Fisher, Boras, Keenum … 12/31 … transcripts

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – 12/30/15

(On if he expected more sunshine in California)
“You don’t know what to expect, but their facilities are great. The guys are having a blast. They’re working hard. The field’s in great shape, so we had a good practice.”

(On if he’s treating this game like a college bowl trip)
“I never brought up anything that had anything to do with a bowl game, so I think that’s a (Assistant Head Coach/Offense Rob) Boras origination. This has been really good. We saved…we cut way back on the travel time and we’ve got great accommodations and meeting spaces are good. The game plan’s in. We had a really good Wednesday.”

(On if he considers this to be an audition for Boras and that Boras said he doesn’t feel that way)
“Then I don’t either. Right now, he’s running the offense and he’s 3-0 since he took over, so it’s a good thing.”

(On DE Ethan Westbrooks’ status)
“He was limited today, which is good. They’re all in the protocol. They’re all getting better. They’re all passing their tests. (DT) Nick Fairley is doing better. (S) Mark Barron’s doing better. (RB) Todd (Gurley) didn’t practice today. We left him back at the hotel. He’s getting some treatment on his foot and we’ll see where he is. Overall, I would think that the concussion issues that we had, should be behind us before the week is over.”

(On the Ravens having a video of P Johnny Hekker’s unnecessary roughness)
“I didn’t see it, so if you’re connecting that to the penalty in the game…the rule’s very clear. The rule when the ball’s punted, after the ball’s caught, you can…not while the ball’s in the air, but once the returner has the ball, you can push a potential blocker in the back as long as you’re in the vicinity. If you’re away from the play, then it becomes unnecessary roughness and that’s what happened with ‘Hekk’ and he knows better than that. He’s had a couple over the last couple of years where he’s had to be real careful and he was close. He was, basically, put on notice by me that you can’t do that because you’re going to affect the return and you’re going to affect the team. He got a little carried away and he knew he made a mistake, so if they’re after that, I don’t know how to refer to him taking a dive and falling down. I know they got him on, ‘Oh, come on, man’ or something like that, but he needs to be careful.”

(On if Hekker was teased by his teammates for the penalty)
“Oh yes. He’s been teased and it’ll be something that we’ll highlight Saturday night.”

(On what’s clicked for this team in the last month)
“Well, this team’s close. They like to practice. They work hard and we’ve had a chance to win every game and as I’ve said, (QB) Case (Keenum) has been playing good football for us, throwing the football. The offensive line is settling down a little bit. We’ve done an outstanding job of overcoming defensive injuries, which is a credit to the defensive staff. They have an outstanding plan. We’re balancing out and we’re making plays.”

(On LB Alec Ogletree’s status)
“Yeah, it’s good to get him back on the grass and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow. We’ll try to get him involved in more than just some walk-thru stuff, some scout team stuff, too.”

(On QB Case Keenum being a free agent after this season)
“When we decided to go with Case, which was the Baltimore game, we were a play away in regulation from winning that game, then he suffered a concussion and he missed two and then came back. So, he’s technically 3-1 as a starter, very close to being 4-0 as a starter, so I’d say he’s done a really good job for us.”

(On the difference in San Francisco not having QB Colin Kaepernick as their starter)
“Well, I mean, anytime you prepare for Colin it’s a challenge because of his mobility and all thosethings. It’s unfortunate they lost him, but look at (QB) Blaine Gabbert, he’s mobile as well. If you take the last three weeks, he’s really put the ball down the line and made plays, extend plays with his legs and throwing the football with his arm. First time around, (WR) Anquan (Boldin) didn’t play. They missed him. It looks like he’s playing like he did three or four years ago, and the receiving core as a whole has been really productive. So, they’re well-coached as well.”

(On if he had to get permission from the Oakland Raiders to use their facility for practice)
“Our front office operations people talked to them and we got things worked out. It was before the season started. We did a lot of preliminary plans during training camp with them, and we’re very thankful for them. It’s a great facility.”

(On how some of the players spent their day off yesterday)
“Some of the guys, I think, got out and checked it out. But most of the guys were in their watching tape and being professionals, getting treatment, getting a massage and eating and recovering from the game.”

(On if it’s important to get Ogletree back on the field because of his rehabilitation process)
“Well, from a timing standpoint, he’s ready to start doing things on the grass. He’s been straight-line running for a week or so and we wanted to introduce some change in direction to him. So, no better place to introduce a change in direction than on the field with his teammates.”

(On the chances of Ogletree playing on Sunday)
“Very unlikely, yes.”

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Rams Assistant Head Coach/Offense Rob Boras – 12/30/15

(On how San Francisco is different than when they played them earlier in the season)
“It’s a really well-coached football team. They’re disciplined. It’s just like every team Week 16 in the NFL or Week 17, rather, there’s been a bunch of injuries, which everybody’s fighting through at this point of the year. Haven’t changed much schematically, just some different jersey numbers out there.”

(On the 49ers)
“Play hard. They’re well-coached. They play hard. Very fundamentally sound. It’s a good football team.”

(On where he thinks RB Todd Gurley is in terms of expectations going into the season)
“It’s one of those, obviously, as the tight end coach, I’m evaluating tight ends going into the draft, and you hear word of mouth and you watch a little college football, but when he showed up and obviously, not practicing, you don’t know. You just trust listening to (Running backs) Coach (Ben) Sirmans and (Head) Coach (Jeff) Fisher and what he’s all about. I don’t know if he’s exceeded expectations, but he’s certainly exceeded mine. First of all, he’s a top quality person and then obviously, you see what he’s done on the football field. How far it’s going to go, we’re going to find that out in the future. But, it’s been fun to watch for all of us on offense and be a part of his experience.”

(On if his comfort level is different from a few weeks ago)
“No. I think that’s part of the NFL though, too. I didn’t care if I was coaching tight ends for the last 12 years or whatever. I mean, it’s a day-to-day world. That’s just kind of the way I’m wired a little bit. I mean, it’s getting maybe a little easier because the entire offensive staff and the players have stepped up, but it’s still pretty nerve-wracking.”

(On if he feels like he’s being judged differently now that he’s the play caller)
“I haven’t really thought about it that way. It’s just the accountability of it all. You just feel like there’s a lot of people in the entire organization kind of depending on you. You probably shouldn’t look at it that way, but you don’t want to disappoint anybody and you want to have success.”

(On how it feels to be in Napa)
“Oh, it’s great. Obviously, miss the family and everything, but it’s great being here. The guys have bought into it. We’ve kind of talked about it as our bowl trip and the guys are all in their sweats, just like when you’re in college going to bowl games and they’ve bought in. The energy and the enthusiasm’s been great in the meetings, and then for them to come out here and have a practice like they did, I thought was really good.”

(On if it’s a different feeling being out in California preparing for a game)
“Yeah, but we’ve had a lot of different weeks, going back to training camp when we were back in California as well practicing against the Cowboys, so for us, you just kind of roll with it. That’s part of adapt or die and we’re just kind of rolling with it right now and the guys are trying to take advantage of every opportunity.”

(On what he wants to see QB Case Keenum accomplish this last game to carry some momentum in the offseason)
“Well, I think just the process that he’s going through now it’s completions. He’s a natural leader. Guys like playing for him. He’s got a grasp of what we’re trying to do. I think just continuing along that same path. It’s not going to change. I don’t see the formula for us changing a whole lot. It’s him finding a way to get the completions and take the shots when they’re there for us, but really just playing the game that he’s been playing.”

(On the chemistry between Keenum and WR Kenny Britt)
“It’s always kind of interesting to watch how the rapport’s get built in these relationships. Kenny, again, as a player caller, you want the guys to get open and they’ve gotten open and Case has put the ball on point. I don’t know if it’s any different than when he’s throwing to (TE) Jared Cook or to (WR Tavon) ‘Tav’ (Austin). I don’t know if it’s any different. It’s just they’ve just hit a couple of really big plays for us that have been critical at times.”

(On if there will be a C Tim Barnes package in the game plan this week)
“As long as he can protect the football, sure.”

(On how he’s seen the offensive line grow these last few weeks)
“It’s been great. That’s goes, again, I’m always as an assistant coach you always want to credit the guys, Coach (Paul) Boudreau and Coach (Andy) Dickerson, they’ve done a great job. To go in that environment and that was kind of our focus as an entire offensive staff was just playing with poise in the noise, and the guys did it. To see those guys kind of grow up in that atmosphere really just kind of makes you feel good about the direction that we’re going.”

(On if he’s been giving any indication that this will be a permanent position for him)
“No, I’m a tight end coach that’s getting to call some plays right now. We’re just going about it as if that’s what it is. We can only control what we can control and right now, this is what (Head) Coach (Jeff Fisher) has asked us to do and we’re doing it and having fun doing it. Whatever happens, happens.”

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Rams QB Case Keenum -12/30/15

(On how he spent his day off yesterday and if he got to see the Valley)
“A little bit. Got a little bit of treatment yesterday morning, watched some film and then got out with my wife. We went into town and had dinner over there. We did a little bit of it the day before. We went up north, it’s called Yountville. We went up there for a little bit, so we got to see some of the country. It’s gorgeous around here, so it was a pretty incredible time.”

(On what his wife’s name is and the name of the restaurant they went to)
“My wife’s name is Kimberly. I don’t think I can pronounce the name of the restaurant.”

(On what kind of food they had)
“Couldn’t pronounce much of that either, but it was good. It was really good.”

(On if they’ve bought into the mindset of treating this like a bowl game)
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve got my bowl gear on here. I’ve been walking around and practicing in somebody else’s place. It’s a fun trip. It’s a lot more fun when you’re winning, so we want to go ahead and finish the season off right.”

(On establishing a rapport with WR Kenny Britt and some of the catches he’s made lately)
“It’s easy to build rapport with a guy who makes plays. He’s made big plays the last few weeks, so it’s been fun to throw to guys who get open. You tend to look their way a little more. He’s been running great routes and getting open. I think, it just happens. It’s been on the right play at the right time in the right coverage. He’s taken advantage of it and I think it’s been great.”

(On if wide receivers and tight ends lobby to throw the ball their way when there’s a new quarterback)
“They’re always lobbying. They’re always open. They always come back, ‘How were you on that one?’, ‘I was open. I was open.'”

(On what has led to the good timing with him and his receivers)
“During preseason, you kind of rep with everybody during the OTAs and stuff. You kind of rotate guys in and out, and so I’ve thrown to these guys a bunch. I think it’s coming together. We’re getting kind of used to the plays (Assistant Head/Offense) Rob (Boras) likes to call. Kind of getting where everybody is on the same page with that. It’s just executing. That’s what we come out here to practice to do, is get better.”

(On if he’s always auditioning for a job)
“Anytime the lights come on or any time we step on the field in between the white lines and the film is on. That film goes around to everybody. It’s not just the TV copy, they see everything from a lot of different views. In the NFL, that’s what your resume is. It’s what you put on tape. So, I want to put everything on tape is the best I can. I want to keep getting better every time I show up.”

(On if he thinks he’s opened some eyes as to what he can do)
“It’s not for me to say. That’s not my job. My job in grading myself, I grade myself in wins and losses and how we did that game. Obviously, I want to play well. I want to lead the team. I want to be the best quarterback I can be, and I think that’s putting the team with the best possible chance to win. When you’re doing that, I think that’s being successful.”

(On how it’s been getting consistent playing time)
“Anytime you’re playing in this league at quarterback, it’s a big deal. There’s not a lot of reps to go around in the offseason and the preseason. Anytime you get game reps, it’s a big deal and you’ve got to take advantage of it.”

(On his offensive line not allowing any sacks and having no pre-snap penalties against Seattle)
“Actually, I didn’t get touched very much. Maybe one hit. That’s incredible. You’ve got to hand it to those guys. It’s a tough environment to play. Tough environment to hear. So, for those tackles to be able to sit in there and not jump offsides and then still be able to block those guys coming around the edge, you’ve got to give those guys a ton of credit. It was an outstanding performance from them and they’re coming together really well. I’m looking forward to dropping back again this week.”

(On if he had to go with a silent count most of the time)
“When we were in the shotgun, yeah.”

(On what he thought of the experience of playing in Seattle)
“It was awesome. It was incredible. It was playoff experience. Like I said after the game, it was a playoff experience, playoff atmosphere, playoff team. I think that’s kind of how we treated it. It was like a playoff game. You’ve got to go on the road late in the year and win those type of games. That’s what the NFL is about. It’s about setting yourself up to be in a position to be in those games. But, it’s those type of games that it’s about.”

(On what is different about the 49ers now from when they played San Francisco last)
“It’s a long NFL season. We’re obviously a different team than they are. Different guys. They’ve had some injuries just like every team across the league. They’re the same in a lot of ways, but a couple of new faces. We can go back and look at what division opponents, obviously you play them twice a year, so it’s a little bit different than that, but it’s the same defense.”

(On if he’s chimed in on the actions of P Johnny Hekker)
“No, I didn’t blame him. I told him that those guys are after me every play and welcome to club. That’s why to explain some of those passes, like, ‘What is he thinking?’ To get it out of my hands so they don’t hit me. So, I don’t blame him at all for that.”