Trey Lance’s demeanor encourages 49ers coaches; Brian Griese empathizes with Jimmy Garoppolo

SANTA CLARA — Kyle Shanahan’s assistant coaches spread out inside Levi’s Stadium’s auditorium for 60 minutes of interviews with the media Thursday. Heck, if they can handle that pressure, then a game on Sundays will be a breeze, right?

Actually, that annual access to Shanahan’s staff offers a treasure trove of insight. So, while players got the day off from practice, here are a dozen things we learned a week into training camp:

1. LANCE’S ‘SPECIAL’ DEMEANOR

Trey Lance’s new quarterbacks coach, Brian Griese, is really encouraged by what he’s seeing, and even though only half of Lance’s passes were completed through seven practices, that good and bad offered a peek into how the first-year starter copes.

The Press Democrat’s Inside the 49ers blog

“I’ve been really encouraged by his demeanor. That’s impressive for a young man his age. That’s not natural,” Griese said of Lance, 22. “The way he interacts with his team, the way he operates on the field, the way he responds when he makes a mistake — all those things are very, very positive, on top of his physical abilities, which are significant.”

Griese is a former NFL quarterback turned broadcaster and now a first-year assistant. He noted how NFL quarterbacks’ emotions can run the gamut, from the wild high of a Brett Favre to QBs who are “flatliners.” Lance is revealing his style each snap, and his ability to compartmentalize his role and responsibilities are evident.

“For someone his age, 22 years old,” Griese said before stopping himself. “Look, he doesn’t have it down, guys. We’re continuing to grow at that. But he has a foundation and base that’s really impressive. He’s got an appropriate amount of understanding of timing and moments. He doesn’t get too low, too high. That’s pretty cool to see.”

2. GRIESE ON GAROPPOLO

Two months ago, Griese said he’d yet to speak with Jimmy Garoppolo, who’s throwing on the side at camp while awaiting a trade or release. Have the two talked yet? “I texted him. But I left that between Jimmy and Kyle,” Griese said of Garoppolo’s awkward limbo. “I have a huge amount of respect for Jimmy. I was in a situation where I knew I wasn’t going to be on a team, and I was let go late in the process, after June 1 for salary cap reasons. I remember how hard that was.

“We all want to know where we’re going to play, where we’re going to be. Now this has gone on, so it’s very difficult for Jimmy,” Griese added. “I have a lot of empathy for the situation he’s in. I know what he’s meant to this organization, to this locker room, to the Bay Area. So I hope this is resolved as soon as possible, and he finds a place that works for him. I wish nothing but the best for him.”

3. MASTER THIEVES

Safeties account for 5-of-11 interceptions produced so far at camp by an intentionally greedy defense.

“Our guys are attacking the ball more than we have in the past,” safeties coach Daniel Bullocks said. “We had nine interceptions last year, ranked 26th. We need to do a better job finishing the ball and winning at the point of attack. Our guys now are confident they can go make a play on the ball.”

Safeties with interceptions: Jimmie Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, Tarvarius Moore (two) and Tayler Hawkins. By the way, Bullocks confirmed that longtime cornerback Dontae Johnson is being viewed this camp as a safety, though he’ll also split time at nickel.

4. TRENT THE SCOUT

Trent Williams is not only an All-Pro left tackle but also a savvy scout, according to Chris Foerster, the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator.

“His study of opponents is unbelievable,” Foerster said. Every week, I have the guys — it’s not an original idea — you have your guys do a scouting report. I assign, ‘You do a defensive lineman, you a defensive lineman.’ Every Friday night we read them. I don’t need a book on them, just what is our approach or attack going to be. Trent’s the best. It’s not even close, how on point he is of what (the opponent) is trying to do and what you need to do to block him.”

5. HOORAY FOR TURAY

Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek is “really happy” with his unit’s start to camp, including early signs that rookie Drake Jackson “shows up around the quarterback a lot.” One off-the-radar name to watch is defensive end Kemoko Turay, who had 12 sacks and a very serious ankle injury in his previous Colts tenure.

Kocurek on Turay: “Pass rush length, pass rush get-off, explosive dude out of his staff, a guy that can bend the edge and can threaten the quarterback from an outside edge. … He’s consistently going to the ball with a purpose … and making something happen when he gets there.”

6. KINLAW’S COMEBACK

Javon Kinlaw’s comeback from knee reconstruction is on track, and that excites Kocurek for what it means to his defensive line’s interior.

“He’s slimmer, his body fat is down, he’s moving really good, and now it’s a matter of stacking these reps,” Kocurek (“Coach K” to some) said. “If everything keeps going on track, we’ll increase it as time goes and hopefully by Chicago (in the season opener), you’ll all see the finished product. I’m really excited. He’s a big, long, explosive player that can reset the line of scrimmage and be disruptive.”

7. WARNER’S FIRE

As Warner has grown into the defense’s leader, he’s entering his fifth season with huge intensity, as reflected by this week’s practice fights with Brandon Aiyuk.

“He’s one of the hardest-working linebackers I’ve been around,” linebackers coach Johnny Holland said. “Guys see that. They want to know what made you good. Fred, ‘Just watch me.’ They know his goal is to make our team better.”

As for Warner’s wingmen, Dre Greenlaw and Azzeez Al-Shaair, Holland added: “They all lead in different ways. Fred is more of a vocal, example leader. Greenlaw, a ‘watch me work, watch me play,’ and Azeez is the same way.”

8. ‘DON’T FORGET ABOUT J.V.’

Corey Undlin was rightfully singing the praises of his defensive backs’ showing in camp when he remarked: “Don’t forget about J.V.” Indeed, Jason Verrett is showing burst in his comeback from last year’s anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Will he come off the physically-unable-to-perform list by the season opener, even though the 49ers’ starters seem set with Charvarius Ward and Emmanuel Moseley? “I don’t know when. I know this: I’ll never bet against the guy. We’ll see how that plays out,” Undlin said.

As for Ward’s arrival from the Chiefs, he’s been stellar with his coverage and an ability to learn a new scheme. “You tell him one time, it’s over. You don’t tell him twice,” Undlin said. “His recall and ability to do ‘this’ in this coverage, it’s like (instant). His ability down the field to find and play the ball, it’s awesome.”

9. TREY SERMON’S ENCORE

Among this camp’s chief mysteries is how Trey Sermon will rebound from a quiet rookie season. New running backs coach Anthony Lynn is “very pleased” with last year’s third-round pick from Ohio State.

“He has the skill set to run the way he’s running. I want to continue to see that and take it to another level,” Lynn said. “He knows what’s expected of him this year, because we’ve got a little competition in that backfield. I like the way he’s responded.”

Among those competing with Sermon for a backup role behind Elijah Mitchell are Jeff Wilson Jr., JaMycal Hasty and rookies Ty Davis-Price and Jordan Mason.

10. STAFF MOVES

Only four assistants remain from Shanahan’s original 2017 staff: DeMeco Ryans (defensive coordinator), Holland (linebackers), Bullocks (safeties) and Bobby Slowik (pass-game coordinator).

“We’ve built a culture here that’s right. We have a chance,” Holland said. “What Kyle stressed (to the staff) was we’ve got to coach our players to be better. If Fred (Warner) is an ‘A’ player, let’s make him an ‘A+’ player. If a guy’s a free agent, let’s coach him and make him better.”

A year ago, the 49ers lost their defensive coordinator when Robert Saleh became the New York Jets coach; this year, they saw Mike McDaniel leave his offensive coordinator post to become the Miami Dolphins’ coach.

Said Slowik: “Last year, it was me, Chris (Foerster), Mike and Kyle talking all the time about our game plan and what we needed to do. Now it’s the same, just without Mike, which makes things difficult because Mike was really good, creative and had a lot of good ideas. … We’ll have new ideas but stick to the same foundation.”

11. HUDSON’S HANDS

Told that Tanner Hudson has caught all 10 passes thrown to him at camp, tight ends coach Brian Fleury replied: “It wouldn’t surprise me if that were the case. He has a very interesting skill set. He would be in the conversation of ‘Best Hands on the Team,’ which everyone has seen. He has a unique ability, whether it’s a vision thing or what. If you were to slow it down and watch, his eyes follow the ball and track it. He has a lot of confidence to make catches anytime anywhere the ball is around him.”

Hudson could take on the Jordan Reed role from a couple years ago to complement George Kittle in two tight-end formations, something Jordan Matthews also was pursuing before his season-ending knee injury Monday.

12. WHAT ABOUT ʼFREDO

Lost amid all the talk about the 49ers’ young offensive lineman is Alfredo Gutierrez, their second-year project who came out of the NFL’s international player pathway program. Gutierrez, a native of Tijuana, Mexico, did not play last preseason and is assured of a practice-squad spot for a second straight year.

“Fredo’s worked really hard,” Foerster said. “He’s been there every day. Kris Kocurek says he’s gotten better. He’s working hard. Don’t know he’ll ever be (elite) but he has worked hard and gotten better.”