[Fuller]

Kyle Kalis and Henry Poggi

Henry, it seemed like Jim challenged you guys after week one about physicality and being more physical. Have you kind of taken that to heart and you’re making strides there?

“Yeah, I think so. I think just the way we play, we want to bring a lot of physicality every game. You know, the biggest thing is just progressing week to week, so every practice, every rep, just trying to be more physical.”

Henry, the fullbacks and H-backs are a lot more involved than they used to be in past years. What is the conversation like each week when you guys are trying to figure out if you have a mismatch or the coaches want to get you involved in the game?

“You know, I think it’s just gameplan. I don’t know if it’s anything specifically like a conversation with us. I think it’s like the flow of the game, who’s playing well, who’s not. We’ve got so many guys who can do so many different things I think it’s just really who’s playing well that day.”

Kyle, how much did you guys as an offensive line learn and take from that Utah game and how far have you progressed?

“I think a lot. I mean, obviously Utah, as you’ve all seen over the past couple of weeks, they’re a really good team and we played good against them. Obviously we could have played better, but the thing was just going back that next week and just the way we practiced, our practice style. And a big thing too, I want to give props to our D-line. I mean, our D-line is incredible, and us getting to go against those guys every day, that is huge for us to be able to get ready for games where we have players like we have. That’s a huge part of it, just going against our guys and our work ethic.”

Kyle, Jim said last week you graded out at 90%. He said you had another good game Saturday. What’s gone well for you the last couple games?

“Just having fun. I mean, football’s fun for me. Getting to go out there and practice every day is a privilege, and I see it that way. I don’t know. I’m just playing good.”

[After THE JUMP: More Kalis and Poggi, and Jarrod Wilson]

He mentioned playing with a lower pad level and making an effort to stay lower.

“That’s definitely a huge emphasis. The big thing for me was against- the Utah game, they’re known for being short, stocky guys and also their D-line’s really good. But just going into practice and having that mindset every day, it’s going to be exactly what I want. That’s helped me a lot.”

Going back to the pass protection thing, what you seen now through four games? The protection looks like it’s improved with Jake [Rudock] being able to scramble a little bit more.

KK: “I think our schemes [work] really well. Obviously tight ends and backs are part of it also, but the offensive line is just really jelling. We’re on the same page and even if we don’t have time to communicate, or if we do have time to communicate we all make sure we’re on the same page.

“What am I trying to say here?

/looks up at the ceiling

“We’re on the same page. And we’re playing good.

Would you say that you guys are at where you want to be right now or ahead of schedule, or where?

KK: “I think we’re right where we want to be. Obviously our goal going into each week is no sacks and we’ve done a good job so far of limiting it to as much as possible, and we want to just keep it going. Keep the success flowing.”

Kyle, on De’Veon’s long run he came out of nowhere and all of a sudden was standing right next to you. Can you take us through that play, and at what point did you realize ‘I’m not going to help him at all downfield’?

“So yeah, so the play, I’m sure if you go back and watch it it was a design. I pull around and I find…I can’t tell you who I’m supposed to get. But I pull around and I’m getting somebody. So I plan on De’Veon bouncing around me and all of a sudden I see him worming through, squiggling through the right side of me and I’m taken off guard and he starts taking off. I start running after him and obviously he’s faster than me, but I was just enjoying the view and then, so I thought he was going to go down so I start speeding up and then he got up against and just keeps going. It was a pretty cool thing just to watch him run and get a first-hand viewing experience.”

Henry, this isn’t kind of the role you envisioned when you came here, but how have you adapted to it and how do you like it?

“I like it a lot. I think just getting on the field as much as possible, helping the team however I can was just the goal when I got here. I pretty much played almost the exact position in high school, so not too much of a change for me. I like it a lot.”

Coach said last week and I think Jehu or someone agreed that the offense has struggled to establish an identity. Do you feel like after Saturday’s win you have more of one? Are you starting to see it?

KK: “It’s definitely something we talk about is establishing our identity. I think so far we’ve done a good job and it’s up to us to go forward and not take any steps back and just keep on going [with] what we’re doing. Just want to stay in our battle rhythm for the next game coming up and Maryland’s the next test, so we’ll see. Pogg-man?”

HP: “Spot on.”

Henry, when you look around you at the tight end position group, I think Jake and Ian have said it in past availability but just the level of competition there. Seems like you guys have a guy that’s tailored for different specialties. Just what have you noticed about that the past four weeks?

“Yeah, you know, everyone’s really good at different things, which I think is what makes our group so special. You know, we have a lot of really good football players and I think it just goes week by week what guys can really step up a lot just given the defense we’re playing.”

Coach Harbaugh was pretty fired up about the way receivers have been blocking in the offense the past couple weeks. Do you guys notice that and talk to them about blocking form or any of that?

KK: “I mean, they block a totally different type of guy than we’re used to unless we get a screen or go outside or something. Yeah, I mean, we don’t really coach them but we say ‘Good job’ and ‘Keep it up.’ I mean, they’ve been blocking their butts off so it’s good not only for the offense but I think the whole entire team has noticed how much our receivers- just every one is going to the whistle and finishing through the whistle and that’s a big thing. And yeah, they’re doing good. They’re really good.”

Kyle, when you look at Jake Rudock and the adjustment he’s had to make in a relatively short amount of time, can you talk about that process and getting to know all of you and trying to make it work?

“He did a awesome job of coming in. I don’t know the exact date he came in, but I know just as soon as he came in he’s the type of guy who likes to be known as the type of guy who’s going to put the extra work in. I think that’s how he first earned our respect was just being in the film room countless hours watching stuff with the coaches, with me going through stuff, so I think that was the first thing.

“And the second thing was through our practices on the field, our player-led practices, coming out and physically competing we were also able to see what he did there.

“Then off the field he’s a super cool dude. I mean, Jake’s an awesome guy. He’s super smart. That’s the thing you guys probably already know about him. I mean, he’s going to be a doctor one day or something like that. That’s, uh, that’s good. But he’s an awesome guy, and he’s done a really great job.”

Henry, going back to that a little bit, is there anything you’ve discovered now with your position change? Any talent you’ve found that maybe you didn’t know you had? Are you getting used to playing tight end more often?

“I wouldn’t say too much. I like to- I’ve just always thought of myself as a physical player, so I’ve just been kind of bringing that over to the offensive side of the ball. You know, just bashing some skulls a little bit. I don’t think anything besides that.”

[Fuller]

Jarrod Wilson

You guys have had a lot of success holding opposing quarterbacks well below what their passer rating is in other games. What do you attribute the strong play of the secondary to, and just the entire defense of keeping those guys down?

“Pretty much just going through the gameplan throughout the week and really honing in on our technique and fundamentals, and always playing hard and fast and running to the football.”

Talk about Channing’s progression and is it kind of the mentality with him? Has the switch gone on, do you think?

“I believe he’s always had it in him. It’s just more getting the opportunity and reps needed because there’s nothing like game reps, actually getting in there and get a chance to play and let loose and show his potential.”

A lot of talk from Jackson and Zordich really stressing, you mentioned it, getting to the ball. I mean, 13 pass breakups this year and I think three picks. Can you just a little more about it and what you’ve seen? Is there anything specific you feel you guys have amped up?

“Coach Zordich and coach Jackson both bring their own kind of mentality, and they always want us to stamp our personality on how we play. They just want us to play aggressive, physical, and they don’t mind aggressive penalties. So, pass interference calls, we obviously don’t want them, but if you’re playing aggressive and playing hard you can always just accept those.”

Do you feel like you guys have done a good job stamping your personality on this defense?

“Yeah, I believe so. Each guy brings his own skillset to the table and his own mentality of how he wants to play, but it all sort of circles around physicality.”

Is this shaping up to be potentially the best defense since you’ve been here?

“Um…it’s kind of hard to say. I really don’t want to speak too early about it because there’s still a long season ahead of us, but my last three years we have had pretty good defenses and this one is just kind of special for me because it’s my last season here. So, I don’t really know yet.”

You guys got called for a couple pass interference calls, but do you find that officials are allowing more grabbing and clutching and more physical play with your hands from defensive backs this year?

“It’s kind of hard to say. I know the officials, they have to make the game fair and call calls on both sides, so I know they have a tough job. But getting away with a few tugs on jerseys and wrist slaps before the ball is there really doesn’t hurt.”

You did mention earlier you guys have had some really good defenses over the past couple of years but it seemed like you were always put in these really rough positions, sudden change [etc.]. Haven’t had to do that this year. How much easier is it knowing that you’re not standing in the endzone all the time?

“It’s been pretty good this far this season. A lot of rest on the sideline as compared to years past, which is very different. It just feels good when you go out there and the opposing offense has a long field to drive, which is pretty tough.”

Where does physicality rank on Jim Harbaugh’s [list of] what you need to do to see the field?

“I believe pretty high. One of his main points he always stresses. He wants guys that are physical, just hard-nosed football players that love playing the game.”