Mini-Camp III: Day 2 – QB Marc Bulger – June 5, 2009


(On what he likes about this West Coast offense)


“I like the other offense, obviously, but (with) this one you always have a quick throw built in. Not always, but usually and you have a lot more audibling. So once I get real comfortable with the offense, I’ll be able to get to a quick throw if I need to rather than have to go back seven steps every time and hold onto it. It’s a lot more pressure on the quarterback, but at the same time it’s more quarterback friendly in that respect.”


(On how much closer he is to knowing the playbook and having a break coming up)


“We’re taking good notes and they’ll collect our playbooks, but I have enough notes for this summer. I think we’re way ahead of where we were last mini-camp. We’ve been doing a lot of red zone, two-minute no huddle things. So it will be all review at camp, which is nice. I could go out and – I don’t know if we would play a game great, but I think we could actually line up and call plays now. So we got to the point where the verbiage isn’t as bad and things starting to click a lot better.”


(On if he thinks the tight end will be a lot more involved this season)


“I think so. I think any offense you try to play to your strengths and Randy (McMichael) and Daniel (Fells) look great right now and it’s going to be tough to keep them off the field. Hopefully, we have a lot more receivers than we need and everyone’s fighting to get on the field because that’s when you know you’re in good shape. When we were rolling here before I remember it was tough to have enough balls to go around. And that’s the kind of problems you want to have.”


(On who is the new Torry Holt and who is the new Isaac Bruce)


“We have a ways to go. I don’t think there will ever be another Torry and Isaac, but our guys are working hard. They’re starting to make plays. I think they are playing faster now because they are starting to learn what’s going on. I think it’s evident from just being here the last couple months.”


(On if he is getting used to hearing offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s voice in his helmet)


“Not yet. We’ve only used the radio a couple times. I like it so far. It’s been a different voice the last couple years, so hopefully I’ll be hearing his voice for awhile.”



Mini-Camp III: Day 2 - FB Mike Karney – June 5, 2009


(On his relationship with RB Steven Jackson)


“It’s going really well. We’ve had a chance to hang out off the field which I think is very important. I’ve talked about it before. He’s open to it. Not every guy is always open to wanting to talk about what is going on out there, but he knows it’s important and it’s going to do good things for us come this Fall.”


(On what he and Jackson do together)


“On the field, just letting him know what I’m seeing and asking him what he’s seeing, get on the same page. And watching film too. I don’t care if it’s mini-camp, if it’s practice, if it’s walkthrough, just trying to get on the same page. That’s the most important thing. That’s what allows a fullback and a tailback to coexist and do well on Sundays and help the offense. That’s what we’re doing and it’s been going really well off the field. He’s Steven and I’m Mike. We’re just normal people having fun.”


(On if he has played in a West Coast Offense before)


“I have. I played in it my rookie year and my second year. This is a little bit more, a little bit different. There’s a little different wrinkle to every West Coast (offense). I like this one a lot. This is a fullback-friendly West Coast offense. There’s a lot of reps and I’m a little bit more sore than I’ve ever been coming out of practice because there’s a lot more for me to do. That’s good though. It’s a great offense and I think right now guys are starting to get the hang of it. It’s a big thing all the terminology, and the new verbage is long, but once you get down the basics everything kind of correlates and makes sense. After that it’s just repetition.”


(On how his role in this offense compares to his role with the New Orleans Saints)


“My activity and involvement has increased immensely, but that’s what I was used to my first two years in the league. I was playing 50 percent of the time. West Coast offense is a lot of fullback. Like I said, I’m more sore than I’ve been in the last couple years, but I like this offense. Down in New Orleans we ran a piece of the West Coast (offense). It wasn’t as much as the West Coast – a lot more play-action, a lot more passing obviously. I’m excited about this offense and I think guys are starting to get the hang of it and all we can do is continue to get a lot of repetition with it and just continue to get better.”


(On if learning this system is like re-learning what he did in his first years in the league)


“Coming in I remember the terminology a lot better than I thought I would. For me it’s just knowing your fits. The West Coast offense is all about everyone being in the exact position at the exact time and just getting to know where they want us to be because every coach has their way of wanting it done. That’s the biggest thing, is getting that down.”


(On how similar Strength Coach Rock Gullickson’s program is here compared to New Orleans)


“I was with Rock my first two years and I told guys when I got here and we started getting going, I said ‘Rock’s changed things up a bit.’ I think it’s been for the better though. I think the things we’ve been doing with Rock in the weight room and out on the field are really starting to carry over. I think you’re going to see the effect of that in the Fall. Right now everyone’s probably trying to get their bodies used to it, but once the Fall comes and guys are used to it you’re probably going to see a little bit of difference. I think the core work that we do, the core stability stuff that he’s added, has been the difference from my first years being with him. It’s huge not just for myself, but for everybody because that stuff goes a long way – having a strong core. You can be strong on the bench. You can be strong on the squat rack. You can power clean the house but if you have a weak core you’re not going to be too effective being a football player. Those are the things that I’ve seen change and it’s good to be back with him. I think guys are really enjoying what he’s bringing to the table.”


(On if he thinks the fullback position has become more or less important around the league)


“It’s a roller coaster ride playing fullback. You get a few years where it’s really high and you get a few years where it’s really low. The last few years you’ve seen a lot more one-back and h-back (sets) and a lot more play-action and a lot more passing. But my first three years in the league where four or five of six it was all two-back. You looked at L.T. (San Diego Chargers’ running back LaDanian Tomlinson). You looked at Ahman Green up in Green Bay. You looked at Steven (Jackson) when Madison (Hedgecock) was here. I think it’s coming back. I think you saw this year with New York (Giants) and Carolina. Pittsburgh had a little fullback in there at times. I think it’s very effective. I think it’s on the upswing which is a good thing. I think in this offense that we have it’s only going to help that for our position in the future.”


(On if the soreness he’s had after practices is a “good soreness”)


“It’s a great soreness. I’ve been telling my wife and family. It’s great soreness. Now I can gauge what’s going to be asked of me this Fall more so than I have in the last couple years down in New Orleans. You don’t know. When you’re coming out and your hip flexors are more sore than they’ve ever been – I had hip flexors at one point. My hamstrings. A lot more involvement (in the offense), that’s a good thing. I think it’s good for everybody though.”