The San Francisco 49ers talented crop of position coaches spoke with Bay Area reporters on Monday. The coaches answered several questions regarding the team's preseason opener against the Houston Texans and which players have stood out.
Here are the top quotes from each coach.
Defensive Backs Coach Jeff Hafley
On cornerback Chris Davis:
"He's done a really good job since he's come in. He's got good quickness. He's tough. He's got good coverage ability. He can blitz. … I think he was very solid (on Sunday)."
On defensive back Jimmie Ward's performance against the Texans:
"I really liked the way he came out. He was aggressive. He stayed to his technique. He went right after guys at the line of scrimmage he did a really nice job yesterday."
Wide Receivers Coach Bob Bicknell
On wide receiver Bruce Ellington:
"He (creates separation). He has a great feel for the game. His spacing is amazing. I think it's a lot of that basketball movement of understanding that kind of spacing. Where he moves and his routes sometimes, it's almost like he's got a basketball in his hands and he's trying to get past a guy for a lay-in. If he's 1-on-1, he's going to separate and get open."
On wide receiver Quinton Patton:
"He's got really good quickness. He's got really good energy about him. When you add quickness with speed, it kind of makes him a little bit of a different player. He can go in the slot and do some things or go outside and still stretch the field."
Quarterbacks Coach Ryan Day
On head coach Chip Kelly:
"The guys that know football understand what a great mind he is. In his own way, he's revolutionized football. He understands that it's not just about X's and O's, it's about how to run a whole program."
Outside Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver
On outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks:
"As long as Ahmad is doing his job one play at a time, he's going to be in great shape. That's where his mindset is right now. I'm proud of him. We want to keep him continuing on that path."
On where Brooks excels:
"What Ahmad has, what he does really well, is his feel for football. The play when he got the quarterback (against the Texans) is a good example of that. When he starts with speed and feels blockers, he's really good."
On outside linebacker Eli Harold:
"Eli is getting better and better. He did a great job (on Sunday) of finishing the down unblocked. … His edges were really good. He's getting better as a pass-rusher. … he's progressing the way we want him to."
Offensive Line Coach Pat Flaherty
On guard Joshua Garnett moving from right guard to left guard:
"When we brought him in during training camp, we decided to start him on the right side. As we moved forward we said, 'Maybe the best side for us and him is on the left side.' As a young player, that's going to happen from time to time until you solidify a job."
On guard Andrew Tiller:
"Andrew is a tough guy, who just tried to do everything you ask him to do. He plays with a lot of strength, and he also plays with a lot of effort. So far he's doing a good job."
