Seahawks vs. Eagles: Players, coaches, and analysts talk ball

Here's a roundup of player and coaches interviews/pressers from the last few days. Listen in...

Russell Wilson:

Michael Bennett:

Richard Sherman:

Richard Sherman Week 14 Press Conference
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman talks about resting during the long break, preparing for the Eagles offense and controlling their own destiny.

Byron Maxwell:

Ken Norton:

Darrell Bevell:

Darrell Bevell Week 14 Press Conference (TEXT)

(On how the break is going to help) I think anytime you have just a little time just to heal up and just get your mind away from it, even for a day or two I think it helps. Just to reinvigorate you. You kind of get to sit back and take inventory of where you're at. So I think it's a good thing.

(On if there's an added boost of being able to control your own destiny in the division, again) I think the guys think about it. But as we do here, we just play one game at a time. That's how coach will talk about it and that's really how we go about things. We take care of the business hand, we know we're playing Philly this week, and we got a good tough opponent. All this other stuff is going to happen whether we want it to or not. We just have to play our game and make sure we're focused on playing the best game that we can play.

(On if there is something unique that the Eagles do to get all of their sacks) Well yeah. First of all they have good players. Their scheme is good. I think Billy [Davis] does a great job. He's just got them flying around. They're playing hard. They run hard and they're attacking the football. He's got a good pressure package. There's some things that he does to try and confuse the offense a little bit and he's been able to shake some guys loose with that.

(On what you need to do inside the 20 to score touchdowns) Score touchdowns. That's what we can do.

(On better facilitating what to do inside the 20) We're continuing to look at it each and every week. Like I say all the time there's just little things here and there. You know we score a touchdown and we get an offensive pass interference so there's one that all the sudden changes things and now you're second-and-17, on the 17 (yard-line) and it's going to be a different challenge to be able to get to the end zone from there. There's all kinds of things that come up, but overall execution and make sure we take care of vision.

(On if anything has changed since QB Russell Wilson is doing much better these past games) Everything is working better. He's doing a very nice job -first and foremost he's doing a great job taking care of the ball. That's one thing we preach around here. He does a great job with that. He's been able to make plays with his feet. Been able to get out and make some scramble plays. I like how the receivers have been reacting to those plays and those opportunities. The offensive line has done a nice job of protecting and kind of extending some of those plays. But just overall we're being pretty effective with just making sure that we're executing things that they're asking us to do. We ran the ball pretty well and it wasn't just the zone read kind of things. We need to be a little more physical that way in the last game so I think we're doing some good things there execution wise.

(On how the Eagles force a lot of turnovers and how they get those) I think it's the same thing. They play hard. They run hard. They get to football. They move around. Again the pressure packages always causing problem. I don't know the stat, but it used to be one out of every seven times the ball comes out on him so with the sacks that they have that's going to happen that way. That's kind of been us. Making sure we take care of it and we're worried more about how we handle that situation than how many they're forcing. We want to make sure we're taking care of the ball on time. 

Pete Carroll:

Pete Carroll Week 14 Wednesday Press Conference (TEXT)

(Opening) This is a really exciting week-big trip for us going back east, a terrific team, great time of the year-starting the fourth quarter of the season is always exciting, and so much out there. So it's really a big opportunity, big championship game for us, and we're looking forward to it. These guys are already pumped up about getting a little break so they feel good, so did they [Eagles], and it's all relative. So I'm feeling real good about this challenge and looking forward to it.

(On coaching against Oregon help for Sunday's game) I think it does help-I think it's the familiarity with the tempo and the potential of that. Obviously we've seen it and been around it.

(On Mark Sanchez deciding to leave SC early and play in the NFL) We just had a difference of opinion at the time-I wasn't going to hold it back. He was awesome with us, he had a great career-he kind of grew up with us before he was even in school, his family was very close to the program, and we were very close. I was even close to his family during that time and felt like I was representing an opinion that was coming out of the household too because they could see reasons why because they were wanting Mark to stay. The main thing was that he was really forthright and he was very determined to take on the challenge. So that's why over the years, I found that the guys that were really tuned into the challenge of it, it didn't matter what you were saying to them, they were going to do what they wanted to do and there were other guys that had that opportunity that weren't as committed and convicted so the conversation was really valuable, but that had nothing to do with our relationship-I love Mark and he's always been a great kid and I'll always be close to him, follow him, and cheer for him. It was an interesting time.

(On Mark Sanchez in Chip Kelly's offense) Their offense is kind of friendly-they do a lot of good things. They're making yards running the football, they're controlling the clock, making a lot of plays, and the quarterbacks are functioning real well. Mark looks really quick in the offense-his decision making is very decisive, he gets the ball out, and they've got guys open so he's making good use of the system and he looks really good in it. When I saw him, I think I commented to him back in preseason, I saw him play, and thought he looked good in it-I sent him a note about it way back then and he just look sharp and was functioning really well. He's a really smart kid, he gets the game, he'll represent the staff and team really well, and do things right and it shows. He's doing great-it's exciting to see for him.

(On Mark Sanchez looking comfortable in the Eagles' system) I think this offense is more volatile than that, which was a different style of offense there-this one really explodes and has all kinds of spacing for the receivers, and the quarterback gets a lot of opportunity on the play passes to get room to throw. So on your thought about being quarterback friendly, it has been really productive for the guys-[Nick] Foles and all the way throughout so it's pretty sharp.

(On Eagles offensive tempo being able to trip defenses up) No-you can't go any faster than you can go. When you saw Tom Brady-I think that was Bill Belichick had visited and talked about the tempo-that year, they were going as fast as you can go between plays that were usually successful plays and runs. They would just hustle back and they could get the ball snapped as close to twelve seconds between snap to snap when they really are rolling, but they do that enough to keep you off balance and you have to respect it. We've been in the no huddle defensive mode for so long that we're familiar with how this goes and we know that they'll go real fast some and we'll see how much they want to do that. We're not concerned about that really-we practice like that all the time because you never know when a team is going to do it. It's not that hard for a team to do it if they wanted to demonstrate that commitment so you have to be ready all the time. We'll see what happens-we feel like we have good background and preparation for this.

(On coaches transitioning from college to the NFL) I think coaches can coach on any level; they just have to work to adapt. Our game isn't that much different. It's not as different as you may think and Chip [Kelly] has demonstrated that-I think he's done a great job of illustrating the flexibility in his style and it's not a college offense. It's an offense that comes out of college and it certainly applies here. I think in very successful fashion-you remember back in the days when we saw the "run and shoot" come in, which was a college offense at the time-that had a good life to it. It sustains for some time and then it kind of disappeared, but it did have a good life for a while and a lot of guys in the back of the room probably prospered from it.

(On tempo challenges) Well teams that want to play fast-back in the day, the OK gun stuff-we use to play against that for years and you wanted them to stay on the bench some if you could keep them down because they were so productive and prolific at the time. It felt like it was a factor in there if you could keep them off the field but that was because they were so explosive and so good. I think that still applies-that's not why we play like we play, we play the way we want to and the way that we like too, but any offense that winds up sitting on the bench instead of being on the field, that tends to work on you if it's obvious. It's not generally obvious but we'd love to hang on to the football all day long if we could.

(On Mark Sanchez after leaving NY Jets) Sure we do talk from time to time-I thought it was really difficult. I thought they did a great job with him in his first couple years to protect him, and give him a chance to grow as a quarterback. They won enough games to go long into the playoffs, and then things change over the years-their team changed, and a new quarterback came and made a big hubbub about that and it was really a very difficult situation for a QB with all of the media that went around it and being in New York as well. Mark hung through all of that, he was tough about it, he had a good mind about it, and tried to take full advantage of the full opportunity but it was great to see him get a new chance and I was really excited for him to get an opportunity to play with these guys because he fits and he looks very comfortable for him like he can do good things and help his team. We've stayed connected throughout all of that time.

(On being guarded when coaches meet and talk) Yes-you don't know who the guy's best friend is sometimes. So yes, you do have to be careful about that. We scrutinize carefully there-that's why when our coaches were talking to him they stood away from the field so he had to look away from the field so he didn't get to watch. Just competing-a little strategy there.

(On recruiting Eagles running back Chris Polk to SC) Yes-I've got dinner in the front room stories about that one. We really wanted to get him at SC and it just didn't work out, family was involved-you got to win them all over and I didn't get the mom on that one.

(On deferring on the coin toss) We pretty much have our way of playing-we're going to do what we do and there are always circumstances that can change that and there are conditions that can factor in.

(On Darren Sproles) He's a great player-he's a phenomenal player. He's averaging 6.8 a carry and he's second in the league in punt returns too. He's just a magnificent football player and would be fun to be on anybody's team-a guy like that that can do so many special things. He always plays with such energy because he's so quick and fast. He's a big challenge-we know that they respect his special talents and they utilize him accordingly so we really have to be tuned in to that because he's a guy that can break that game open at any time.

(On LeSean McCoy) Yes-you're going to see some shaking and baking in this game from those guys. They got it-I was talking to Kris Richard today, ‘How did we miss Shady [LeSean McCoy] way back then?' I don't know how we missed him in recruiting, he wound up going to Pitt. I don't know how we missed that one but we did. I hope he doesn't feel like he has to pay us back in this one.

(On Eagles defense) Well they're very solid. They're very active up front-they're causing a lot of problems, they have a lot of sacks, a lot of activity, [Connor] Barwin has been all over the place-they're a nice group. Vinny Curry comes off the bench and gets his sacks-that's a good group. The corners are big and solid, they cover well, and they have a really good defense-it's really working out great for them. They've had a lot of success-they've been in games where they've been ahead a lot so you see some of the yardage is a bit inflated-a lot of the passing yardage late in games on them, but they're very stingy and very difficult.

(On how the Eagles create turnovers) They're really active-it's a very athletic group. They're all over the place, they attack well, and they've had a very affective pass rush which is always at the heart of that. They've been a problem for a lot of teams-they've played some good football games and some good teams and played them really solidly.

(On having more time to prepare) You just have additional time to analyze, that's in every way-for yourself, self-scout opportunity-that's available. You just get additional opportunities to keep looking and seeing things and if your staff communicates well then you usually can take advantage of that-that's why I've always found that you can take advantage of the extra time because you get a more in-depth look and that doesn't mean it always helps because you have to utilize that information, but we've always felt like we like that extra time when we get it.

(On Cooper Helfet injury update) He won't practice today, but we'll see. He's a day to day shot. On Thursday or Friday, he's going to have to do something to show us that he's getting back before game day. I don't think we can wait all the way until game day in his situation, but we'll see. We don't know any more than what we know right now.

(On Max Unger) Max is improving-in talking to him this morning, he's getting encouraged that he's making a turn here. He won't practice today.

(On Jeremy Lane) He's practicing today so we'll see how he handles it.

(On Eagles offense) Well it's not in the volumes of stuff-they have really strong beliefs in what they do and they are very committed to their passing game, their style, and concepts. They execute really well-they take advantage of their play actions and give the quarterback a lot of room that gives their guys extra time to get open. They have nice averages when you look at their receivers, and they're very productive in their numbers. What I like best about it is their commitment to their offense-you can see that Chip [Kelly] has really strong beliefs, and it shows up. I always like seeing that-you know who they are and they're going to run their offense at you. They know it so well that they know how to take advantage about what you know-it's a real nice approach they have.

(On Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril lining up next to each other) Yes we like those guys together-we're trying to get them the chemistry of working together so they can take advantage of what they see, feel, and respond so that they can feed off one another so we've been working on keeping those guys adjacent a lot, not all the time but enough to try and take advantage of that because there comes a time where they'll see things exactly the same and they'll respond exactly the way that you want them too and take advantage of the rush. Michael is such a wild hare up there-he's all over the place with his rushes that it's hard to corral him some times, but the idea is to keep them so that they do create chemistry.

(On being in the red zone in the 49ers game) No-we had a couple penalties that set us back behind the sticks on the down and distances. It was just a couple things-we got in the end zone, it didn't count. So it was a couple of miscues-remember the penalty when Paul [Richardson] scores, that takes us back and we don't overcome it. There's a big grab in there when we get sacked-when we grabbed a guy and we didn't get a call that could have been nice so there were some plays, but we're just not quite as sharp as we need to be. We're still getting some points but we're not getting the touchdowns like we needed. It could be crucial in this game-we want to see if we could really be right this time out.

(On potentially challenging the Tony Moeaki's catch for touchdown) Yes-unfortunately on that one, because it was a long play, we were really trying to encourage our guys to get to the line of scrimmage and we were going to go quickly right there. Because of that focus, the communication never happened because we were trying to get the play running. I don't think we saw a good look at it. As I look at it afterwards, I would have challenged that for sure. I would have challenged that whether the guy said it or not just from what I saw-just because it was a chance to score a sixty yard touchdown-I'd go for it and take a shot at it. I don't know if they would have over ruled it, but it was compelling enough that you could take a look. In that case, it was because of the tempo-we didn't get tuned into the replay of it. Normally, we're all over it and want to and I asked the question if anybody could tell if he was in while we were hurrying and it just didn't come about.

(On disparity of penalties) At this point, it's out there that it's happening-I'm not going to comment on it. I don't have anything for it-no. If I did, I'd be working towards that and competing to try and change it. It's pretty clear that there is a disparity-nothing you can do about it.

(On speaking to the league headquarters about it) Yes they have-we have talked about it back and forth. I've called them on it just to make sure they are aware and we have talked a number of times and they are keeping their breaths because it is an unusual differential there and they're just watching it, but they've been good about it.

Pete Carroll Week 14 Monday Press Conference (TEXT)

(Opening) Well, we had a really nice Thanksgiving around here. I hope everybody else enjoyed it. It was good for the 12s I think, and the players and all that. We had a nice ball game and then had a nice break here too getting ready for this week so we're in good shape and looking forward to a terrific matchup coming up. It's an exciting time of year, starting the fourth quarter - here we go.

(On Kevin Pierre-Louis) It looks like he needs some work on his shoulder, labrum issue.

(On DB Loucheiz Purifoy) He didn't pass the physical.

(On how this week is different than normal) Yeah, we're just adjusting a bit. We took a couple days off. Now it feels like a bye break. We're trying to take full advantage of that, rest-wise. We go into it fairly healthy so we will come out of this little break time in pretty good shape for the week. We're flipping Monday and Tuesday for the players. They have today off and we will get some stuff done tomorrow.

(On the difference a healthy Bobby Wagner makes) Well, in general it sure seems like it has helped. It's been great having him back. We're playing the kind of football that makes us proud. The kind of stuff that we were hoping to play like on defense and it's taken us awhile to get going. Coincidentally, Bobby comes back at the same time we kind of turn it so let's give him some credit for being a part of that and helping everybody else feel more comfortable and all of that.

(On how Kevin Williams has been playing since stepping in for Brandon Mebane) Yeah, he's feeling better about playing the position. He's obviously more comfortable which is natural. I'm hoping we will continue to find rotations where all the guys can contribute. Like I said, we're a little bit healthier than we have been so we will be able to control the numbers of plays hopefully. But Kevin's doing a good job now.

(On Jeremy Lane being inactive Thursday vs. San Francisco) Just didn't quite get back. He was close towards the end of the week. The short week just didn't help him. Marcus Burley made it back to health so that was a nice easy switch for us to make and give Jeremy a chance to make sure he's well for this week, which he will be.

(On Cooper Helfet) It's a day-to-day deal. He's still recovering. He's not ready to practice tomorrow with us. We're going to take a couple of more days here. He's close to making it. We will see. We really won't know until the end of the week.

(On how Max Unger is progressing) Kind of in similar fashion - that he is getting better. I don't know if we will be able to get him on the field this week. The feeling is that he should be able to make it back next week. Unless, maybe we're able to get a surprise here in the next couple of days - still a little gimpy but getting better.

(On how Lemuel Jeanpierre played) Solid, helped everybody communication-wise. We felt like we were on our communications. He will continue to get better. He's only two weeks old with us right now after a big layoff so we hope to see him continue to improve.

(On if there is a common thread with Tharold Simon's penalties) I need to solve that common thread whatever it is because he had a bundle of them here. He's a young guy, just trying to figure out the league - what's okay and what isn't. I just need to do a better job of helping him. He's playing hard and playing tough and all but he is definitely finding himself in front of the officials a lot.

(On if Tony Moeaki has exceeded expectations) Everybody on the staff had a feeling about Tony. We had seen him play before. We had a pretty good thought that he could be a help and he's taken some time and he's done better. I guess we would say we are really pleasantly surprised in the sense that he could help maybe so early but this is the kind of the player that he was. He was contributing in a big way. He made big plays and all the catches and stuff, he has always been good at. He's getting better as a blocker for us, learning our principles and all that. It's becoming a really good pick up for us that he can contribute in the way he is so it's working out great.

(On if he is rewarding the players with rest after two tough games) I don't look at the Thursday thing like it's a tough deal. You just have to deal with it. You get that opportunity and you have to make the most of it and always, we want to get the back end of that and get the rest so we can be strong next time out. Our guys did handle the process really well, the adjustments that we had to make to the schedule and all that, we flew right through it. Like we told you last week, it felt like it was really going well. It's a bonus for us - to get two wins in that time and also to get a break. It really helps us setting up for the last four games. It worked out well so it's a good deal.

(On how much of his job has been to manage up as well as manage down) I have such good support from all that John [Schneider] does and Peter [McLoughlin] that it seems like it's been effortlessly, really. We've gotten along so smoothly and seen eye-to-eye on everything that we've dealt with - been able to find that spot where you see eye-to-eye. Paul [Allen] has been so supportive of the multitude of things that John's in charge of which really impacts him in a great way with the money and the decisions and all that kind of stuff. We work together and the communication has always been open and we've had good dialogue at every turn for all the years so I think we have such a strong base now that we all feel like we can get through whatever we have to deal with. I don't know about managing up, I feel like we're just working things out. Everybody is very respectful of the positions and the authority and all of that - the opinions that everybody brings, the expertise. It really couldn't be better. Our format and setup couldn't be better. There's nothing to tweak. It's right on so we keep working at it and hopefully continue to make decisions that we can support and benefit from.

(On if there is a methodology for conflict resolution) We work things out through communicating and dialoguing and through trust. We trust that everybody has a good opinion and we rest one another and we make our choices. There's an order to things that isn't necessary to call on, really. I think it's a mutual respect that allows us to communicate from A to Z on what we're talking about and really feel like we're doing it together and making the most of our options. I feel like our decisions are usually really strong. We don't feel like we're barely getting through these things. We're making strong choices and decisions and there's a bit of a momentum to that at times as we work it through and we feel really good about the stuff that we've been doing so really, it's a very, very good setup.

(On if this is what he envisioned when he signed on) It really has turned out even better than I could have imagined. I really had hoped that the freedom would be here and the freedom is here for me - to do what I want to do and to get things done in the fashion that I think I can do it best. That has been totally supported. I didn't know John at all so I've come to love the guy for all that he brings - his work ethic, his expertise, his vision and creativity and all of that. That's worked out great. We've been through two CEOs in essence and both have worked well with us and we have worked well with them. I'm sure he would comment that way. We had to develop a relationship with Paul and John has done a great deal of that in communicating with Paul on a regular basis. I see him one a week during the season but that's about all. It's really worked out beautiful and it could not have been better. I think it transcends. This is a good place to be and it's a good place to work and everybody can feel that. We've maintained an atmosphere of upbeat, positive, a lot of energy, willing to take on tough challenges and make tough decisions and go for it. That's really what this is all about right now.

(On when Paul Allen visits before games) Yeah, he wants to ask the normal questions that curiosity would generate. He wants to know what's going on - how the week's gone, how the players are doing, trick plays - stuff like that.

(On only allowing one touchdown in the last 10 quarters they have played) Yeah, the players have rallied to find their best. I think the ascending health, we've been getting stronger and they feel better. The corners have come back to play. Kam [Chancellor] has come back to play. Bobby [Wagner] has come back. It seems like that has all added to it but I think they have really rallied. Dan [Quinn] has done a great job and the coaches have done a great job on the defensive side to keep guys growing and not get to the point where you get frustrated and it starts to work against you. There's been frustration because we knew that we could better and the fact that we're just starting to hit stride now, I think our best football is still ahead of us. We have a chance to continue to improve and to grow and that's a beautiful thing at this time of year. But I'm really proud of the leadership and Kam and Earl [Thomas] and Richard [Sherman] and Michael [Bennett], all those guys, K.J. [Wright] and Bobby [Wagner]. All those guys that have hung together with us to keep the message moving forward until we really figured it out and felt right about it. That's what is most apparent for me.

(On the players talking about trusting each other and what that means on the field) That has to do with your ability to focus. If you trust what's going on around you and you trust what you're asked to do then you're not concerned and distracted by what may be otherwise so that's a real basic fundamental of being able to focus really well. When you have confidence and you believe in what you're doing then you don't second guess and discursive thoughts don't come your way and you're more apt to play like you're capable and that's a really basic premise of our program. So we have to get to that and that comes through hard work and the understanding of what you're capable of doing and then preparing yourself so that when the time comes for the opportunity to show it, you can come through. How we share that is by supporting one another - that's really what is it. It's supporting one another. It's demonstrating that you do trust them and you do believe in them. You don't let your focus go anywhere else like worrying about what could be or what could happen or what call you make or what play you make or didn't make. That's really what is at hand right now. It's been a really vivid illustration to the players of how powerful that is.

(On how the small stuff adds up like setting the edge and how much of that trust plays into that) Yeah, certainly it does because guys are taking care of their job and doing it to the best of their ability and they're being acknowledged for it and recognized by their teammates. Nobody is worrying about anybody else right now. They know things are going to work out if we work really hard and that's the big level of trust that we're talking about and that's a really good thing. It's what really successful teams own. They know that they're okay. We knew what that felt like last year and we're working at finding it this year. There's a chance that maybe we could have a very successful season here in the regular season. It's all about us finishing now. We really don't have to change anything now. We need to work really hard and hold on to really where we are right now and keep battling and we will be okay. Whatever that gets us, we will find out in a few weeks.

(On if being back in the division battle gives the guys any added encouragement) Sure. We would have approached every game right here in the fashion that we have to win each one of them in a championship fashion and that hasn't changed. Nothing has changed. We have looked at every game this year in the same manner. It's obvious that it's really there. One of the things that you love in competition is when you control your own future and we have the opportunity to do that and we have to do it one day at a time.

(On the biggest challenge preparing for Philadelphia's offense) They're really explosive. They have a real style about them. You have to mention Chip [Kelly] - his concepts and approach - when you talk about this offense because it is what he has constructed over the years. It's innovative and it's well run and it's designed beautifully. They're able to carry it out with different players, different quarterbacks. Mark [Sanchez] is doing a great job right now. [Nick] Foles had done a terrific job, had an incredible year last year. There is tempo to it as well. I think they've run 130 more plays then we've run on offense this year already at this point so that's 10 plays a game, close to or more. So there are a lot of good things about it and they've really been on it for two solid years now.

(On how to prepare for the tempo) We prepare, really you have to prepare in modern football to be in the no huddle mode so we're always prepared so it's not a big change for us. How much they are able to press the tempo - we're ready for that. We have been in that mode for the last couple of years now because you have to be.

(On James Carpenter's return) Solid, did a good job. It was great to have him back. He felt great about his contribution and being back out there with everybody. He overcame his ankle and played pretty good, solid football so it's a really good sign, with the break he should be in great shape this week.

(On if it's good for Richard Sherman to get some of the balls coming his way) Sure. Yeah, it's huge. It's huge for him to have the opportunities. He really had three big opportunities to take the ball off of them and I know he was kicking in the locker room about the one he didn't get. But it's a dangerous direction to go in because he can turn that ball around on you in a heartbeat and he's demonstrated that, really better than anybody in football over the last few years and you can see why. It's really good. It's a good reward for him for working hard and busting his tail and not getting caught up in stats and numbers and things like that. He has not waivered; I've said that to you for some time now, he has not waivered technique-wise, his attention to the details of how he plays and studies and prepares and all that has been impeccable. It's a good reward.

(On how he would explain the relationship between Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin) It's a really unique relationship. They're extraordinary friends and extraordinarily competitive as well. There's some way they can mix this thing and hang together and they battle as much as anybody has seen. It's like brothers in a sense. They have a deep feeling for one another and respect for one and another and they wouldn't rather beat anybody in the world than that other guy. That's the most important guy to get and it's a really beautiful thing.

(On knowing Chip Kelly from USC-Oregon days) I did not get to know him very well. I have tremendous respect for the innovation. I don't know the history of how this works but I think he has been as much an innovator in the game as anybody in college football. He's brought his approach, his style, his mentality to the league and it's worked out great for him. I think the Oregon school and their kind of burst to the spotlight and been brought about by their offense and the style that Chip was noted for. There are a lot of teams running no huddle and there are a lot of teams trying to speed it up. There are a lot of teams that are working the kind of approach and schemes and spreading the field as they have - a lot of people were doing that. I think the tempo and the belief in that is what really what Chip was really the great champion of.

(On when Chip Kelly visited here while he was still at Oregon) I'm sure he regrets that tremendously because of all the things that he shared with me.

(On if he liked the way the defense came together in the third quarter of the season) Absolutely, absolutely. After the Kansas City game, it was a mess. We jumped right back to business and really recaptured the chance of having a great finish to the season. It was a hard way to learn but it was worth it. That's obviously the most important thing that's shown up.

(On Richard Sherman and Russell Wilson eating turkey on the NBC set at the 49ers' midfield postgame) If they wanted me to state my opinion, I would have thought, ‘Yeah, they should do that somewhere else'. That would have been good but that's up to the networks and all of that. It meant nothing at all. It was nothing. It gave some people something to talk about. Our guys didn't care at all the way I understood it.

Pete Carroll Show with Brock and Salk from Friday:

Hugh Millen Hardcore Football:

The always fun Opponent Audio Recap:

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