49ers 3-0 Start Should Silence Kyle Shanahan Doubters
What, you want to tell me Mac Jones is hard carrying?
Throughout his tenure as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Shanahan has had no shortage of critics. Whether regarding personnel decisions, big game performances, or sometimes just an ugly regular-season loss, there are those who seem to believe that moving on from Shanahan would be in the best interest of the organization. While Shanahan has not been perfect, the job that he has done to begin this season with three straight wins despite a laundry list of injuries should be enough for those armchair quarterbacks to rethink their stance.
Entering Week 1 at Seattle, the 49ers were considered relatively healthy, but young and inexperienced on the defensive side of the ball. Very quickly, the injuries would begin to mount up. George Kittle was lost for a month shortly after his touchdown catch in the first quarter. Jauan Jennings would suffer a shoulder and ankle injury. Brock Purdy would gut out turf toe but would need to rehab it later.. With Brandon Aiyuk still weeks away from returning and Demarcus Robinson serving a three-game suspension, the resources were getting thin quickly.
With Mac Jones at the helm of the offense, and with very few weapons of note, Kyle Shanahan has put on a masterclass of offensive play-calling, mostly utilizing workhorse RB Christian McCaffrey and quasi-rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall. The fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals was a showcase of creating favorable matchups, especially on the game-winning drive. Jones was incredibly efficient, getting rid of the ball quickly and spreading it out with seven different players recording a catch. After working the middle of the field utilizing Jake Tonges, Skyy Moore, and Kendrick Bourne, Shanahan caught the defense by surprise with a screen to McCaffrey, who sprung it for 20 yards to set up Eddy Piñeiro’s game-winning 35-yard kick.
For the 49ers to be undefeated at 3-0, with a MASH unit on offense and utilizing up to five rookies on defense at any given time, it is the coaching that is directly responsible and sets this team apart from any other team in the NFL. Shanahan has crafted a system and culture within the locker room that has shown resilience to withstand the early-season onslaught that they have faced.
It is an amazing feat to have this group sitting atop the NFC West through the first three weeks by having to rely on backups and late addition free agent signings, but it is a credit to Shanahan’s coaching acumen. As the injuries heal and the 49ers see their stars return to the field, don’t be surprised if Shanahan has this team in the thick of the playoff race come January.