Interview with coach Harbaugh on Friday
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Here’s the entire transcript of the media session with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Friday afternoon, minutes before he and his team boarded buses for a trip to the airport:
(How would you gauge the pulse of the team)
A good week of practice. Locked, loaded … ready … for Detroit.
(Any difference this week with attention game?)
We do that every week. Every single week, we go into these games with one intent and that’s to do everything we can to prepare ourselves to win and go out and execute and win the football (game). That’s all that’s ever on our mind.
(Different mind-set on road?)
No, I wouldn’t say it’s a big percentage of what we do. Go on the road, you deserve to win if you’ve prepared yourself to win and put yourself in a better position to win. You win on the road because you deserve to.
(How have the practices been this week?)
I would characterize them as very good, especially Wednesday. I thought we had our best Wednesday practice of the season. Guys are focused. Guys understand what’s at stake.
(What is it about that practice that makes it good?)
Especially on Wednesday, you can hear it. When the pads are on, you can hear a good practice. Guys are … banging. They’re where they’re supposed to be. They’re hitting correctly, bringing energy. They have focus, a purpose. And the execution is at a high level. Because Wednesday, that’s the first day sometimes. Sometimes, there can be a learning curve for the week’s assignments. … I thought all those things were really good for us. That’s what made it Wednesday, a good practice.
(After bemoaning no highlights after opener, is there any difference for team knowing that everyone’s going to be watching?)
You want to play in big games. This is an opportunity, no question about it. … The better you play, the more opportunities you have. It’s where we want to be.
Q: Prefer to take away run or pass from Lions offense?
A: “That’s not something that you sit up here and play the what-if, hypothetical game. You got to go out and take that away, something away. If you can. They’re solid in both. They’re good at both. So, therefore, we have to defend the run game and defend the pass. We’re going to have to play at our best.”
Q: Do you want your cornerbacks challenging Calvin Johnson for the ball?
A: “Yeah, regardless, you got to do that at every position. That’s going to be, a lot of units are going to be the challenge player in this game. Our secondary will be challenged a significant number of downs. Calvin Johnson will be doing the challenging, and we got to respond. We’ll be up for the challenge.”
Q: How did Spencer look in practice this week?
A: “Good.”
Q: Will he be available Sunday?
A: “Yeah, just like last week.”
Q: Was he available last Sunday?
A: “Yes.”
Q: Could he have played against the Bucs?
A: “Yes.”
Q: Has Culliver won the starting job?
A: “Tune in on Sunday and find out.”
Q: Do you keep tabs on the better teams?
A: “I really have no thought on that. I haven’t seen every elite team in the league. I haven’t studied every team in the league. This is game 6 for us. We know we’re playing against a very good football team. What’s important now is the Detroit Lions. I feel like my team is up for the challenge, ready to go, and we’ll go there with a mind-set and attempt only one thing. So, can’t comment on where that stacks us up with the rest of the league, and I don’t know how relevant that is on game six.”
Q: How are your wide receivers blocking now that Morgan is out? Like what you see from Crabtree blocking?
A: “All you have to do is watch Michael. He was outstanding in the ballgame last week in terms of blocking. I’m very pleased with the way he’s blocking downfield.”
Q: Did you see that from Crabtree last year? Has he embraced it more?
A: “All our receivers have embraced it more and are doing it, and doing it better this year.”
Q: Might you be in the market for a veteran receiver via trade?
A: “I’m not speculating on some potential guys who are out there. We’re always looking and assessing perils and merits of anything that can help our football team with one purpose, and that’s helping make us a better football team. But I’m not going to stop doing our work.”
