What Mike McDaniel and DeMeco Ryans said ahead of 49ers-Falcons

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans spoke with reporters after today's practice. Here is everything they had to say.

Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.

Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel

What stands out? What do the Falcons do well defensively?

"They play very hard. They make you earn everything. They really take advantage of offenses making mistakes. They make you earn it up and down the field and they present some pretty strong schematic issues just with how they play defense, the various coverages and fronts. And they make you really earn it. That's the toughest thing. You see a team that plays together. A team that doesn't rely on necessarily one person. It's a group defense. They present a lot of issues in that way, because you don't just isolate on, 'Okay, we're going to take advantage or we have to stay away from X, Y, or Z.' No, they're all going to play hard. They know what they're doing. They know their responsibilities, they don't bust much and they present a lot of different pictures."

You guys have had a few scoring plays where players have used the whole field. They've gone down the sidelines, hugged the sideline, hit the pylons. How designed are those plays or how cognizant of the players are to use all 160 feet?

"I would say that would be a product of our willingness of all of our players to block, because when you are blocking with proper technique, especially on the perimeter of the defense, ball carriers can really press and utilize all 53 and a third. And we really stress that. That's something that at every position you've seen, receivers, running backs, tight ends, tackles, on the perimeter. And we do our best as a coaching staff to have everyone see it through the same lens. And if we're going to do something outside, whether it's a run or pass and whether you're in the middle of a route and you're transitioning or you're run blocking, it's all the same principles to go one gap at a time and really stretch the defense. And when your blockers allow it and are definitive and whatnot, you can really utilize all the space. And on top of that, we have some guys that really enjoy running after the catch or running with the football. It's one of the strengths, I think, of our offensive skill position group. So kind of those compounding variables, I think, is why we're seeing more of that."

This might be a dumb question. I don't know if it's been more this season or if I've just noticed it, but why do you pitch the ball on inside runs? Pitching it straight back, I feel like normally you expect a pitch to be outside, left or right. What's the value of pitching the ball directly back?

"Not a dumb question. The value is what you just said. You do that when you feel like there's something that the defense is keyed on. And when the quarterback reverses out and tosses the ball that you might get overplay. There's a ton of different variables, but that would be it in itself. It's the usual, so you try to be sound, but also, just get defenses a hair off, because if they're a hair off that gives us an advantage. And with a lot of players that we're very confident in, that can be the difference in three yards or 15 yards."

It's becoming somewhat of a weekly question, but there seems to not be any big play on offense that WR Jauan Jennings is not a part of, are you surprised at all with his success now that he has his opportunity or did you see it coming?

"It doesn't matter what round, anytime you draft a player, you're doing that with those hopes and as a coach you're not going to give up on a guy and you're going to assume that he's capable of that. So pleasantly, I wouldn't say surprised, that's not fair. We were confident, especially after his rookie year with where he left before he got injured, that he would make a jump. But you never know until you know, so it it's been cool to really see him progress as a pro and really it's been cool for our whole offense to see. There's a lot of individuals that could say that on our offense, because there's been injuries, there's been a lot of opportunities spread around. And you've seen a team that has used a situation that's not ideal, which was starting 3-5 or whatever, and use it to our benefit where we started playing better football and doing the things that it takes to put yourself in position to make those plays."

Does he remind you at all of New England Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne, just being an energy guy and also his blocking?

"Oh yeah, definitely, there's a lot of similarities. We've said that a bunch, there's players and coaches alike. He does bring a unique energy and he is the same guy every day, which is important in a marathon of a season. I think we we're talking about it last week, but people do not understand how much work for an NFL player that goes on. It is a daily process and it goes on for six months to the face. So I think that's been the biggest thing is just watching everyone grow that way."

Was maybe having a year off for him learning the playbook and kind of being on the book side of everything, a benefit for him and maybe in disguise?

"Oh, for sure, that's always beneficial. It's a foreign language. You have 11 people trying to do assignments that are specific to them, that are dependent on the defense and you're trying to coordinate all that. So you have these words that mean stuff, and you can read it on a playbook and whatever, but in the huddle, it is a foreign language. So being able to digest that stuff and as a football player, when you're going against the best of the best, how important is it for you to be confident and decisive and in your responsibility? You can only imagine, it's extremely important. So that has been a huge benefit, which I think you've seen with a lot of guys that are second-year players or third-year players. And that's kind of what, in the locker room, the players kind of demand of each other because there's so many guys that are locked in, that there's no room for a weak link. So there's that peer pressure and the experience that's really been beneficial for him."

When you draft a quarterback real high and you have an established starter, it's one thing to say that the established starter is going to be a pro and we know he is going to handle it, but it's not a thing to actually do it because it doesn't happen in every instance. I'm just curious of your observation of how QB Jimmy Garoppolo's navigated this season? It seems like he's playing his best football right now.

"I'm very impressed. You don't know how someone's going respond to uncharted territory and there's many different ways that people can go about things like that. I think he's really earned a lot of respect from the players in the locker room, especially of how he's gone 'None of that matters. My job is to be my best version of myself.' And when you can solely focus on that, you have a chance to be your best. And that's been the biggest thing that's been really cool to watch is a guy that knows that we drafted a quarterback high. He hears the murmurs, but he doesn't let any of it bother him. He tries to be his best self. And in that, it forces you to focus and really gives you opportunity to be the best version of yourself."

Jimmy hit on some deeper throws outside the numbers. I think the one that might have been a DPI to TE George Kittle, the late third down to Jennings. As a play caller in kind of the grander chess match of the season, the fact that he did stretch the field successfully like that, does that have a carryover effect on defenses and what you can call moving forward here?

"Yeah, I think so. The defenses don't know the play that's coming. So in general, they have to play percentages. So when you broaden the percentages of where you throw, it creates more space. They want to constrict everything and be able to defend stuff in tight quarters. In general, defenses, it stresses them out when you use more of the field. We try to do it in the run and pass game. But then there's some defenses that say, 'No, we're going to make you earn it. We're not going to allow you to do that.' So it's case by case and sometimes there's opportunities to stretch the field. t's very important when you do that they're not a bunch of zero gains or sacks. You want to stay efficient, but you have to expand the field in general to be your most efficient offense that you want to be."

There was a humorous moment after the game when WR Brandon Aiyuk said, they're taught not to stretch the ball over the goal line unless it's fourth down. And obviously, if he fumbles out of the end zone, the game is over. It obviously worked out, but do you go back and say, 'Hey, don't do that again.' or is it just like, 'Eh, every now and then,'?

"You try to avoid complete absolutes because then you're going to talk out of both sides of your mouth. But just today we had a team meeting talking about the ball and [offensive line] coach [Chris] Foerster pointed it out. And we all thought collectively that he did it in a very safe manner that he had just passed pursuit and took the risk when there wasn't necessarily a chance for a strip or a fumble. You give them guidelines as coaches and you try not to do it unless it's fourth down, but then we also don't want to handcuff guys and make absolutes and let players do what they do best. I think it's awesome. We've kind of experienced that as a team or coaches and players where when the more you get to know Brandon and the closer and more comfortable he feels with you, there's a lot of layers of humor. And when I read that after the game, I was dying laughing and you guys are starting to see his personality come out a little bit. He's got those layers to him that are pretty cool. He made an unbelievable play, I don't think anybody on our staff, we are all kind of preparing for second-and-goal from the four in our minds. And that's in those split seconds and to see him make that play. I'm not going to be the guy that says, 'No, don't do that'."

T Trent Williams' physical ability, how much does what he can do on the field change what you can plan as an offensive coordinator?

"It changes immensely. There's things that you can't necessarily get done or get away with. And just in general, when you're game planning as a staff, we really try to utilize our player's skill sets as best we can. There's an accountability as a coach for, 'Hey, are we utilizing this guy the best way?' And with a skillset like his, there's things that he can do. We don't have to worry about a guy that nobody else can cut off as much when we run right. We can get away with things where he might be out leveraged, but he can make it up. In protection you can a lot of times against very good rushers, you can say, 'Okay, well, Trent's got that handled.' And you know that NFL players are very good by and large, and he'll get beat once in a while, but you're certain that he's not going to continue to get beat. So there's a lot of reasons that we're very fortunate to have Trent. And it really helps on Monday and Tuesday for our coaching staff, game planning and whatnot."

What do you think about comparisons between WR Deebo Samuel and Atlanta Falcons WR Cordarrelle Patterson? As Deebo gets more and more involved with the run game, how important is it to keep him involved in the passing game as well?

"I think the comparison makes sense and I think it's very complimentary on both. And their guy has had a resurgence in his career, but he has always been. I remember when I was a receiver coach evaluating him coming out of Tennessee, he was one of my favorite guys with the ball in his hands ever. The way that he moved and can cut at his weight. And Deebo is very similar, they don't move necessarily the same, but you see two guys that are football players who have an innate ability to carry the ball and avoid defenders and see space, that are also tough enough to do it. It's really the only comparison with guys that have receiving numbers like that and rushing yards like that. And with Deebo, it's game by game, how can we get him the ball? Some games you'll see him in the backfield more, some games you won't. It all depends on the defense and how we're able to get him the ball and what advantages it presents for the rest of the offense."

Defensive Coordinator DeMeco Ryans

I'll start with a question about DL Nick Bosa. How impressed are you by the stamina he has, not only every game he is out there, but he's delivering half of his sacks after the third quarter, fourth quarter, overtime? What does that tell you about Nick and how he's delivered in the clutch all season?

"Yeah, again for Nick, I think he's having an unbelievable year. A lot of people forget the guy is coming back off of an ACL and he continues to get better and better each week. It's probably one of the most impressive things I've seen from a player and it's just a credit to him for the way he works, the way he practices, he practices hard. Football is important to him and it shows. There's no doubt of my mind or no reason why Nick shouldn't have some attention for Defensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year. This guy has done it all. He's definitely been our MVP and I'm so happy to have him on our side, just for everything that he does for us when it comes to getting after the quarterback. And not only that, but his physicality in the run game as well. Just a complete player and one of the best players in the NFL and we're very happy to have him. I love the way he works, love the way he brings other guys along with him. It's everything you can ask for in a player."

So much of what he's doing is happening even though he's facing more double teams than any other edge rusher. And I know that key play, where you sent CB K'Waun Williams on the blitz, they couldn't double team him. How much of your job during a game are you thinking of how do I schematically try to get Bosa in position to face a single team?

"Yeah, well, it's ongoing throughout the game and we want to try to alleviate some of those double teams as much as possible. Yeah, he is getting doubled more than anyone in the league and he's still one of the most productive defensive ends in the NFL. No one else is getting doubled more than him, so again, teams have to account for him, but also we try to move him around and put him in different positions so we can try to help with some of that schematically. We can try to help so he's not getting double teamed, just feeling it out throughout the game as much as I can. I want to get him to the quarterback, so whatever we have to do to get him there, that's what we'll do."

Has that lessened at all, the double teams since he's started choosing which side to go on?

"No, it hasn't lessened. I wish it would but the double teams haven't lessened. Even though he's moving around a good amount, it still hasn't, which teams have to account for Nick because you know how productive he is and how he can definitely wreck a game if you don't. So all eyes are on him all the time."

Do most opponents line their tight ends up on the right side? It seemed like that's what the Bengals were doing mostly with their guys out there on their right.

"Yeah. Most times teams will do a tight end or a back in what we call a double chipper look. They'll get in those looks to try to protect themselves as much as they can, but again, we try to move him around as much as we can so he can avoid those situations."

Another Bosa question, but that Week 3 game against Green Bay was so noticeable how much he got chipped. Has moving him around lessened that or have you guys done anything else schematically, so that doesn't happen again or as much?

"Yeah, it can happen, it depends, a lot goes into it. It's down and distance. It's a lot of personnel. It's a lot of different things that go into whatever the offense is thinking at that time and how they want to protect it at that particular time. So a lot of different things go in it. We don't always know how it's going to shape out, but between [defensive line] coach [Kris] Kocurek and myself, we try to do the best job we can as far as moving him around as much as possible."

How do you assess CB Ambry Thomas' first start?

"I thought Ambry had some encouraging snaps out there and it was his first time with that much action in the NFL. For his first game, I thought he did some good things, he did some encouraging things and it's a lot for him to grow from, a lot for him to learn from as well, with him being out there as much as he did. And one thing I liked about Ambry, he didn't blink. He had some penalties, gave up a play, but he didn't blink. He just got right back out there. He continued to compete and I love that about him. I liked his attitude throughout the game. I like that he was flying around, so he did something things there for us that he can definitely grow from."

One of the initial challenges for Ambry, this is rewinding to training camp, was to get stronger, to put on more muscle in the weight room. Where is he at now as far as is he where you want him to be physically?

"Yeah, I think he as a rookie, the rookies are never there their first year. Just thinking about guys and you look back at their picture when they were rookies and they're all kind of frail, skinny. First year, we all are. Then you come back two, three years later, guys are bulked up from being in the NFL, true NFL offseason. So that's just the progression of all players, no matter the position. So he'll continue to get stronger and grow."

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he liked his aggressiveness on the line, just his jamming receivers. Do you see that from him as well?

"Oh for sure. I thought he was physical at the line. I thought he did a really nice job of jamming the receivers. He was doing his job, he was where he was supposed to be, he was accountable. I liked everything he did out there. There's some plays that as a rookie, you're going to get beat on. It was a good thing that it happened and we were able to win that game and he can learn from those mistakes as well and continue to grow. So I'm encouraged with him at the line being aggressive, him playing in coverage. I thought he did some good things."

Is that something you asked him to do or you were trying to get him to do off the line?

"It's all just mixing the scheme, so like I said, he did a good job of just executing the scheme of what we asked him to do."

Is that something you saw him do a lot at Michigan? Is that what kind of attracted you guys to him? Just the way that he jammed and played press?

"Yeah, I think what attracted us to him is just his length, first off, and his speed and him down the field. He made some really nice plays in college and Ambry is still coming back. He didn't play football last year, so he's still getting back into of the swing of things. Missing a whole year from football is tough, so he's still growing and developing from that standpoint."

How do you prepare for the dual threat of Atlanta Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson and is having WR Deebo Samuel across the line help at all with that?

"Cordarrelle, he's a really good player and he's their top playmaker. They find as many ways as possible to get him the ball, whether he's at running back, receiver, it really doesn't matter. He lines up all over the place and he's definitely made some big time plays for them. I like his style. He's a physical runner. He's not just a wide receiver playing running back, he is a true running back. He plays behind his pads and he's been doing a really nice job for them all year."