Transcript: 49ers Head Coach Press Conference

How does the loss this week prepare you for the next game?

The loss to the Cardinals this week was heartbreaking because it was one where we not only lost the game but we lost a lot of players to injury in the game as well. We got 4 different players on the injury report now that are out for at least a month and with how our schedule is, it is not looking bright for our chances to win with those stars gone from the team.

Can you summarize what it was like playing against the Seahawks last week?

We were competitive in the game and had a shot to make it to overtime or win, but the turnovers we suffered throughout the game were the biggest factor in our loss. Evan Stewart was on his way to a touchdown that would have given us a lead in the matchup and when he was on the one, he fumbled the ball which the defense was able to pick up which would lead to them scoring a touchdown. This would be a deciding factor in our loss as it made us lose all the momentum that we were gaining on the play.

Can you talk about the development of Noah Fifita so far?

He is the Quarterback we are going to build this franchise around, he has made some mistakes here and there but the skill that he shows us is something that I am excited to see continue to flourish for us. Dak has been a great mentor for Noah as he sits and watches what Dak does on the field, he has still been getting snaps on the field as well and is performing better than Dak has been in his limited action.

How has Trent Williams's experience in the league helped the team so far?

He is the anchor that the offensive line needs to get better through the season. This line was abysmal in the offseason and his mentorship has allowed the two rookies to increase in skills while making the others get more structured in their blocking assignments, I'm glad that he is on our team and he is going to be retiring with the team no matter what.

What is the status of Nick Bosa and when is he set to return?

He is going to be out for at least a month which is devastating for the team as he was someone that would always get attention from the offense, whether that be from getting chipped or him getting double teamed, I know that the team that we have on the line is going to be able to step up though and keep the games close in the next coming weeks.

What were some of the contributing factors to the loss this week?

We were getting huge game-ending injuries on a bunch of our stars, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, and Michael Pierce to name a few of the many players that got hurt early in the game, and all of this spiraled to our team being destroyed in the first half. Another huge contributing factor was the inaccuracy of Dak Prescott, he had thrown too many interceptions with most of them being passes in which he missed the wide open receiver and delivered it into the hands of the defenders.

How do you see the competition level in the NFC West currently?

I think the competition is good in the division, we are in a rebuilding season right now so it is hard for our team to stay too competitive with the teams we're facing but overall I like the challenge that this division poses and I'm looking forward to facing off against these teams more in the next couple of years when our team is looking more complete.

Can you describe kind of the energy or the mood and the vibe in the building now coming in the home stretch?

We know we have the franchise quarterback in Fifita so all we are doing now is trying to keep developing not only him, but all of the young players on the team to see how who we can bring back next season as we try to be more competitive.

Can you speak to the overall team health?

The health was just getting back to normal where we have nobody injured but our game against the Cardinals has destroyed all of that with 4 players getting multi-week injuries in key positions along with the many that were taken out of the game that would have helped the team out. Those guys being out means that it will be hard for the team to fight at full capacity while we await them all to return.

How effective was your game plan against the strategies of the Seahawks?

It was effective, we were looking to be strong on defense and force Milton to have mistakes which we accomplished, the only reason we lost in the game was due to some horrible turnovers that lead us down and ultimately was the huge in swinging the momentum towards the Seahawks.

Were there any standout performances or key moments in the game against the Seahawks?

Luke Haisz is the best Tight End in our mind out of the rookie class, he has been dominating every week and he is only getting better. It is like we picked up a younger Kittle in Haisz with how he is always reliable and is making huge plays anytime he gets the ball thrown his way. I would also say that Nick Bosa had a great game as he would rack up 2 sacks and was dominant in the run game as well which was helping the secondary get great plays.