SHANE STEICHEN: What's going on, guys? I'm doing good. Getting ready for Denver. Getting ready for those boys.
Looking back at last week, I thought offensively, we moved the ball, did some good things. Ran it well. Jalen was efficient throwing it. Overall, good performance.
But the bottom line, we got to win the football game. We didn't get that done. That's the goal this week, get better, and go win this week.
Q. (Question concerning Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders.)
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, no Jordan is playing good football right now. When Miles comes back, we'll cross that bridge when it gets there. But right now we're focused on Denver.
Q. What do you like about 13-personnel from your personnel standpoint? And what do you like about it as a play caller?
SHANE STEICHEN: Well, I think sometimes when you're looking at defenses, I think defenses are getting a lot better. I think in previous history, some, you know, defenses play two or three calls when you go in 13 personnel.
But I think defenses are getting a lot better and mixing up their defensive calls. It gives you balance, obviously. We ran the ball really well in that 13-personnel package and we moved it down to a 16, 15 play drive. It was efficient for us and we'll keep looking at it going forward.
Q. Why is Quez the receiver on the third --
SHANE STEICHEN: We mix that up. It's week to week. It could be Quez, DeVonta, it could be Reagor. Anyone.
Q. Is that mainly to occupy the safety?
SHANE STEICHEN: Like I said, that's week to week. It just depends.
Q. This was the first week we saw Quez with more snaps than DeVonta. Was there a reason for that?
SHANE STEICHEN: No. Not necessarily. That was probably because of the 13-personnel stuff he was in. So that drive was more there.
Q. How did Tyree do from the film study and what was the thought of --
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, Tyree did a good job. He's a big body for us. We like his athletic ability. So we'll keep looking to him moving forward.
Q. At least another week before you have to make another decision about -- with Miles coming back. We don't know when he's going to be back. You do have a lot of talented running backs with different skill sets. What does that give you? You have four guys who can catch the ball, run the ball, blocking.
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, no doubt. All those guys can play good football. And they're good players. We keep looking at that and week to week with how we use them and stuff like that. So that's good.
Q. When you look at the drive that tied the game, Jalen was really effective on that. When you have a young quarterback who makes that type of drive in a key situation, what do you learn about that young quarterback?
SHANE STEICHEN: I mean, obviously, he's a good player. He's been in big moments and that was a big moment going down there. And, obviously, hitting that touchdown to DeVonta.
They were showing a zero blitz look and hit DeVonta. It was a big time play and a good drive by him.
Q. When he has to expose his body to a hit like he did on that one third down, is that a conversation with you guys or just something he brings to the table?
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, I mean, we do have those conversation, but he knows. In those moments, he went and got it. And that was a heck of a play by him. That was a big time play by him on third down.
Q. What's the focus on two missed passes as opposed to the final drive? How do you reconcile it between the way he played on that final drive and that --
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, I think as a competitor, he's the ultimate competitor. And, obviously, you have all this good stuff. But when you're a competitor, Shoot, I could have hit those two, I mean, that's the human nature, right?
You look at those two plays you could have hit, and that's just his competitive nature. But he played good football.
Q. For you, as the one who's coaching him, are you more focused on fourth quarter there or first down?
SHANE STEICHEN: No. I think -- overall, as I said, he played really good football. Those -- you're going to have two or three plays a game probably that you want back.
And he wants those back and we all want those back. That's a part of the game and you got to continue to grow and get better.
Q. When you said he checked the -- when you saw the cover zero and the blitz, did he have a couple plays at the line? Did he change the play or just --
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, no he got to it. And we threw that vertical route to DeVonta.
Q. (No microphone.)
SHANE STEICHEN: I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.
Q. Kenny Gainwell.
SHANE STEICHEN: Oh, Kenny Gainwell? Yeah, Kenny is improving every week. Obviously, he's a rookie. He's getting better every week.
Jemal is doing a heck of a job with those guys. And Boston is playing good, Jordan. And Kenny, obviously, he scored a touchdown there, too. So all those guys, it's a committee and those guys are working hard to get better and playing good.
Q. When you look at DeVonta's game on Sunday against the Chargers, what did he do better against the Chargers that he wasn't doing in the previous three weeks?
SHANE STEICHEN: I don't know if he did anything better. Obviously, he made a lot more plays. I mean, he had two explosive plays.
You know, he had the big chunk down the sidelines, and then right after that, we hit the deep crosser to him. And we hit the big touchdown to him.
Those are three explosive plays that got him over a 100 yards. And he's a heck of a football player. And he was drafted where he was for a reason. And we did a heck of a job in seeing that in him. He's a good player. We're excited about him.
Q. You played against Vic Fangio a few times. What does his defense do well and what challenges are there?
SHANE STEICHEN: They're very sound. He's been running the scheme for a long time. He gets them playing hard. Simmons and Jackson, they're two veteran safeties. They've played together for a while.
They're physical. Simmons is a rangy guy, Jackson is a heavy hitter in the box. He fills the run really good. And upfront, they're stout upfront. They're playing good football on defense. It's an exciting challenge and we're excited about it.
Q. It seemed DeVonta does a very good job of working back towards the ball. Is that something that's innate? Have you guys stressed that with him and what does he do to make that --
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, I think so. With his speed and vertical speed getting in and out of his breaks, that's something he does naturally, too.
But, obviously, it's coach. Aaron Moorehead does a heck of a job with him on an individual basis and the drills going over it with him week in and week out and carrying into the games.
Q. Shane, there was a play where Bosa was on the left side across from Jordan and Jordan sort of doubles down on the other guy. Was he expecting help from behind him?
SHANE STEICHEN: Which one was that?
Q. It -- it -- Jordan was lined up against Bosa and Jordan doubles down on the guy with the left guard and Bosa comes free -- comes free with nobody in front of him right to Jalen.
SHANE STEICHEN: Oh, that one there, they were in blitz zero. That was blitz zero. So, basically, we had to gap it down. We were hot there. And they brought the house and Jalen made him miss. That's really what that was.
Q. What have you guys seen from Landon since he moved over to left guard?
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, no, he's getting better every week. He's a physical football player. A big, powerful man inside. Stout does a heck of a job with him. So he's getting better every week.
Q. On those third downs, when do you want Jalen to run it to the sticks and when do you want him to try to make a play with his arm?
SHANE STEICHEN: I think with any third down, you know, you're always trying to get it. You're always trying to get it. So, obviously, if the pocket is clean, then he can make the throw, make the throw.
And sometimes when he gets out and he scrambles, he's going to try and go get it. He's A physical football player and a competitor and going to try to get the first down.
Q. Jalen's recognition, though, what was coming on that touchdown throw to DeVonta, what does that say about his growth?
SHANE STEICHEN: He's growing every day. Like I said, he's continuing to prove the last two weeks he's played really good football and we got to keep him going in that direction. And he keeps working and the way he prepares every week, it shows up on game days.
Q. Do you have to make a cognizant effort, you guys have been -- you know, when DeVonta gets some targets, with Quez and Jalen out as much, do you have to be cognizant of, you know, keeping it in the ear of the younger guys, You'll get your opportunity?
SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, I think I -- like I say every week, we have plays up for every guy every week. We got a whole bunch of talented receivers that we're trying to get the football to.
And sometimes it might be Dallas who might have 10 catches, DeVonta might have four catches, and then next week it might flip. So, you know, it's week to week.
Q. You said Jalen's played well the past two weeks. The volume has, obviously, been lower for him. Do you think that's connected? Do you think he's playing well when he's not throwing as often?
SHANE STEICHEN: Not the necessarily. I mean, does it help? Yeah, it does. But at the same time, he's a good player. He can handle a lot on his plate and he's continuing to improve.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports