OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR DAVE CANALES

(On if he plans to utilize more screen plays to get RB Rachaad White in space with greater frequency) 

"Same amount – just keep trying to get the ball in space. [There are] different builds, different ways to do it. [We are] just excited. We talked about it last week about his versatility and what he can do. As we continue to improve our run game and find him a way to get him to the second level, I think you're going to see all that special stuff he has in space. When the whole thing comes together that way… I still believe in Rachaad and what he can do."

(On White only having two catches against the Titans) 

"I think everybody else kind of came to life. Your progressions start down there and then Rachaad gives you a great option when you get back to him if they all punch out in the coverage. It was a really good day of throwing and catching for Baker [Mayfield] and the guys, for the most part. The ball found some of them before it got to Rachaad, but yes, we're trying to do it."

(On the high level of execution on White's screen touchdown) 

"It was a dream look, right? Just trying to take advantage of our play actions with the play action screen game. That's the way it kind of all ties in. Of course, the last piece is continuing to try and get the run game going. [It was] really a rough day for us on Sunday as far as the runs go, but we've still got to do it. [If] we target it properly… We struggled a little bit inside with some of our matchups against their tackles, but we had the right designs and the right type of stuff there. I thought they played us really hard. I thought they played us really well – coming off of blocks and all that. We've got to finish our blocks, we've got to keep finishing our runs. When it all comes together, I think we've got something really cool, really special."

(On QB Baker Mayfield performing well under pressure this season) 

"I think back to what we talked about last week, too – for whatever reason, in his nature, when things are chaotic, it calms him. He likes that fight. It's like the calculated boxing match where they're kind of measuring people, and then it turns into a fist fight. There's guys that thrive, and he does, he really thrives with that. Third down – the chaotic stunts and rushes and blitzes – he elevates. End of game scenarios… On the flip side of it, for me, being around some good quarterbacks, just one of the better quarterback performances that I've seen, in terms of him progressing and getting back to reads rhythmically. He's really smooth with his eyes. He's still getting better. This is a quarterback who's had a lot of years to play in a bunch of different systems. He continues to master what we're giving him, to the point where it's starting to feel monotonous and that's a good feeling to me because it's old [stuff]. That's where he's accelerating the growth of the whole group as he trusts the progressions. The touchdown to Mike [Evans], that was his third read coming back over there and it was the right coverage and he eliminated things so quickly, it just felt so smooth. It was one of my favorite plays of the season. [It was] a fantastic job by Trey [Palmer] running through the middle of the field with speed and they all kind of got attracted to Trey and then 'Bake' just laid the ball out there perfectly and Mike just finished it aggressively. That was a really cool play."

(On the challenge that the San Francisco 49ers present) 

"Yeah, big challenge. Championship moment, right? Championship opportunities all the way, starting from Monday as we started to transition from the Titans to the 49ers. [We were] talking about like, 'We need these games. We need these games to go against the Eagles, to play the Lions, to play the 49ers this week to really see where we're at when we play such a talented group.' They tell you the truth about where you're at. We have to be honest and okay with that response of what that is. Just calling all the boys to see this for what it is – these are championship moments that we have to relish as we finish down the stretch. It's going to come down to winning the division. We're going to have these types of matchups. If you win the division, we get a home game and then you've got to go travel somewhere. That's the reality of it. You've got to win on the road against really good teams. [It is] just another good litmus test for our group going forward."

(On how difficult it is to account for 49ers linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw) 

"Super difficult, because they communicate so well. Everything is just on a string with them, with whatever coverage they call. They talk, they adjust, they see the formation and then you just see Warner and Greenlaw just really going and matching to stuff with the quarterback's eyes. You've got to be on time, on the money with these guys. Kirk Cousins had a fantastic day against them and he played the type of football – the type of quarterback play – you have to against these guys if you want to have success. They're a really special group, those two guys inside."

(On the 49ers pass rush and how they speed up the progression of plays) 

"It makes it a premium. We try to play like that anyway. For me, any NFL team we play, it's 2.7 [seconds] or less. It's one, two, and go. One, two, sometimes three, but most of the time you're moving off the second [read]. We're wired and designed to try to get the ball out that way, anyway. Of course, it becomes a real premium when you play this type of a group, who's two-deep across the front."

(On if his familiarity with the 49ers helps him in game planning) 

"It does. It helps a lot in just the little nuances to the coverages and how they adjust to our formations. All those little things that [Wide Receivers Coach] Brad [Idzik] and I come up with – just playing them twice a year [and] three times last year, they got us all three times. It does help. It helps to know where people are going to be at, and also knowing the style of defense and the way that they're structured and really how good they are in that front seven and how good they are in that front. There's a style that you have to play these guys. Again, it's like, if you're going to try and make it a dropback game from snap one, good luck. It's why we build the offense the way we do, so that you can have a chance to beat these really special defenses by being able to be balanced, mixing it the right way with the run game and the [play-]actions, the quick game, the empty stuff. You have to be really calculated with the shots you take, because you can't just got out there and think you're going to go bombs away against this group."

(On if LT Tristan Wirfs is asking to run the ball) 

"He was so tired after that rep. He came off the sideline [and we were like], 'Hey big dawg, take a breath right here. You're going to be alright.' Otherwise, it's really just Luke [Goedeke] and Tristan going back and forth over who gets the run their direction."

(On if Wirfs or NT Vita Vea are in any jumbo packages) 

"I'd love to. I'd love to. I'd love for [Vea] to be healthy on one side of the ball and he's done some fantastic things. He's carried the ball in his career. Greg Gaines was also a high school running back, so [he is] another guy that's a good candidate that we'd have up. It would be a cool little changeup."

(On if he's looking forward to seeing Wirfs and T Luke Goedeke go up against the 49ers pass rush) 

"Again, who makes it deep into the playoffs? Teams with a great defensive line and teams with a great offensive line because you can run it and throw it whenever you want to. If you have a great pass rush group, it takes pressure off of the secondary – they don't have to cover as long. This is a great championship matchup for our guys. We've seen them play really well against a group like the Eagles, who had some rushers [and] against the Lions with their edge rushers. Another great championship opportunity for our guys to really grow."

(On how important WR Trey Palmer's continued development is as the third wide receiver) 

"I think [if] Baker [Mayfield] gives him a better ball up the field, it's a touchdown. He made a fantastic attempt on a ball that was a little bit wide. We threw him across the field, the ball got on top of him – that's a play he's got to make. It's not a perfect pass, this is not a perfect game. He's got to continue to make those plays. What he did to get to those is exactly what we're looking for out of Trey. We wish he could continue to be a feature for us. We saw Cade [Otton] come alive two weeks ago, and now you're talking about a skill group that's starting to play off each other. You add Rachaad [White] into the mix and Baker [Mayfield] really settling into our system and I'm excited. I'm super optimistic about our group coming together."

(On the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings using a lot of up-tempo offense in their victories over the 49ers) 

"I think there's familiarity with the head coaches for Cincinnati and Minnesota playing the 49ers every year, when they were in L.A. They kind of had some information. I have a lot of that information, too. We'll have some stuff. Again, these are guys that have a group that have been working together for a while. We're still kind of growing into some of that. We'll sprinkle some stuff in, but it's not something we can truly feature at this point right now as we keep improving."

RUN GAME COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH KACY RODGERS

(On what makes the San Francisco 49ers offense so difficult to face)

"It's the way they use their people. They're all over the place. We just watched a couple of plays where [Christian] McCaffrey was at the 'X' and Deebo [Samuel] was at tailback. That's a problem if you're in man coverage because now you've got a run-fit issue, a coverage issue or you've got people playing positions that they don't usually play… or, if you stay regular, you've got a bad matchup somewhere. They create matchups and the way they utilize their people is just really impressive."

(On if the 49ers are the most versatile team offensively)

"I would say so, yes. We just go from top to bottom – one, that left tackle out there (Trent Williams), we keep leaving him [out of the conversation] … he's legit. Then you've got [George] Kittle to worry about. [Brandon] Aiyuk is coming into his own. Deebo [Samuel] is a problem. Then you've forgotten about [Christian] McCaffrey – he is hanging back there. They can come at you a lot of different ways."

(On the 49ers use of motion to distract the eyes of the defenders)

"Not only a motion, then a shift, then another [motion]. And it's not a regular motion, it's an orbit. He went behind, then he went in front and then was it a jet motion, or was it a regular motion? That's why people make mental mistakes. You're trying to check this and check that. They force you to play on their terms and that is tough."

(On carrying over the strong defensive performance from last week into the upcoming game vs. San Francisco)

"They need to remember how they beat our brains in last year to start with. And they beat us physically – that is the thing we have to own. That's the first challenge we've got to try to deal with is the physicality of the last time we played them, and we made so many [mistakes]. We've got to play a heck of a lot better. They're a really, really good team."

(On the rarity of being able to rush NT Vita Vea from an outside position and him being able to affect the quarterback)

"He gives us so much versatility to be able to put him out there. He won against a left tackle – it wasn't against a right tackle – he won against the starting left tackle. And then later on it set up so many things. [Markees] Watts got a pressure on the guard because we had our bigs outside. Just the versatility we have in him, [Calijah] Kancey, Shaq [Barrett], Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka], Watts – so many different people we can move around in the rush. That really helps us."

(On Vea's unique style of leadership)

"From when I walked in the first day, you're talking about a guy who wouldn't say a word. Now, when he was around the other defensive linemen, yeah, he would crack jokes, but he wouldn't say a word outside of that. To watch him from where he was then to where he is now, he still [doesn't] say a lot, but when he says something, he means it, and everybody listens because they respect the way he plays and shows up in games. He is growing into a role that is something he doesn't naturally want, but that he knows he needs to do for us to move forward."

(On OLB Markees Watts' debut and what went behind the decision to make him active for last week's game)

"This is a guy who really caught our eye in training camp. This was a guy who, you're sitting there like, 'We can't put this guy on [the] practice squad,' because he really flashed in the one-on-ones and team drills and stuff.' He can really rush and he's elusive. We just got through practice and we're watching him run around out there today. This guy is explosive and he's really flexible. A lot of guys turn the corner and fall down. He can turn and stay up. If he falls, he can bounce back up. The one really impressive play to me was the screen. They cut him on the jailbreak and he got up to make the tackle out there. That is the freaky athleticism that he has, and he can really rush the quarterback."

(On if the fact that there was no regular season film on Watts played a role in his productive day)

"They really hadn't seen him, and we knew the guy could rush. That's why the thought process was to get him on the field. We're just juggling so many people, which is a good problem, but you wanted to get him on the field and get him going. But then to get him on the field, you're taking somebody else off. You're playing that game. This guy, he's been doing really well since training camp. I take it back – OTAs, or invited rookie [mini-camp] when he came in. He flashed in front of everybody and he made enough impact that, 'Hey, you can't put this guy on practice squad or you'll lose him."

(On if they addressed the performance from San Francisco last season)

"Oh yeah, we talked about it right away. I'm responsible for the run game and I think they had 38 carries for 206 [yards]. I remember it like it was yesterday. They kind of beat the fire out of us. We didn't play well and it left a lasting impression. If we let them do it again, we're not going to win."

(On finding the balance between addressing last year's game, but also moving forward)

"It's just remembering. It's good to remember. You've got to move forward, but you need to remember what happened so that you don't go through that again."

LEFT TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On the San Francisco 49ers pass rush) 

"We know what they've got upfront. They're a good D-line. I think for us, the biggest thing is staying out of third-and-long and not letting their pass rushers tee off on us. Keep it in third-and-manageable and be able to go out and execute when we need to and convert third downs. Staying ahead of the chains is going to be big."

(On if he looks forward to going up against elite pass rushers) 

"Yeah. There's good pass rushers all across the league. For me and Luke [Goedeke], it's definitely going to be a big test. They're incredible pass rushers. Like I said, it's going to help us staying out of third-and-long and being productive on first and second down. It'll definitely slow them down if we can keep it in third-and-short, get some quick game, go jump-set them, change it up a little bit instead of letting them run through our face. It's going to be fun."

(On RB Rachaad White's contribution to the offense as a pass catcher) 

"Rachaad is huge. When he gets the ball out there, we know how shifty he is. What did he have, like a 43-yard screen the other day? Something like that. Being able to get him the ball and watch him do what he does is great."

(On how the team can build off of last week's win) 

"Hopefully just take that momentum and let it carry over. The travel day is weird, long flight – staying on top of stuff and making sure your recovery is good. Make sure you're feeling great and then go out there and getting things fired up fast."

(On if he's asked Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales to run the ball) 

"No, I haven't. I think that'd get shut down pretty quick. I saw something [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles said that said nobody is going to block for him… I see how it is. They might give Luke [Goedeke] some – Luke played tight end in college. They think he can catch better than me for some reason."

(On potentially lining up with NT Vita Vea in the backfield) 

"That would be scary. I don't know who's going to stop that. Get our feet churning and go."

(On what his touchdown celebration would be) 

"Oh, I'm punting it. I'm punting it. I'm punting it out of the stadium. We had a pact in college – all the O-linemen – if any of us scored, just punt it as hard as you can. That's 100% what I was going to do."

(On what he does to prepare for the long trip to the West Coast) 

"I just try and keep the blood flowing in your legs throughout the flight. We've got those firefly things that make your muscles twitch or something… We're going to have a bike flush when we get there, so right when we land we go with the strength staff and get everything moving – just so you're not tightening up."

SAFETY ANTOINE WINFIELD JR.

(On thoughts going back to San Francisco)

"It's going to be a physical game. Last year was a tough one on us, but just knowing that, and prepare to be physical."

(On if he felt the win against the Tennessee Titans was a step in the right direction)

"100%. Any win that you can get is a step in the right direction, so we just have to continue with that, and keep moving forward."

(On if the game against the San Francisco 49ers will be a good test to see where the team is at)

"100%, because they are a great team. We're going to see how we match up, and go from there."

(On staying focused when a team has so many playmakers)

"Yeah, that's the thing, we have to make sure we take care of our assignments. Everybody has to know where they are supposed to be, we also have to know who is where, and they have weapons everywhere, so our goal is to contain them as much as possible."

(On if there is one guy that stands out to him from the San Francisco 49ers)

"I feel like that about five different guys on that team, so we have our hands full this week."

(On if the team stays motivated at this point in the season)

"In staying motivated, we have to – as a team – [we] have to motivate each other. Everybody is motivated, because it's the league, we're professionals, but playing for each other, I feel like that's the biggest motivator for us."

(On the biggest challenges when playing on the west coast)

"The long flight over there. Just staying locked in regardless of where we travel to. We've had long flights before, [and] we just have to make sure we continue to prepare, and get ready for the game."

(On what it is about road games that brings the team together)

"I'm not sure. I don't know. That's a great question, but our next step is just to make sure we get a win this weekend."

(On San Francisco 49ers DL Chase Young)

"Chase Young, great player. [Saw] him in college, we kind of competed against each other, there were some awards we came out with, but he's a great player, and to add him to the D-line, is just another weapon that they have in their arsenal."

(On NT Vita Vea)

"He's a freak athlete, like Vita is huge, and the way he moves is unique. [There] aren't that many people built his size that can move like that. Having him on my team is amazing."

-BUCCANEERS-