Juszczyk says Garoppolo not wearing a knee brace this year will be a huge advantage

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Jimmie Ward met with the media Tuesday. Juszczyk said the offense picked up where they left off. This is the fourth year of the team running Kyle Shanahan’s offense, so the team doesn’t have to “waste” time on your typical Day 1 and Day 2 installs, Juszczyk said.

Juszczyk on how much versatility is being stressed in camp

I think versatility is really the name of the game in Kyle’s offense. That’s always kind of been the theme here. Everyone has to know every skill position. You have to be interchangeable. Wide receivers have to know what’s going on in the backfield. Us running backs have to know what’s going on outside. That’s really always been the case, and that’s something we can use to our advantage this season in the case that some guys were to down.

Who knows, you may be able to dress two or three receivers one game, and a tight end has to play that third receiver or a halfback has to play tight end. Whatever it is, I feel like we’re built for that.

On Jimmy Garoppolo not wearing a brace

I just know speaking as an athlete, myself, when you don’t have to think about something, and something’s not in the back of your mind, weighing on you, it relieves so much stress, so much pressure, and you’re able to play so much more freely. If he’s not thinking about his knee, if it’s not even in his head, that’s going to be a huge advantage for him. I know, just as an athlete, would make me play better, and I think you’re going to see that from him. When you don’t have to think about that stuff, you can just go turn it loose.

On the two rookie running backs, Salvon Ahmed and JaMycal Hasty

The short time I’ve spent with Salvon and Hasty, they’ve done a really good job. They’ve been on top of it as far as the meetings go. There are some advantages of coming to a veteran team. A team that’s been running this offense for a long time. It’s hard to explain, but there’s something to be said about when everyone around you knows what they’re doing. It pushes you a little bit to know what you’re doing, and things are a little more clear for you.

When you get on an offense and everything is brand new, and guys next to you don’t exactly know what they’re doing, there’s a lot of hesitation. There’s a lot of muddy water. It can get murky out there. But when everyone around you is clear, defined, and knows exactly what they’re doing, it makes things clearer for you. I think that’s one benefit these rookies have coming into this offense, and also, they get a little extra time with coaches. A little more attention can be given to these rookies.

It seems like an uphill battle with less practices and less games, but I do think there are some things that are working in their favor.

On Jerick McKinnon

Jet has looked phenomenal. You’d never guess the way he practices, how smooth he is, how he doesn’t second guess himself, how quickly he answers questions in meetings, all that kind of stuff, you’d never guess this guy hasn’t been on the field for two years. He just makes things look so natural, so smooth that I think there can only be positive things for him this year. I think he’s going to have a really good year.