WEBVTT - Sam Darnold Talks Joining the 49ers QB Room | Press Pass

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<v Speaker 1>They're saying welcome. UM, can you tell us a little

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<v Speaker 1>bit about how you connected with the forty nine ers

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<v Speaker 1>and uh, you know what what Monday was like? Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, um, yeah, as you guys can probably imagine,

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<v Speaker 1>Monday's pretty crazy. Um, especially as a free agent, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>first time around. UM again, having great people in my

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<v Speaker 1>corner to be able to um narrow the scope a

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<v Speaker 1>little bit in terms of you know, um, who I

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<v Speaker 1>was looking for, so UM, but yeah, I think at

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<v Speaker 1>the end of the day, it was, UM, a fairly

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<v Speaker 1>easy decision for me to be able to come here

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<v Speaker 1>and um just be able to go to work. And

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<v Speaker 1>that's what I'm most excited for is to be able

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<v Speaker 1>to to work with Kyle and you know, Brian Greasy

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<v Speaker 1>and all the coaches on this staff and again UM,

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<v Speaker 1>all the players, UM, the great personnel that that is around, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>this locker room and UM from top to bottom. Just

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<v Speaker 1>excited to get started this organization and get to work.

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<v Speaker 1>Sam kind of kind of following up on what you

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<v Speaker 1>just touched on there. Some people from the outside would

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<v Speaker 1>look at this and say, you're you're signing here to

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<v Speaker 1>be the number three quarterback. Um, it's a little bit

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<v Speaker 1>of a unique situation with with the injuries. How much

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<v Speaker 1>did it kind of play into your mind of I

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<v Speaker 1>would like to get a reset here where I can

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<v Speaker 1>be in a good situation to kind of build myself

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<v Speaker 1>back up here. Yeah, you know, I think, um, I

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<v Speaker 1>think to be able to find myself in a really

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<v Speaker 1>um a good organization kind of like what I just said, Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>just from top to bottom, right, I mean, being in

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<v Speaker 1>a really good organization was um a priority for me. UM,

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<v Speaker 1>being with um really good coaches, UM and really good

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<v Speaker 1>personnel as well. So um, you know those were kind

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<v Speaker 1>of the top things for me. And uh yeah, it's uh,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I'm very very happy to be here, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>but understand that, UM, you know, got to got to

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<v Speaker 1>continue to work and work hard. I Sam David Lombardi here.

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<v Speaker 1>You mentioned Brian Greasy in your other answer. He obviously

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<v Speaker 1>had success with with multiple different quarterbacks last year. Is

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<v Speaker 1>that something that you know when you're doing your research

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<v Speaker 1>for where you want to go? Is that something that

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<v Speaker 1>you take a closer look at and and have Did

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<v Speaker 1>you have a chance to ask him some questions before

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<v Speaker 1>before you signed on? Yeah? Absolutely, UM, I mean the

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<v Speaker 1>more the more answers, the more information that you can

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<v Speaker 1>get UM throughout this free agency process, the better UM,

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<v Speaker 1>and so UM, you know, just to be able to

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<v Speaker 1>UM understand kind of his thoughts on quarterback play and

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<v Speaker 1>UM just the way that the way that you saw

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<v Speaker 1>you know, Trey, Jimmy and then at the end of

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<v Speaker 1>the year Brock play. Um, they played you know, with

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of confidence and they played fast and UM.

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<v Speaker 1>You know that's something that I was very interested in

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<v Speaker 1>for sure, and being able to talk with Brian about that,

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<v Speaker 1>UM was was very eye opening. Speaking of Rock and

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<v Speaker 1>Trey Lance if you had an opportunity to talk with them,

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<v Speaker 1>and just how familiar you are? Familiar are you with

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<v Speaker 1>them in their games? Yeah, I have not been able

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<v Speaker 1>to talk with them since I signed, very familiar with

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<v Speaker 1>their games. I feel like, you know, all three of

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<v Speaker 1>us are pretty similar. UM. You know, we have the

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<v Speaker 1>ability to get out and make plays when we need

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<v Speaker 1>to that way, and we can also throw from the pocket.

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<v Speaker 1>So I see a lot of similarities in all three

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<v Speaker 1>of our games. And you know, just excited to work

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<v Speaker 1>with them and meet them as soon as possible. Hi, Sam,

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<v Speaker 1>how comfortable are you with what Kyle Shanahan asks of

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<v Speaker 1>his quarterbacks, So you're familiar with his offensive system. Was

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<v Speaker 1>that something that was attractive to you looking at free agency? Yeah? Absolutely, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>just to be able to you know, understand kind of

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<v Speaker 1>have an understanding of what it takes to play quarterback

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<v Speaker 1>in this system. I understand it's very UM there's a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of different checks, UM, a lot of different shifts, motions, formations,

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<v Speaker 1>all those things. UM. And you know, I'm very excited,

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<v Speaker 1>very excited about that opportunity to do that and uh,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, just help this team however I can. Hey, Sam,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm assuming that you know Christian McCaffrey and Steve Wilkes

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<v Speaker 1>pretty well. UM. Wondering whether you consulted with them, talk

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<v Speaker 1>with them during that decision making process. Um. Yeah, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>didn't talk to Steve very much. UM. Had had conversations

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<v Speaker 1>with Christian, UM, not too much free agency talk, more

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<v Speaker 1>just you know, conversations about life. But UM, yeah, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I think you know, for me, I think the you know,

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<v Speaker 1>kind of what I said in the beginning, I was,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, no matter who I talked to, UM, taking

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<v Speaker 1>emotions out of it. UM. I was really just focused

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<v Speaker 1>on those things that I mentioned before. UM, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>looking into free agency and looking at um, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>how I can just continue to grow as a player,

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<v Speaker 1>and those things, UM that I have mentioned earlier really

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<v Speaker 1>stood out. Yeah, Sam, how much the last six or

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<v Speaker 1>seven games of the season, when you won four times

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<v Speaker 1>and and and played pretty well, how important was that

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<v Speaker 1>for you and building up all menum for what was

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<v Speaker 1>gonna come next. Yeah. I think for me, it was

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<v Speaker 1>just playing within myself. I think that was the biggest

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<v Speaker 1>thing that those last six games. Obviously, UM, a couple

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<v Speaker 1>of games didn't go our way, but UM, it was

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<v Speaker 1>just playing patient. I think that was the biggest difference

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<v Speaker 1>for me. Is um, you know, not not forcing things

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<v Speaker 1>when they weren't. UM, you know, just giving giving our team,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, because when you when you turn the ball

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<v Speaker 1>over and when you force the ball in there, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>it's you know, you know, you can't you can't play

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<v Speaker 1>um late in the game or have a chance late

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<v Speaker 1>in the game if you're turning the ball over. So UM,

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<v Speaker 1>I think that was the biggest thing with me, Um

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<v Speaker 1>those last few games of the season was just staying

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<v Speaker 1>within myself, staying patient and uh yeah, you know I

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<v Speaker 1>feel like UM you know that that that was some

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<v Speaker 1>MOMENTUM to be able to build on UM for you know,

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<v Speaker 1>this next year coming up. But at the same time,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, um, there's a lot of work ahead of me. UM,

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<v Speaker 1>and I understand that that I gotta get going here

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<v Speaker 1>pretty fast, and UM get going on the playbook and

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<v Speaker 1>and um continue to work. Hey Sam, you mentioned that

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<v Speaker 1>you talked to Christian a little bit before you signed

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<v Speaker 1>with the Niners. Are you looking forward to reuniting with

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<v Speaker 1>him and Steve Wilkes all now as forty nine ers? Absolutely? Yeah, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>Christians a great dude. UM. We became good friends in Charlotte,

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<v Speaker 1>UM or in Carolina, I should say, And um, obviously

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<v Speaker 1>UM created a really good bond with coach Wilkes as well,

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<v Speaker 1>you know throughout the last half of the season. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>you know last season in Carolina. So UM, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>just excited, excited to be able to work with Christian

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<v Speaker 1>again and obviously with coach Wilkes. UM. So yeah, I

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<v Speaker 1>don't know if I can say I'm excited enough during

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<v Speaker 1>this press conference, but yeah, I decited to get to work.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey Sam, what is your understanding of what you're stepping

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<v Speaker 1>into as far as your potential role and you know,

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<v Speaker 1>having a real UM potential or ability to compete, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>at the very least for the backup role. Yeah, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I think for me, it's it's really coming in here

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<v Speaker 1>and doing every thing that I can to to understand

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<v Speaker 1>the offense. UM. I know I have my work cut

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<v Speaker 1>out for me when it comes to that. UM. So

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<v Speaker 1>I think that's just my focus right now is is UM,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, doing whatever I can, UM to help this

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<v Speaker 1>team win games. UM when it comes time to do that, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>whether that's me, um being the backup or starting, and UM,

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<v Speaker 1>that's my mindset on that kind of same note, Sam,

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<v Speaker 1>have you had a conversation yet with Kyle Shanahan and

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<v Speaker 1>what kind of did he lay out as as a

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<v Speaker 1>plan for you along those lines. Yeah, I think kind

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<v Speaker 1>of like you had mentioned, UM, there are some unknowns

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<v Speaker 1>right with with Rocks injury and then and then Trey

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<v Speaker 1>coming back. UM. So I think those are things you

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<v Speaker 1>know that you know, with with a good room, with

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<v Speaker 1>a good quarterback room, UM, you can as long as

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<v Speaker 1>we stick together and UM we understand that. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>we just got to work hard and continue to put

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<v Speaker 1>the best foot forward for each other. UM that everything's

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<v Speaker 1>gonna work out. UM. And I think at the end

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<v Speaker 1>of the day, UM, as long as we're winning games. UM,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, that's that's the only thing that matters to me. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, as as I continue to get to know

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<v Speaker 1>Trey and Rock, you know, and and talking to people

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<v Speaker 1>around the building about those guys, UM, it seems to

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<v Speaker 1>me that they all they care about is winning as well. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know, obviously as a competitor, UM, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>you want to play, UM, but at the end of

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<v Speaker 1>the day, you gotta do what's right for the team,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know, and and you leave those decisions up

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<v Speaker 1>to to Kyle, and we know that he's gonna put

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<v Speaker 1>the best, um, you know, best guy out there and uh,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, UM and do the right thing that you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we just need to go out there and win a r.

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<v Speaker 1>We haven't had a chance to meet, um, Steve Wilkes yet.

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<v Speaker 1>He's still there. Sam, Yep, you got me, okay, yep.

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<v Speaker 1>We haven't had a chance to meet Steve Wilkes yet. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I heard only good things about him, especially

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<v Speaker 1>what um you guys were able to do in the

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<v Speaker 1>second half of the season there. But how would you

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<v Speaker 1>describe him and how would you you know, what would

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<v Speaker 1>you say the forty nine Ers defense is getting in

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<v Speaker 1>Steve Wilkes. Yeah. I mean he's one of the smartest

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<v Speaker 1>defensive coaches I've been around so far, um, since I've

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<v Speaker 1>been in the NFL. And um, you know, just his

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<v Speaker 1>ability to coach. Um, you know, the way that he coaches,

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<v Speaker 1>the way that he gets the back end right, um

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<v Speaker 1>and ties kind of everything in together, right. Um. I

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<v Speaker 1>think that's that's something that is rare um to find

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<v Speaker 1>in a defensive coordinator and coach. Wilkes has that, um

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<v Speaker 1>you know, and you know it's it's very just the

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<v Speaker 1>way that he talks. I mean, you guys will meet

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<v Speaker 1>him soon enough, but um, just the way that he

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<v Speaker 1>talks about football and in the way that he, uh,

0:11:02.840 --> 0:11:06.760
<v Speaker 1>he operates. Um, you know, it's he's gonna shoot you

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<v Speaker 1>straight as a player and you know, as a as

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<v Speaker 1>a player that likes to get better, and UM, I'm

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<v Speaker 1>sure a lot of guys in the locker room are

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<v Speaker 1>the same way. Guys that want to continue to get

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<v Speaker 1>better throughout their career. Um. Everyone can appreciate someone who's

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<v Speaker 1>gonna be brutally honest with you. Um, you know, but

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<v Speaker 1>in the same breath, he's gonna he's gonna do everything

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<v Speaker 1>that he can to get to know you. And um,

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<v Speaker 1>you know when you're in the hallways and you see him,

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<v Speaker 1>he's he's a great dude, and he's gonna ask about

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<v Speaker 1>your family, and um, he's a great family man himself. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>but yeah, he's just he's a really good coach. Um,

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<v Speaker 1>from what you know defensive guys said in Carolina and

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<v Speaker 1>from what I understood as well, and um, just excited

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<v Speaker 1>to be with him again. Hey, Sam, you mentioned, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>wanting to be the backup or starting or competing for that.

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<v Speaker 1>It sounds like correct me if I'm wrong, but you've

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<v Speaker 1>been told if you proved to be you're the best

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<v Speaker 1>quarterback on the roster, then you'll be the best quarterback.

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<v Speaker 1>You'll be I have the best role and you'll be starting.

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<v Speaker 1>Is that accurate? No? I think. I think for me,

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<v Speaker 1>it's just coming in and doing everything that I can

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<v Speaker 1>to to learn the playbook and you know, because it

0:12:21.360 --> 0:12:23.640
<v Speaker 1>is early, you know, just got to do my best

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<v Speaker 1>to to you know, learn the playbook, digest everything, and

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<v Speaker 1>you know, have conversations with you know, Brian coach Greasy

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<v Speaker 1>about um, you know, formations, motions. I mean there's so

0:12:35.280 --> 0:12:37.640
<v Speaker 1>many different things that go into it. Um, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>The the last thing that I'm worried about right now

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<v Speaker 1>is UM, you know, playtime and whatnot. All right, Appreciate

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<v Speaker 1>you guys,