The San Francisco 49ers are again within the NFC championship sport for the fourth time in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s seven-year tenure. That’s fairly a feat, however ultimately, you’ve acquired to win the large one. Shanahan is shortly approaching the purpose the place individuals are going to start questioning aloud if he can win the Tremendous Bowl. For this reason the run these Niners are on at the moment is so vital.
“Kyle Shanahan doesn’t have endurance.” – Jared Stillman
That isn’t an exaggeration both. Not solely is Shanahan impatient; he can’t afford to be too affected person on the quarterback place, heading towards season No. 8 as Niners coach within the fall. Sunday’s NFC title sport could not solely fall on Brock Purdy’s shoulders, however there shall be instances when he’s known as on to make a play. If he folds underneath the strain and SF loses their third consecutive title sport, then he’ll seemingly be out like Stillman states above.
It’s not a must-win it-all for Shanahan’s Niners, but when they fail once more (particularly on Sunday), that seat by the Bay could possibly be heating up very quickly. The previous 5 years have been tremendous profitable for San Francisco. The one factor they haven’t accomplished is hoist Lombardi trophy quantity six. However they’ve come awfully shut and been among the many NFL’s ultimate 4 in every of these years apart from one.
So, if the 49ers can’t get it accomplished this postseason, one thing might want to change. It gained’t be Shanahan; not but. Wanting bringing residence a Tremendous Bowl victory, he’s been among the finest coaches within the league, particularly prior to now three years. Even once they’ve had questions on the quarterback place, Shanahan and his troops managed to remain related in late January.
Shanahan on the recent seat?
If the Niners can’t get it accomplished this 12 months there’s sure to at the very least be speak of him making a change underneath middle. Regardless of Purdy’s stellar efficiency in solely his second season and being within the operating for MVP a lot of the 12 months, many see him as a sport supervisor. That was the knock-on Jimmy Garoppolo throughout his time in SF — though he did win quite a lot of video games.
Jimmy G’s limitations have been on the forefront when the Niners confronted the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LIV. That sport slipped away partially as a consequence of Garoppolo not making a play within the fourth quarter. When circumstances have been good, Garoppolo was effective, however at any time when he was nudged off his sq. only a bit, the second grew to become too large. That’s the concern most have behind their minds with Purdy. Because the moments get greater, will Purdy have the ability to reply the decision or will he fold just like the garden chair Jimmy G usually impersonated?
Purdy’s four-interception sport in opposition to Baltimore on Christmas stands out essentially the most. In three of the Niners’ 4 losses within the common season, Purdy had a number of passes picked off. Following a 3rd straight loss in October, SF acquired again on monitor — successful their subsequent six till operating into the Ravens. Hopefully, the 49ers discovered lots from that loss as a rematch could possibly be forward in the event that they make it previous the Lions.
However this can be a big sport for Shanahan as a result of there’s rising strain on him to recover from the hump. The 49ers are one in every of solely 4 franchises with 5 Tremendous Bowls. It’s been nearly 30 years since San Francisco final gained it, though they’ve appeared in two since. Nevertheless, the purpose isn’t to get there, it’s to win it. A pair extra second-place (or worse) finishes and it could possibly be time for coach and administration to take a seat down and have a tricky dialog. We’re not there simply but however Shanahan and the Niners want to interrupt by.
