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September 4, 2025 33 mins
OL Colton McKivitz joins “The Saloon” to discuss new uniforms and preview Week 1 vs. the Seahawks, while 49ers play-by-play announcer Guy Haberman and Seahawks senior digital media reporter John Boyle share preseason takeaways and key storylines entering the regular season.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hey, faithful, this is your team reporter Bree welcoming you
to our brand new podcast, The Saloon presented by Cisco.
Here you will get all of your latest news and
updates on the San Francisco forty nine Ers, including exclusive analysis,
interviews with coaches, players, and more. Be sure to subscribe
on Sirius xm Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere you get

(00:42):
your podcasts. What's up, faithful, Welcome back to the Saloon
presented by Cisco. I'm your forty nine Ers team reporter
Breonna Janelle. Today, my special guest is Guy Hayerman, one
of the one of this season's amazing play by play announcers. Guy,
thank you for joining me today.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
Thanks for having me, Bri. It's great to be here.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
I know so you have done play by play for
the Niners for the preseason. I've seen you at practices.
How has it been. How are you liking the new role.

Speaker 3 (01:11):
It's been fun the you know, three preseason games and
now getting ready for the first radio game with the
Seahawks filling in for Greg.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
It's been fun.

Speaker 3 (01:18):
It's been you know, challenging because obviously I think I
want what everybody wants, which is Greig, Papa back and healthy.
Like that guy is truly one of the best there
is at what he does. And you know, he's been
a friend to me and an awesome person. So from
that standpoint, it's challenging. And it's definitely challenging because it's
he's excellent. So I don't try to don't try to

(01:39):
do what he would do because he does things that
you know, it's like replacing the best athlete. You can't
try and run as faster, jump as high. So it's
been great, Tim, Ryan's been awesome. You know, being around
the team for several years. It's been cool because I
feel like I have a relationship with a lot of
fans through my you know, YouTube channel, and so those
people have been like rooting for me in the comments.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Which is fun, you know.

Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, so that's been really cool. So it's yeah, it's
been great.

Speaker 1 (02:02):
Absolutely, Our hearts are with Papa during this time. But
as you've got in your legs and doing play by
play for the Niners, now, what's it like really diving
deep into the faithful fan base and what are you
most excited to start the season with.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Well, the sea, I mean the seat like a rivalry game, yeah, right, So,
and I heard you're giving I get a I get
a black jersey for being here today?

Speaker 4 (02:23):
Is that right?

Speaker 2 (02:24):
I get to take that home.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
We got to I don't make that decision.

Speaker 4 (02:27):
I'll talk to.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
People, but you know, just being play by play.

Speaker 3 (02:32):
But like I am somebody who watches as I know
you know you did before you were working here, is
like every living every play I've got when I'm sitting
at home watching the night is I got two screens,
ones on a ten second delay so I can watch
a play and then watch a play again. So you know,
when you're calling a game, you are so involved in
every play and to be able to talk about the play,

(02:56):
not like hey, yelling at my wife like come look
at what just happened, but like with Tim Ryan, Yeah
that's pretty cool.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, it's pretty cool. I mean, I think that's a
sign of a true fan. My mom would talk about
her grandfather watching these games when you know Bill Walsh
was coaching, and how he'd have two TVs stacked on
top of each other in a radio because he's trying
to get every perspective of the game. So it's really
cool to see how that now translates to the modern time,
are you like before stepping into this role like a

(03:23):
Red Zone fanatic and seeing all the games happening at
one time, or you're concentrated if the.

Speaker 2 (03:28):
Niners are on, I don't have Red Zone on?

Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, clearly.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
If I don't have Red Zone.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
On, if the Niners are on, now, I may have, well,
Monitor three might have Red Zone or another big game on,
but I'm really not.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm not like it's there.

Speaker 3 (03:44):
But you know, I'm really not paying attention just because
I'm I would be when I'm home. I'm taking notes
on every play, so you know, you can't really watch
Red Zone.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
There's too much going on on Red Zone, which I
love it, it's amazing.

Speaker 4 (03:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, but if the Niners are on, that's for my attention.

Speaker 1 (03:59):
And there's too much going on in a Niners game
to predict what's about to happen.

Speaker 2 (04:03):
That's exactly right.

Speaker 3 (04:04):
There's too much going on in a Niner game. So yeah,
that's what the attention has to be. I've seen some
guys over the years who will be calling a game
and like watching another game on an iPad.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
God bless them for having that ability. But I don't
have that ability.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Oh good, Well, there was a lot that happened even
during the off season, during training camp, as we ramped
up through the preseason, so as you were calling those games,
bring us up to speed on what you saw during
the preseason and what you're excited to see pop out
come Week one.

Speaker 3 (04:32):
I thought one of the really cool things was to
see individually the guys in the secondary, Bernardo Green after
last year, Domadore, Lenore, Marquis Siegel, the rookie Upton Stout,
the rookie Jason Pinnock who's new at safety. To see
individually all of those guys look good, but we haven't

(04:55):
gotten to see them altogether yet. You know, they didn't
play a snap together in the preseason. So that is
at the top of my list of things that was
cool in the preseason but wasn't the total package yet
that I think is really exciting about Week one.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
So that's that's the big one on my list.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, and I mean on the other side of the ball,
we haven't seen a guy like Christian McCaffrey. We see
him during practice, what have you seen from him and
the offensive side of the ball because the faithful haven't
gotten to see it, you know on TV.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, Christian's so unique.

Speaker 3 (05:25):
I was just talking to somebody about this the other day, like,
there aren't a lot of guys whose high school tape,
college tape, and NFL tape all looks the same. He's like,
oh he's he is dominating at Valor Christian.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
It's like, oh, okay, But then he's.

Speaker 3 (05:38):
Dominating at Stanford, and then he's dominating for the Panthers,
then he's dominating for the forty nine ers, like it's
not normal. And watching him in training camp, he he's
a machine.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
You know.

Speaker 3 (05:47):
Now he's at his best when people are trying to
tackle him and you can see everybody missing or how
he's setting up blocks or how he's catching or how
he's protecting. But I thought he's looked so explosive. He's
looks so fast, so ready to roll, you know. And
you know the other guy I would say is we
saw a little bit of Ricky Pearsall a little bit
in that Raider. He caught three catches. He had caught

(06:09):
three balls in that first drive against Raiders. Two of
them are first downs. He and brockav looked really good together.
I thought every practice.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
You know, before Juwan Jennings went out with the calf.

Speaker 3 (06:18):
He was dominating practice, and I and Ricky Pierson picked
up where he left off once he kind of became
the number one guy in practice.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
Yeah, it's cool to hear the stories about how they
really get to work during the off season, and he
shares impressers like during OTAs how he worked with Brock
during the off season and how he was really intentional
about that. But then you actually see that work come
to life in practice and seeing their connection just fire
off during those team drills or those eleven on eleven's.
It's a lot of fun. So now I'm excited to

(06:47):
see that translate into the regular season, and here you
make the call. It's gonna be a lot of fun
this week. Now, tell me about You talked a little
bit about the individual guys on the secondary, So tell
me about some preseason player impressions. Are there any players
that fans should keep their eye on as they're watching
Week one this week?

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well, I think one of the big questions will be everyone.

Speaker 3 (07:09):
I think every fan who pays attention to the Niners
was really interested to see Nick Martin, especially knowing you
know you're replacing Dray green Law. I think lost in
that a little bit has been well, what about D Winners,
who does seem like he's kind of taking a step
this year in the preseason and is ready to really,
you know, kind of run beside Fred. But everybody knows

(07:30):
you don't get through a season with two linebackers. So
I think, you know, the preseason was about D Winners first,
Nick Martin, and it's so hard for a rookie like
Nick Martin to come in and just play right away.
But he got better every week of the preseason. Every
game was better, and his speed is undeniable. By week
three he was making plays on special teams too, which
he'll have to contribute there. So I think those two guys, like,

(07:53):
let's not talk about Nick because he's flashy and new
and we should talk about him, but instead of talking
about D Winners. I think both those guys deserve and
the Nighters are going to need both of them, and
I think both of them.

Speaker 2 (08:03):
I think we'll see D Winners.

Speaker 3 (08:04):
Take a step, and I think we'll see Nick Martin
like take steps, you know, as the season goes along.
And here's the other thing we didn't like you were
doing all this stuff, Like we didn't get to see
Michael Williams on the field. Let's not forget about the
number eleven picking the draft, Like, that's pretty awesome. All
these guys are fired up about him. Trent Williams, we
talked to him during the third preseason game.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Loves him.

Speaker 3 (08:22):
I think it's been really cool to see Alfred Collins
some of the stuff that you know, Nick Bosis helped
him with in the same way that Fred Warner's helped
Tatum Bethune kind of get himself in better shape. So
I think you're seeing kind of with so many young
players last year and this year, especially on defense, the
leadership qualities that the defensive stars have. Now they've got

(08:45):
people to use them on and they're doing it, and
I think that'll pay dividends.

Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yeah, if we're talking leadership on the defense, tell me
about Robert Sali. He's back in the bay. What have
you learned from him? And how do you pick his
brain when it goes to making the call.

Speaker 3 (08:58):
I know Tim Ryan loves him, like any chance he
gets to talk about Tim And I think Gus Bradley
this is interesting too. Right week one, Gus Bradley was
kind of the father of the Legion of Boom Secondary
in Seattle.

Speaker 2 (09:10):
It doesn't look the same like.

Speaker 3 (09:11):
Some of the these are not the six three long
corners that Seattle had.

Speaker 2 (09:15):
But they're they're really tough, just like those Legion of
Boom guys.

Speaker 3 (09:18):
We've seen it with Leonore ready to scrap at any
moment up in Stout in practice, all always ready to go.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
Ronardo Green is always ready to go.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
So you know, I think it'll be interesting to see
how solid defense is different than the last time he
was here, what the influence of Gus Bradley is in
this secondary.

Speaker 2 (09:37):
I think there's gonna be a lot going on. It's
going to be complicated.

Speaker 3 (09:40):
So for the young guys that play like they have
to get up to speed very quickly, and and you know,
we think they're not really showing their hand in the preseason.

Speaker 2 (09:49):
So I think that'll be one of the fun things.

Speaker 3 (09:51):
One of the fun things early against Sam Darnold, Spencer
Rattler week two for the Saints, Kyler Murray week three.
You know, I think everyone's expecting this defense to have
such a big impact there.

Speaker 2 (10:00):
The fundamental still needs to be prestop the run. Yeah,
exactly got to stop the run.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
But you know, they invested a lot in the draft
to try and do that. So, uh, you know, all
the little things just but all these guys, not all
of them, but so many of the key leaders on
defense are so comfortable with him, respect him so much,
see him run around the sidelines, fire up like that's
that might be the best part.

Speaker 1 (10:24):
So exactly. Well, as we're talking Seattle, what are some
of the top storylines you're following as we enter week one?

Speaker 3 (10:32):
Seattle has a I think they feel like a really
good offensive line, but it's yum and they've battled some
injury stuff before they're healthy. Their first round pick was
a guard, Gray is Abel, who Daniel Jeremiah had mocked
to the Niners the day before the draft. So like
the type of guy you think that the Niners would
also like. So can the Niners kind of new look

(10:54):
defensive line win that battle? I mean, of course, there's
the Sam Darnold part of it, Like you know know
him so well from being here, I know you do,
Like he was an awesome guy to have here. Uh,
and now he's got this incredible opportunity for himself. So
that that team was fifth in the league last year
in past percentage. They threw the ball more than everybody,

(11:16):
but for other teams last year, it feels like they've
shifted to a run for an that we've got a
Kubiak calling plays up there, so it is run the ball,
play action.

Speaker 2 (11:27):
So I think it's gonna be.

Speaker 3 (11:30):
Kind of what Mike McDonald, the head coach, you would
think a defensive coach from the Ravens would want, which
is like kind of a what Kyle Shanahan would want
with Sean mc like a physical run first team.

Speaker 2 (11:41):
I gues that's what they're going to be.

Speaker 3 (11:42):
And I think this will feel a little like it
doesn't have the history that some of those big playoff games,
you know, some of those like Pete Carroll games had, but.

Speaker 2 (11:52):
I think it'll feel like that style of play.

Speaker 3 (11:54):
I think it'll think Seattle is going to feel different
than they have with with Gino at quarterback in the
previous years.

Speaker 1 (12:00):
Yeah, definitely. I mean, we spoke to the Seahawks reporter
John Boyle over in Seattle. You're going to see that
and later in this episode, but he talked about that
familiarity with the forty nine ers offense and Seattle's offense,
how they've got Kubiak's calling the plays over there, how
Sam Darnold's over there and all about establishing the run.

(12:21):
So what makes that fun When you're watching the game
and you can see how these offenses are trying to
match up.

Speaker 3 (12:27):
It just those games feel like every play and every
possession matters when two teams play that way. It's how
there might be five possessions and a half total like combined,
like you don't you know six You're not getting that
many shots at it, so you better score on the
red zone touchdowns. And we know that's a big emphasis
for the forty nine ers this year and having Christian

(12:48):
McCaffrey back is a big deal. But to me, what
you just know from the opening possession, every possession is
going to matter, and that's that's really.

Speaker 1 (12:57):
Cool, awesome. And you are a longtime Niner fan, so
from your perspective also as a broadcaster, what makes this
rivalry exciting? How is the NFC West Division shaping up
this season? And what are you excited to see? Because
you know it's Niners versus Seahawks bookending this season to
start it and to close the regular season, So I

(13:17):
don't know what makes the Niners versus Seahawks matchup?

Speaker 3 (13:21):
Just so excited that somebody's taken something from somebody before.
You know, it's like, I don't The streak that the
Niners had against McVeigh was awesome. Mcvayh then wins in
the postseason and it just takes it to another level.

Speaker 4 (13:33):
You know.

Speaker 3 (13:34):
You think about Drake Greenlaw making a stop right on
the goal line late in the season in Seattle, like
all that stuff you've got Seattle in San Francisco have
a little rot just like the areas have a little
rivalry right like and and so I think that's all
of that stuff makes it cool.

Speaker 1 (13:53):
You know.

Speaker 3 (13:53):
I think for a long time Niner fans like all right,
you know Seattle, like you came up with the uniforms
and like your new fan base whatever. But they've been
around long enough. Now that place is loud enough, Like
you have to respect it. You've got to respect the team.
You got to respect the style of play with Pete Carroll.
And now I think it's going to be physical like that.

Speaker 2 (14:10):
Again.

Speaker 3 (14:11):
There's just this division is not It's a hard division.
The Cardinals have taken from the Niners many times, and
you know, the Niners played in so many close games
last year in this division, lost a lot of close
games by a small amount of I mean, what four
games by thirteen total points or whatever it was. So

(14:32):
these games just matter so much because especially this year,
when you look at and go who's gonna win the division?
You know, we go, look, if we went and looked
at a bunch of if we picked twenty preseason predictions,
at least three different teams are getting picked. Arizona's maybe
getting picked a little bit too. But I was looking
at some stuff yesterday. People who are taking the Rams,

(14:53):
people who taking the nine Ers, people who are taking
the Seahawks.

Speaker 2 (14:55):
So these games really matter.

Speaker 1 (14:57):
It's totally up in the air and going on the
road for week one. When we talk about Seattle, the
first thing we talk about is just the environment and
how loud it is, the twelfth Man everything, But did
you notice how in Vegas? You know, it's a little
bit different a team that's been moving around, but the
sea of red that's just been a storyline for the
faithful fan based no matter where they go. Seattle is

(15:19):
a different beast. The twelfth Man is alive, well there,
but would you ever call out if you start seeing
you know, more red in the stands than that blue and.

Speaker 3 (15:28):
Green absolutely, because that place in New Orleans week two
is the same, right, Like, that is such a home
field advantage and if you can mitigate it a little bit,
then that that's a big deal. So yes, I will
take a close eye at that. I know Niner fans
love to see when there's red.

Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yea.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
It goes back for years.

Speaker 3 (15:46):
Go to Dallas, show off all the red, go to
l A, show off all the red at SOFI. So yeah, no,
it's it's it's a big deal. And and you know,
I mean there's a lot of red there will be.
Seattle does a good job though, like those fans, they
they they try to keep Niner fans out, which is
what a fan base should do. But I it is
one of the interesting parts of the pre kick.

Speaker 2 (16:08):
It's like how many Niner fans are here? And you'll
hear it.

Speaker 1 (16:10):
That's the first thing.

Speaker 2 (16:12):
When do you notice it? I knowed if you're I
noticed it when you check touches the ball first. Yeah, right,
it's like juice, Like, okay, Niner fans are here.

Speaker 1 (16:19):
Well, what's fun When you're on the road and we
see the pregame warm ups, all of the fans will
get closer to the field to watch the players warm up,
and so that's when you start to see it, but
you never really know until kickoff and then the home
field team comes in and then there's a mix. But
you know, like we were just saying, it's really impressive

(16:40):
when we see that full red stand, but it'll be
extra impressive if we get to see it in Seattle,
just knowing their legacy and how big that fan base
is over in Seattle, so really cool to see. Hoping
to see that sea of red in week one. But guy,
thank you so much for joining me on the saloon today.
Any parting words with the faithful as we get ready

(17:01):
for the season premiere?

Speaker 2 (17:03):
What I mean the Super bowls here?

Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, so let's do this all the way into February, right,
that's the idea.

Speaker 2 (17:08):
That'd be fun.

Speaker 1 (17:08):
That would be so fun. Guy, thank you so much
for joining me, and I'll see you in Seattle.

Speaker 2 (17:12):
I abre today.

Speaker 1 (17:13):
I'm sitting across Colton mckivitt's Culton. Thanks for joining us
in the saloon. How are you feeling? How is practiced today?

Speaker 4 (17:19):
That's awesome? Thanks for having me a little warm, but
you know, it's always good to kind of the actual
last practice of camp so now it's on Bonus Monday
and Seattle. So excited, good practice and ready for the
three day weekend.

Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yeah. We're in that transition period of summer football going
into the fall, so it's exciting that you know it's
football season. Now I've got this on the table, the
Rivalries uniform. I want to hear your initial reaction when
you first saw it and just your thoughts on the
new uniform this year.

Speaker 4 (17:51):
I love the black. I mean, obviously, as a lineman,
when we're in the all whites, we don't look as dashing,
so to have the blacks on it's going to be
a little slimming. I love the saloon letters. I mean
it's just classy, classic lettering. They're just pretty dope. We
had a meeting earlier on so we a couple of
us got to see him early and it was it

(18:13):
was pretty sick to to get eyes on it. And
now everyone knows about it, so they're pretty pretty sweet.

Speaker 1 (18:19):
Yeah. I heard some of the guys even had some
input in creating the Did you get to hear about that?

Speaker 4 (18:23):
And that was that was part of the leadership council. Yeah,
we were in it, so we got to use it
was cool. I mean, obviously they're like, hush, hush, you
can't talk about this for a year. So I don't
have any style but Juice obviously with his background and
Kristen so he had a lot of inputs and Fred
and you know those guys they love being stylish. So

(18:44):
but I mean they did a great job with it
and excited to wear it.

Speaker 1 (18:47):
That's awesome. All right. Now, let's reflect a little bit
on that summer ball. Like we were talking about looking
at training camp, You've shared that this is the most
fit you've ever been. You have really big goals ahead
of yourself this year. So when you're reflecting on this
year's training camp, what were some of your biggest personal takeaways?

Speaker 4 (19:05):
Just that what I put out there and you know,
wanting to be a provo, like that's a goal for
me this year and the things that I want to
do on the field, and how I wanted to look.
It was just reassured every week and every practice that
I had, just because I was able to stack you know,
good on great days and build on things and not
take a step back. That was kind of one of
the biggest things, is like every day I had a

(19:26):
gold going I know, what I wanted to work on,
and then obviously show that what I had done in
the off season or as we call it, on season,
what I was putting out there was shown during camp,
so I was able to do that. Obviously, had some
great battles with Nick and you know Samo and Huff
and all those guys, and had a great day down
and you know Vegas with Max. So you know, obviously

(19:51):
it's not as intense as what a season game is
going to be, but it shows you what's coming and
where you're at and if you need to reflect and
go okay, now check yourself, you know where you thought
you were and here's what to work on. But uh,
it's just a reinsurance for me and that I'm exactly
where I want to be.

Speaker 1 (20:06):
I love hearing that. Now. If the off season is
called the on season, is the ind season called? It? Just?

Speaker 4 (20:13):
I just it's just we're always on its Yeah, there's
nothing nothing off about it. I think it's more busier
than the season for me. I enjoy when the season
comes because it takes a lot off me.

Speaker 1 (20:23):
So yeah, you get back into that cycle of a
game with exactly it. Now, speaking of game weeks, we're
heading into Week one versus Seattle, Let's take a look
at it. What's your mindset like heading into Seattle. Does
it bring any extra intensity that you'll starting you'll start
the season off on the road.

Speaker 4 (20:37):
It's gonna be intense, I mean it always is. Usually
it's been a Thursday night game for I don't know
how many years, so it'll it'll be different then in
the past, but right to be the the week one opener.
I mean, it's gonna be loud, even though it's a
I think a one o'clock kick, but you know it's
gonna be rowdy. That's all it is is in Seattle.
I mean, I'm gonna be looking forward to our fan

(20:58):
right on the corner of Talk Smack pregameya. So, I mean,
it's it's a fun place to play. You know, we're
gonna have to really come together early just because we're
gonna be using silent and it's gonna be loud and rocking.
So it'll be a good test for us. I mean
it always is with Seattle. They have a great defense
and you know Sam being over there, that'll be fun. So, uh,
you know, always looking forward to the first one, but

(21:19):
having a conference game as your opener is, you know,
it's kind of a muscle win. So for it to
be the first week, it's gonna be fun.

Speaker 1 (21:26):
Looking a little bit beyond week one, Week two is
also on the road in New Orleans. What's it like
starting the season off and back to back road games.

Speaker 4 (21:33):
Yeah, I mean, obviously talk about loud. That's another week,
so we're gonna get real used to using silent. I
played there in twenty didn't go great obviously COVID. We
didn't get the full feeling of New Orleans. So for
it to be week two, it's gonna be loud again.
It's gonna be full. I don't know if it'll be
nineteen all over again, but I'm sure there'll be lots

(21:55):
of points scored. So to open the season with two
turf games, two low loud road games, we're gonna find
out real quick on offense how close we are and
where we're at just because of communication and procedural stuff.
We're gonna have to be locked in and in the noise.
So it'll be a good checkpoint for us, And obviously
it'll be a fun environment. When you go in and
win in places like that, it's fun to walk out quiet,

(22:16):
so it'll hopefully be good for us.

Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yeah, that's awesome. Now I want to dive a little
bit deeper into what your personal journey has been like
here with the Niners. You're entering year six now with
the team. How do you feel you've grown as a player,
as a player and as a leader, because now you're
one of the vets on the team. There's a lot
of rookies on the squad.

Speaker 4 (22:35):
Yeah, I think in experience here it's like I'm fifth
or sixth on the team. I think me and Trent
came into the same exact day. We met each other
at the hotel, so been here a while. Obviously hasn't
got as smooth as I wanted to in the beginning
of being cut and you know, pea squad and then
you know COVID and everything that happened before. But I
had to do a lot of soul searching and who

(22:55):
I was as a player, and you know, my confidence
and where I wanted to be, And I think everything
that happened leading up to that has gotten me to
this point. It's exactly where I need to be. It's
the exact spot, it's been planned out. So I'm kind
of at all time, confidence of where I'm at and
just thankful for the journey I've been. Obviously, I love
this place. I love the Niners. I love looking, you

(23:16):
know at the greats on the wall and just the
the way this team set up and who we are.
It's a brotherhood and obviously when you have the faithful
behind you it helps too. So it's been an exciting
four years. I mean, we've we've won a lot of games,
so to be a part of that and winning we
haven't won the big one, it's been tough. But to
be a leader on this team, it's you know, there's

(23:37):
a lot of roles that aren't available. You know, you
got guys like George and Brock and Trent and Fred,
I mean everywhere there's That's who they are. That's what
this team's built on. But to be able to kind
of lead a room and be a part and use
that with Trend and you know, kind of learn from
him on how he leads and and where I can
fit my you know self into that leadership role and

(23:57):
take guys aside and sharing my experience of being cut
and then seeing where I am now, that's I think
it's pretty helpful and It's kind of a cool story
of guys who think it's the worst day of the year.
You know, there's a light at the end of the
tunnel where you know you can really get yourself out
of it and have a career. Yeah, you know.

Speaker 1 (24:13):
I think reflecting on your journey here in the Bay
is that everything happens for a reason. It all is
a part of your story. With a lot of rookies
being on this squad this year, if you were to
go back and talk to your rookie self, what would
you tell them? What advice would you give rookie.

Speaker 4 (24:30):
Don't take a day for granted, just because you kind
of get rookie year. It's such a long year. I mean,
they're coming out of college, they don't have a lot
of time. They get straight in the cobbine and everything
that a rookie does. I can't get too experience with COVID,
neither of non of the rookies that came of me,
so we kind of fast tracked in. But I would

(24:50):
definitely tell them don't take a day for granted. Whatever
you're doing, obviously do it to the fullest and then
have a plan for it, Like what are your goals
in the future. Where do you want to be at
after you know, the week, a month, the next couple
of months, at the end of the season, what do
you want to look like and where do you want
your career to go? Because if you don't think about it,
it's going to be gone by the time you're done.
That's why they call it the NFL. It's not for long.

(25:11):
So it's long winded, but I mean, don't take don't
take advantage for what the opportunity we're given golden.

Speaker 1 (25:17):
Now take me inside the O line room. What are
the personalities like this year? If you could describe what
the line room is like right now, how would you describe?

Speaker 5 (25:27):
The guys?

Speaker 4 (25:27):
Pretty tight? I mean, that's kind of the comment. The
offensive line is supposed to be the tightest group on
the team. You know, we have five guys who are
all doing one job and we each have our own,
but we're using as a unit and it's one of
the only positions to protect a person or a player
on a team, So we have to be the tightest
and we are. There's a lot of laughs. We do
like to, you know, take jabs at each other, which

(25:49):
is just who we are. We're big dudes. So we
do get made fun of a lot, but so we
like to have fun with each other. We have some
decorating coming up for the rookies, but they're a little
quiet right now. But that you're starting to see personality
come out as camp goes and everything slows down for
him a little bit and they get more comfortable in
the room and where they fit in the dynamic of
who's where leadership. It's cool to see personalities come out.

(26:13):
I mean, Ben Bart is an absolute hoot. I mean
he's movie quote songs. If you want to laugh, go
to Ben. Jake's kind of the old man in the group.
So anything football wise or wisdom you need from him,
go to him, or financial. He's very fun with the dad.
He's the data the group. But no, it's a very
tight knit group. We love spending time with each other.

(26:33):
We find each other if we if we're not together,
So that's how tight we are. It's just a fun
group to be in and obviously we play hard for
each other and we communicate well that's just that's what
the job is. But we have a lot of fun
with it.

Speaker 1 (26:45):
Yeah, that's sweet. You guys keep each other, keep each
other accountable.

Speaker 4 (26:48):
I love it. Oh yeah, we do for sure.

Speaker 1 (26:51):
Now, what would you say is the biggest strength of
this year's O line.

Speaker 4 (26:56):
I would say our running. That's what this offense is
built off of.

Speaker 1 (27:01):
I think we.

Speaker 4 (27:02):
Always joke with the Combos and George and Jews and Christian.
We kind of take little jobs like do we run
the same amount of yardages as you do? In practice?
I think he runs twenty four hundred, we're running twenty
three hundred. So I think that's the biggest advantage for
this group is take advantage of what the scheme is.
That's what we're there for. That's what Kyle does. It's
what you know, first who tells us to That's what

(27:23):
he coaches us on. Is if we do our part,
you know, that's obviously gonna help us. But then you know, finishing.
I think it's a group that's going to play for
each other. And that's one of the coolest things is
when we do and we're all on the same page.
A lot of good things happened. I think we saw
that in twenty three and you know, hopefully we're gonna
emulate that this year.

Speaker 1 (27:41):
Awesome Today I'm joined by the Seahawks Senior Digital Media
reporter John Boyle, John, how are you? Are you excited
for Week one?

Speaker 6 (27:51):
I am great, thank you, And yeah, this is a
really really fun time of year. Just you know, we
go through all the training camp and preseason to get
to this point and have a meaningful game and a
division game, no less, to kick things off.

Speaker 1 (28:03):
Yeah that's right. Well, take the faithful into Seattle, give
us the state of the Seahawks. How the off season
went for your team and some of the biggest storylines
heading into the regular season.

Speaker 6 (28:14):
Yeah, really interesting offseason in that you add one side
of the ball where it's kind of all about continuity,
on the other side where everything changed. You offensively, Mike
McDonald came in last year the defensive mind head coach,
helped revamp that defense, really turned things around second half
of the season. And then they bring back ten of
the eleven starters from the end of last season. The

(28:34):
only change Draymont Jones is no longer with the team
and DeMarcus Lawrence was brought in to replace him. You know,
plus some guys they added in the draft, most notably
Nick Emun Worry, the second round pick. The safety is
going to kind of be all over the field, kind
of player for them, and then you go to offense
and it's tons of new faces, new quarterback, new receivers,
and then a new scheme. They brought in Clint Kubiak

(28:56):
to take over a guy the forty nine Ers fans
probably remember from his time there as a passing game
coordinator not too long ago under Kyle Shanahan. So yeah,
new scheme, a lot of new faces, new quarterbacks. So yeah,
it's you know, defensively, I think everyone expects, hey, you know,
you should pick up where you left off and this
should be a great defense. And offensively, you know, they
love what they've done and they're confident, but it's a

(29:17):
lot of you know, unknowns from fans coming in.

Speaker 5 (29:19):
They're not sure what they're going to see yet.

Speaker 1 (29:21):
Yeah, well, with so much newness on the offensive side
of the ball, take us in a little deeper. The
team has brought in, like you mentioned, Clint Kobyak as
the offensive coordinator, brothers with forty nine Ers O C.
Clay signed Sam Darnold at quarterback, brought in Cooper Cup
as an offensive weapon. So how are things shaping up
on that side of the ball.

Speaker 6 (29:41):
Yeah, you know, everybody involved is really excited about what
they've seen. It was, you know, probably more change than
they anticipate. In the offseason, there was you know, another
world exists where they probably extend Geno Smith and DK Metcalf,
but those deals you know, didn't didn't work out, and
they were able to pivot pretty quickly and trade both
those players early enough in the offseason that they could
go out and sign you know, the top free agent
and Sam Darnold at that position. They were able to

(30:02):
bring in Cooper a Cup. You know, it's kind of
a homecoming from him. He's for Washington from Washington State,
so that's exciting.

Speaker 5 (30:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (30:09):
And then you know, the big thing that you're going
to hear anybody talk about this offense is the run game.
That was they did not run the ball very often
or very well last season. I think they were twenty
ninth in attempts and twenty eighth in average rushing yards
per attempt. So they just you know, it wasn't something
they did well last year.

Speaker 5 (30:25):
They didn't. They kind of lacked the identity.

Speaker 6 (30:27):
And that's something that was really big about Britain bringing
Clint Kuback in is like he's going to run you know,
a very similar offense to what the forty nine ers do.

Speaker 5 (30:34):
You know, the Kubiak family and.

Speaker 6 (30:36):
The Shanahan family go way back in the coaching world,
so I think it's going to look familiar schematically. But
you know, they they really expect this this run game
to be better. They expect the new scheme and the
coaching to help this offensive line be a lot better
than it was.

Speaker 5 (30:50):
You know, the big addition to that line was.

Speaker 6 (30:51):
First round to pick Gray's Abel, who's going to be
their starting left guard. But more than I think any
personnel change up front, they really expect this scheme to
help that offensive line be a lot better.

Speaker 5 (31:01):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (31:01):
Well, now we've found our way to week one after
training camp in the preseason. What are you most excited
to see from this twenty twenty five Seahawks group as
we enter the regular season.

Speaker 6 (31:13):
Yeah, you know, I just touched on it, but I
really want to see how they run the ball. You know,
the one game that they played their starters in the preseason,
their second game against Kansas City, they came out that
first drive and just ran the ball right out of
the gate, ran it really well, went down the field,
scored a touchdown, even with their backups in and they've
run the ball very well in the preseason, so can
that translate? Can that help the offensive line just you know,

(31:34):
be a better unit, play a lot better up front
because you know, they have all the faith in the
world and Sam Darnold, but as everyone knows, you know,
the quarterback's best friend is a good running game. So
if they can do that take some pressure off him.
I think, you know, we're all operating under the assumption
that this defense is gonna be really darn good. Like
they again, they bring everybody back. Mike McDonald's scheme is
a proven one that's had a lot of success. So

(31:55):
the bigger question mark is what does this offense look like?
And I think if they can run the ball well
and come out and do that right out of the gate,
that's going to be a really strong indicator for this season.

Speaker 1 (32:03):
Totally, we know exactly what you're talking about.

Speaker 4 (32:06):
Now.

Speaker 1 (32:06):
We're starting the season off hot with a division rivalry.
Which position battles are Maybe individual matchups stand out as
the most important against San Francisco this Sunday.

Speaker 6 (32:17):
You know, less than individuals. I think it's just how
they match up up front. You know, the obviously it's
no secret. The forty nine Ers have had the better
end of this rivalry in recent years, and for the
most part, they've been the better team up front, and
that's been one of the big differences, is like they're
the team winning those battles in the trenches, and the
Seahawks they feel like they've gotten a lot better on
both sides of the ball. I mean, defensively, their defensive

(32:37):
line was a pretty big strength last year and they
expected to be again and again. Offensively, they feel like
the addition of Gray's able just some of the things schematically,
I think that's going to help them. So if they
can be better upfront and you know, get the ball
moving in the run game, I really think that's where
the Seahawks can make the biggest lead this year.

Speaker 1 (32:55):
All Right, a battle in the trenches. I'm excited to
see it. Now, speaking of the division, how does Seattle
view the NFC West race this year and what does
this early matchup with the forty nine ers mean for
both teams.

Speaker 5 (33:09):
Yeah, it's funny.

Speaker 6 (33:09):
Mike McDonald's asking you, how do you feel like you
stack up against the division, and he's like, look, I
really don't care. And it wasn't like to be flippant,
but it's like for him, it's he cares about where
his team is at and making sure that they're where
they need to be and kind of that let the
chips fall, and he feels like if they do what
they should do, they're in good position.

Speaker 1 (33:25):
You know.

Speaker 6 (33:26):
I think most people, myself includedly look at this division
and it's it's tough to handicap. Like every team believes
they can be in it. I think for good reason
you can. You can make a good argument for every team.
You can make a good argument for you know, maybe
a flaw on every team. So yeah, I mean, no
one game is going to decide the division, but certainly
when you start out with the division arrival, it's a

(33:46):
great chance to sort of set that tone early on
and state your case. But yeah, I'd be shocked if
when we see each other again in week eighteen, if
there's not going to be a lot on the line
for both teams.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
Well week one it's going to be a fun one, clearly, John,
thank you so much for joining this loon, and I'll
see you in Seattle on Sunday.

Speaker 5 (34:04):
Of course, have a good trip up. We'll see you Sunday.

Speaker 1 (34:06):
I
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