HEAD COACH JEROD MAYO

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, September 29, 2024

Opening Comments:

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Look, obviously a disappointing game. I thought we had a good week of practice. I thought the guys had a lot of energy all week. I'm not going to say anything about the travel. I thought the guys were prepared and ready to go. We didn't hit some of the targets that we talked about. Defensively, keeping the quarterback in the pocket continues to be an issue. Offensively, we don't have a team that can lose the turnover battle and expect to win a football game. We have to do a better job with the turnovers. We have to do a better job with the negative plays and overall, we just have to be good. I will say special teams wise, I thought [K Joey] Slye did a good job. We thought the protection was good, the coverage was good. We had a special teams turnover. I thought all that stuff was good. I told the guys it is a long season. It is a long season. And we're wrapping up the first quarter of the season. I don't think any of us are happy where we are. I think when we go back and watch the film, though, it'll be easy to identify, so we can put ourselves in a better position to win football games. We sustained a few injuries to some warriors out there today. Some big injuries, well, not big, but big in as far as who it was. Those guys will come in tomorrow and do their injury checks, so I'm not sure how serious or not serious the injuries are, but those guys that couldn't finish the game are obviously a big part of what we do."

Do you think with all the hits that New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett keeps taking in this offense with the little time he has, do you feel that it might be something to maybe switch and ignite your offense that way when you go home?

"I think there is a combination of schematically, we have to do a better job of getting the ball out of our hand right now. And then secondly, I would say the offensive line just has to do a better job holding up in protection. We're trying to find different ways to do it. It's easy on some of those sacks when you go back and watch the film, the ball should be out. It'd be easy for you guys and everyone else to say, well, the offensive line should have done that. So I wouldn't rush to that conclusion. But we have to coach better. We have to play better and execute."

Given the fact that it's been two straight games with little offensive production, would you consider a change of quarterback?

"At this point, [QB] Jacoby [Brissett] is our starting quarterback. I haven't watched any film or anything like that. He's been a great leader. He just broke the huddle down after I talked to the guys. And we have to watch the film. We have a long flight to go back and watch the film, and we're always evaluating every single position."

You mentioned the edge being a problem on defense the last couple of weeks. Do you need to change what you're doing coaching-wise to correct that?

"Yeah, it's a frustrating thing. Sometimes you tell guys over and over and over, 'Look, the stove's hot, the stove's hot,' and they still touch the stove. If you were to ask me last week, maybe some of that was, you know, as far as the play call and who we're asking with [WR] Ozzy [K.J Osborn] out. But today, and the players will tell you, it's on them to go out there and set the edge, this is your job, do your job and we'll be okay."

If they don't do it, does it need to get to the point where they're just not having the opportunity?

"Yeah, 100%. 100%. We always talk about how these guys are competing and will be evaluated every single day, every single week. We want our most dependable players out there, especially when it's a huge target. Look, we have targets on our back. We can't keep the quarterback in the pocket, can't take control of the football, and so we're going to deal with it until we fix it. And it starts with me."

On the first possession of the game, you guys have third and three on their 41, go incomplete and then punt it away. Why punt there instead of going for it?

"They're different. We talk before we get to third down, and I say it's primarily myself, but I tell [Offensive Coordinator] Alex Van Pelt look, this is what I'm thinking… whether we're going forward on fourth and four, fourth and five, or we're going to kick it on three yards or less. That's kind of how it plays out. There are definitely times where it's easy to, in hindsight, say, 'I wish I would've been more aggressive here or there.' This is how we decided to play the game today."

It looked like in the second quarter on that fourth and one where New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson got stuffed, before that on the third down, it looked like you guys got a bad spot. Did you get any information from New England Patriots Assistant Quarterbacks/Director of Game Management Evan Rothstein or anybody about challenging that spot? It looked like maybe New England Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk had the first down.

"We didn't get any information. I didn't get any information on that one. I would say one thing, we have guys in the booth and they can see the replays. I'm on the field and there is a conversation and you know, put that one on me."

You said the team had good energy in practice this week. How did you feel like the energy was today? The effort was today?

"I thought the energy was good. And I would also say, going in at halftime different than when we were at the Jets. I thought that the guys felt like, look, we have a chance. We have a chance. They were excited to go out there and cover a kick. And it happened to be a big play for us and we scored a touchdown. That's encouraging. With that being said, there are a lot of things that we just have to correct from an X's and O's standpoint, and also from a personnel standpoint."

What can you do to sort of launch and make it so this doesn't get any worse for players?

"The players know it's early in the season and they understand that. We have veteran players in there and they understand it's a long season and we've always talked about how that North Star is just to get better each and every week. Now look, there were some good things that happened today. Maybe the score doesn't reflect it, but we just have to fix all the bad football and that's my job."

You had a conversation with New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson after he fumbled. What was that like?

"Well to me, a lot of this stuff goes back to body language and showing disappointment. I always talk about those types of things. And there's no one out there more disappointed than [RB] Rhamondre [Stevenson] as far as his ball security issues are concerned. It is what it is. Change the page and let's move forward."

Any thoughts on putting New England Patriots QB Drake Maye in the game at the end like you did last week?

"No thoughts today."

There were a few big plays left up on the defense. Did you see any commonalities in those?

"Poor execution. They did a good job as well timing up those shots and we just have to do a better job."

Do you feel like the pressure that New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett has seen over the course of this season has led to any skittishness or uncertainty in the pocket?

"I would tell you, from this game, let me go back and watch the film and I'll get back to you on that. What I will say about Jacoby is that he's tough both mentally and physically. This guy's going out there, he is taking some huge shots and continues to get back up. Sometimes you're like, 'Man, is he okay?' You're watching him for a while. But he is a tough guy and I would never use the word 'skittish' with a guy like that."

You talked a lot about how New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett is only getting 70% of the reps. Is that fair to him in the offense that he's not getting a hundred percent?

"We've talked about this. It's not all about the reps that are actually on the field. It's also what we do inside, right? What do we do as far as our walkthroughs and things like that. So I'm not going to go on not being prepared because he's taking 70% of the snaps. We just have to do better."

What goes through your mind now as to what you guys need to do this week to get ready to battle Miami?

"Yeah, it's a huge game for us. A divisional game and you always want to win those. We want to take the good things that we did today and carry those over and get rid of the bad football and that's my job. Thank you. Appreciate you guys."

QUARTERBACK JACOBY BRISSETT

Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, September 29, 2024

How would you sum up this offensive performance today?

"Tough. we can't give them two turnovers like that. We can't put our defense in a bad position like that. I think that's where it really starts. And then it comes back down to the fundamentals and execution. We really beat ourselves. We get a drive going and then something happens. We're not good enough to be able to play against ourselves and the defense. So, we got to just go back to practice, go back to the drawing boards and keep getting better from it."

As you replay the interception in your back, in your mind, what did you see?

"We had an in-cut coming open behind the backers. Hats off to [San Francisco 49ers LB] Fred [Warner], made a great play, but I think I put a bad ball out there and just a better throw would have picked up the first."

As the game goes on, you get behind 20 to nothing, what goes through your mind and how difficult is it to drop back knowing that they're charging at you, knowing that you're going to throw? What's the process like for you, and how tough is it to try to find guys open that quickly, time and time again as you're about to get hit?

"Yeah. I think that's just part of the job. It's like I said, it's hard to play against yourself and the defense at the same time. I think we put ourselves in a terrible situation obviously with the turnovers and things like that. Honestly just plays, not even only the turnovers but other plays in the drive that beat us. Then it's just going out there and trying to execute one play at a time. At halftime it's just like don't look up at the scoreboard. Just keep going. Special teams made a great play and we go down and we score and then we're back in this game. So, that's just what it's about. We got a long season ahead and we're continuing to build off of those things and keep getting better."

What was your message to the group at halftime?

"That it's a long season. To be hopeful and to be excited. When we started this climb, we never thought it was going to be just going up automatically. We knew there were going to be bumps in the road. We were going to get knocked down and be tired and be hurt. That doesn't stop the climb. It's just puts a little adversity in the climb. Told the guys, that's what we're built for in this room. We got the men in this room that you go back and look at everybody's story. Not everybody, but a lot of players' story and how they got into that room. It wasn't easy to get there and to reflect on that and to understand this is a long season. As much as we can hold our head, nobody's going to come and save us to pick our head up for us. We got to do it ourselves. That's the best part about being in this league and being early in the season. Because you have not a lot of time, but you got time to pick yourself up and lick your wounds and go back to work because you got another week next week."

You guys had fourth and five late in the game, and you made that long throw to WR Ja'Lynn Polk. What was the thought process there?

"Yeah, it looked like we caught it but, I guess not. But it's just giving our guys a chance. I'm trying to give us the best chance to make plays. They were starting to sit on us a lot and not backing up a little bit and Polk had made a couple good catches down the field. So, just trying to go up and give him another chance."

When you get in Monday and start, especially starting on Wednesday, how fixable is it and what do you think in your mind as a group, as a unit needs to be done to fix this? To get where you guys can come out and play, like you need to play to beat Miami?

"First, it's going to start with Monday and watching the film and being critical of ourselves. As the quarterback and the leader of this team, being critical of all the plays, honestly. How can we get better? In those times where we do have things going, how can we keep that momentum? How can we pick ourselves up when we go down? Having those vulnerable conversations to where it's like Jacoby, I need you better here. Or whoever it is we need better are here. So, that's the enjoyment of this process is, you know what I mean? I understand the product is not what we wanted right now but, we're still in the process of figuring out how to make the best product. That's why we're in this room because we can do that."

You mentioned it's still early in the season, but just to be frank, you're taking a beating man. How much longer can you take this? How many more of these hits and can you make it through 17 games like this?

"Just keep getting up. That's all I can do. That's all I'm going to keep doing."

WR DeMario Douglas

The plan was to throw it a little bit shorter today, maybe get it out of QB Jacoby Brissett's hands a little bit more quickly. Was there anything that was preventing you guys from doing that because of what the 49ers were doing defensively?

"No, I think we beat ourselves. I'm going to go watch film and then, that's when I will know. We just beat ourselves for sure. I don't think it's anything they did."

Does it make it more difficult a loss to swallow when you have two turnovers you have to roll out for unforced errors? Is that absolute frustration at all?

"Yes, we just don't like losing. Well I can't speak for everybody, but some of us just don't like losing regardless. It's just frustrating."

Is there anything you can do to help QB Jacoby Brissett? How would you assess the way he's played?

"I really don't speak on anyone but myself and just control what I can control."

DT Davon Godchaux

The team lost LB Ja'Whaun Bentley coming into this game. How tough is it to lose a guy that you really relied on over the course of the year?

"It's tough. He is one of the leaders of the team and his communication is always on point. But we have to do a better job of setting the edge and forcing the ball back inside. I feel like the offense gives us seven points of defense and we have to shut them out. I'm very prideful in the work that we put in on defense, we have a great defense. We just have to play like it for every snap."

It seems like you guys got close and then they had a big play right after it. You guys had the momentum and they took it right back. What happened?

"After the offense scored, they had the momentum. I think they threw a deep pass and it's very frustrating. But like I said, they are a great team. I'm not going to make an excuse, they won the game and we didn't help ourselves out by not setting the edge and getting deep. But we'll watch the film on the plane going back and we'll watch it tomorrow with the coaches and then it's all in Miami. A very winnable game, these next three games. Not underestimating nobody but we have to pick it up because before you know it, it's going to be losses and losses and losses. We are a really good football team, but we just have to play like it for 60 minutes."

CB Christian Gonzalez

DE Deatrich Wise Jr. was just saying that after the first couple series, you guys seemed to settle in. What kind of battle was it out there for you guys today, defensively? How difficult was it to keep fighting for 60 minutes the way things were going?

"Yeah, I mean its football, you know. There's ups and downs but we always pride ourselves on 'whatever happens, happens'. Getting to the sideline, talking about adjustments, and then staying strong and keeping it pushing. That's just what we pride ourselves on. So it wasn't a challenge to go do it. We just have to execute better."

When you lost S Kyle Dugger, how would you describe the impact of that in terms of the response to communication on the back end and how guys had to shift roles without Kyle?

"He went down but people stepped up. He's one of our captains. He's always vocal, so it wasn't a big change. He got the green dot and was able to get us all together and give us the plays. And the other safeties, [S Jaylinn] Hawkins and [S] Dell [Pettus], stepped up when their number was called. So I'm proud of them for that, for sure."

With what happened 10 days ago, guys were saying you had a good week of practice. Did you feel the energy was better out there today? It seemed like you guys, from S Jabrill Peppers all the way through, kept trying to make plays and kept trying to battle.

"Oh yeah, for sure. We're never just going to not have good energy or not come out and battle and give it our all. It's kind of like what I just said. We have to execute more. We're always going to come out with good energy and ready to fight."

TE Hunter Henry

How frustrating was it at times for you and to see QB Jacoby Brissett go through what he went through today?

"Yeah, it's frustrating. Nobody's a good enough team to give two turnovers. One is a touchdown, and basically you give them another one. We're not built to turn the ball over. Nobody is in this league. You get freebies, it's really hard. But coming out, we felt good. That was a good fast start coming out of the half. Obviously special teams made a great play. And then, like you said Jacoby man, Jacoby is just a warrior standing back there and continuing to take hits and continuing to battle. I love playing for Jacoby."

Do you feel there's more plays out there for your tight end group?

"Yeah, of course I have a lot of confidence in our room. I feel like we can make a lot of plays. Obviously we have to look at ourselves in the mirror. We have to obviously get open more. We have to be better at timing, routes, everything. So I'm going to look at myself in the mirror, and I need to be better in a lot of areas. I feel like I can provide a lot for this offense and obviously I need to be a lot better."

How hard is it to stick to the game plan that you go into the game with when you're down 20 to nothing?

"That's not the way you want to play. No one wants to play from behind that far, especially on the road as well. The crowd gets going. It's tough. It's an uphill battle. I was proud of the way we continued the battle, but in the end it wasn't enough. We can't do that early in the game."

LB Jahlani Tavai

Is this sustainable?

"Yes. We deal with injuries 24/7 in this game. If people are panicking, I am not. None of us are worried. It's next man up and for the younger guys and the guys who aren't playing it is opportunity. The results are the results. We are going to do our best to continue to move forward and get to the next week. I know the guys are pissed off right now, but we are going to watch this film, dial it back and figure out where we have to be. You saw today the aggression was there. I didn't see as much missed tackles as last week. So everybody was on the tackling.There's no drop off, the talent's there."

What is the missing piece there?

"It's a team game. It's not just on the defense, it's not just on the offense, and it's not just on the special teams. We, as a team did improve. Everybody who's in there in this building needs to know their role, their position, and just execute. That's it. When we execute, look what happens. We make dominant plays, we make turnovers. When we don't execute, then we give up a busted play. It just has to be consistent. When we can be consistent, that's when everything will become a great domino effect for us. I'm not stressing. We have the right guys. I'm not choosing any other team to be on. So I believe in these guys that are in this building and we will get better."

DE Deatrich Wise Jr.

You guys had good energy this week and had good practices. What was your mindset coming into the game and how tough was it to see some of the tough breaks that you guys had? How tough was it to see what San Francisco did today?

"We had a great week this week. Everything that we saw in the game we practiced for. We didn't start off the best but we continued to have high energy and we fought back defensively. That's the only thing that I really saw."

Is it frustrating for you guys, defensively, being put into a couple of tough spots with fumble, turnover and a turnover on downs where you guys are backed up in your own end zone? How difficult is that for you guys defensively to be able to try to hold up in those situations?

"It's a challenge but I think we answered well. I want to say it was the first three plays, the first three opening drives that we really didn't play well. It's uncharacteristic. We let the quarterback scramble a little bit. Other than those three drives, I think we played great. We stopped the run.We just had little things here and there that we need to fix. We were put into some unlikely situations but I believe we answered well. That's all I got to say."

How frustrating does it get with you guys just not being able to put together a full 60 minutes as a team since week one?

"Well, you know, it's week four so it's still early in the season. I've been on this team for a longtime. I feel like we definitely had seasons where we didn't start great, but we finished strong. So going into the next quarter of football next month we need to learn from everything we did in September, good and bad,fix everything bad and continue doing the good stuff. We need to continue building on that, and then put together a great game next week."