. They brought a couple where it was just a MIKE plug. But, for the most part, pretty standard stuff. A lot of it was dropping into coverage. So, held the ball and had to take off running a couple of times.”
Did it matter to you whether you started this game or not? Is that much of a difference?
“Once again, that’s not something that’s up to me. I just go out and do the best with the position that I’m put in. So, I want to make sure I give my all to this team and put my best foot forward.”
You’ve been in those situations as the backup going into the season and as the starter. That fourth game is typically a time when the starter doesn’t even suit up or barely even plays. What do you think would be the proper way to handle this fourth game for the 49ers?
“Well, the great thing about that is I’m not Chip, so I don’t have to make that decision. I’m just excited to be able to step on the field. I’m hoping I get to play. I was trying to play more tonight, but pulled the plug on me a little bit early. But once again, I’m just excited to be on the field.”
Would you have been fine going out with the number two offensive line?
“Yeah, I just want to play. At the end of the day I just like playing football.”
Was there a throw today you thought you had and you missed it a little bit and you want back?
“I thought I was going to be able to squeeze that corner route in to [TE] Vance [McDonald]. That was the one I was kind of looking at. Third-and-long, I was trying to get away with one, a corner got his hands on it.”
You said there wasn’t any rust, but you had a couple near interceptions on that first drive. When you look back on what went wrong, or what almost went wrong, what do you remember?
“What play specifically would you be talking about?”
There were two tipped balls. I don’t remember specifically the receivers?
“One was a screen and one was a flat pass. It was good plays by the defensive lineman getting up and knocking those balls down.”