DAVE CANALES: Just looking at the film, watching it, talking through it with the staff, just a game of missed opportunities. Kind of like we alluded to afterwards. That's myself included too. Gotta make sure we come away with -- (Audio muted).
Just wanted to address the game again. I mentioned it afterwards, a game of missed opportunities, and the defense played great, had three interceptions, played the run game pretty well, had a couple pop out on us, but for the most part somewhere in the 3.8 average in the run game. And we played a solid day, played physical throughout. You know, offensively, just could not get our rhythm going. It started off with our run game. I have to make sure that comes alive. That's part of who we are. It's a part of what we believe in, and we have two great backs that contribute to this team. The.
Offensive line was blocking well and that was a missed opportunity by me, and I'll do better in that regard. But in general, we had some opportunities to make this game a lot closer even as we were battling ourselves back into it.
Q. Obviously, the league acted on Tre'von. Do you know whether he is going to appeal that?
DAVE CANALES: I'm not sure. That's up to Tre and his whole group as they discuss this. But he and I had a good conversation. Obviously I'll keep all those things private between Tre and I. But they'll make any decisions going forward.
Q. And then what are the updates on all your injured guys, but I guess specifically on the two in protocol, Jaycee and Claud?
DAVE CANALES: Yep, just in concussion protocol right now. We'll take that day to day. And the one I will share with us is Corey Thornton suffered a fractured tibia, I believe -- fibula. And it's going to require surgery, and he'll be out for the season.
Q. And did Moehrig -- did I see Tre'von leaving in a boot last night also?
DAVE CANALES: He's got something going on with his ankle. He's being evaluated as well. He'll be day to day. We'll give you the full report on it on Wednesday.
Q. Can you expand on what you saw in the video regarding Tre'von and what your thoughts were on that?
DAVE CANALES: I will not.
Q. You mentioned the run defense. Krys Barnes finished with a game high of ten tackles and jumped in to pull Jennings away from Tre'von. But with Cherelus going down, did Barnes show enough in his first start to secure a spot on the 53 with the Rams coming in?
DAVE CANALES: That's certainly part of our discussion right now. I love the way Krys played. He was playing physical, playing good assignment football. And Bam Martin-Scott also got in at the end and really flashed, showed some athleticism and length, and just instinctually getting to the ball and then the run game in different ways.
Q. Following up with Martin-Scott, what did he show you in the second half? With the Rams coming in, are you going to rely on Barnes' experience?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, that's the plan right now is to hopefully get Trevin back. As you know, he's been week to week, and just look to the rest of the group to see who can help us.
Q. You have a history a little bit in the NFC West, if you wouldn't mind sharing some thoughts on Coach McVay, his staff -- obviously you're familiar with some because they're on your staff now -- take us back a little bit and some of the things to look out for, not just strategy-wise, but just personality-wise.
DAVE CANALES: I just love the way that they're innovators, the way that he takes the game, the core principles of the game and then just tries to expand it and understanding that our role as coaches is to continue to build this game and move it forward and Sean has been at the forefront of that part, not just from a football standpoint, but operationally too, the plan of the week, how he schedules things with his players, how he speaks to his players, and really has an environment that grows young men and helps them become better pros and helps them approach their work with professionalism.
Q. You mentioned that you've got to get the running game, get more involved with that. Do you feel like, in hindsight, looking back on that, that you gave up on that too early because you guys were averaging, what, five yards per carry?
DAVE CANALES: Not too early, just in general. I think that's the part that I can take accountability for, is making sure that it's a part of it throughout the process, throughout the game. It gives us great balance. And I love to give the ball to Rico and love to give the ball to Chuba, so they can make an impact on the game in their own way.
Q. What are your tentative plans if you don't have Tre'von in the game?
DAVE CANALES: We have a bunch of guys we're bringing in. We have guys in the building that we'll talk through.
Q. About the run game, Rico put up a post on social media today with kind of a confused emoji. Have you had a chance to talk with him? It seems like he wasn't real thrilled with his role last night.
DAVE CANALES: I have not.
Q. Will you seek to do that?
DAVE CANALES: Not right now.
Q. And then Isaiah Simmons, is the plan to play him at linebacker or safety?
DAVE CANALES: We're going to figure that part out. He's also been a contributor on special teams. But he's a big, fast athlete, worth just bringing in, getting him out there, getting him comfortable with our schemes and hearing our words.
Q. Do you think he's got a chance to be up this week?
DAVE CANALES: He may.
Q. The thought on the quick turnaround, this was obviously an attrition game in San Francisco. You're hoping to get Trevin back, but the jury's out on Claud and Jaycee because it's early in the week. How difficult of a week is this for you guys in terms of planning and prepping for a really good Rams team?
DAVE CANALES: A short week has its challenges, but at the same time, you know, this is the next championship opportunity and we've got to make sure that, when the players roll back in tomorrow, we're ready to get back to our processes, get into the game plan and get ready for the Rams.
Q. Just curious what your evaluation was of Bryce after watching tape, and what were your conversations like with him today?
DAVE CANALES: We have a lot to improve collectively as a group. I know Bryce would be the first within up here to tell you that he can do a better job on some of those interceptions. Those are all things we're working on together, and we'll attack it tomorrow when the players come in.
Q. Jalen Coker has been back in and out of the lineup, looks like he's playing the slot outside as well. How has he coming along from your perspective, and what's the challenge from your end, and Brad's end, in balancing all of the talent that you have out there, letting obviously working his way into the role that he is trying to work into and how do you balance developing him but knowing that Coker offers something as well on the outside?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, the hope is that, as our concepts continue to materialize, as guys are detailed with it in all respects, really, it starts up front with protection. For this skill group, I'm really excited about the growth and the steps that this group has been taking you know with T Mac and Xavier and Jalen really being the primary targets on some of those things. And Jalen's made the most of his opportunities, and I'm proud that he's showing up that way.
Q. I know you addressed it in your opening statement about the missed opportunities. Is there a level of frustration about that because you know that things were there for you and 12 games in, you don't want to miss on opportunities like you had?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, we feel like that collectively. We feel like we missed some opportunities, especially the way the defense was playing in the first half. We could have capitalized on those things. And I expect that to happen in the future. Those are the things we talk about as a group, to cash in on the turnovers that happen. And offensively, to take care of the ball, to eliminate those types of things, because it leads to points. We can do a better job there. 0-for-2 in the red zone, 1-for-7 on third down. Those are critical areas to extend drives to come away with points. And we gotta do better there.
Q. Historically, this season, this team has always seemed to rebound from bad games and bad losses and things of that nature. But with the way things happened last night and the injuries starting to mount and you're about to take on arguably the best team in the NFC, how do you keep this thing from snowballing and making sure that this team can rebound and get back to where you guys want to be?
DAVE CANALES: We just take it one week at a time. Every game is a championship opportunity and our focus has to be that way. We have to look at each day as critical. Every walk-through, every meeting, every practice, it all counts. It all matters and points to that goal to create that championship mindset so that we can be ready for these games, these high-stakes games, and this opportunity this weekend.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports