The San Francisco 49ers are again within the NFC championship recreation for the fourth time in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s seven-year tenure. That’s fairly a feat, however ultimately, you’ve received to win the massive one. Shanahan is shortly approaching the purpose the place individuals are going to start questioning aloud if he can win the Tremendous Bowl. This is the reason the run these Niners are on at present 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 recreation 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 beneath the stress and SF loses their third consecutive title recreation, then he’ll probably 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 may very well be heating up very quickly. The previous 5 years have been tremendous profitable for San Francisco. The one factor they haven’t achieved is hoist Lombardi trophy quantity six. However they’ve come awfully shut and been among the many NFL’s closing 4 in every of these years aside from one.
So, if the 49ers can’t get it achieved this postseason, one thing might want to change. It received’t be Shanahan; not but. Wanting bringing residence a Tremendous Bowl victory, he’s been among the best coaches within the league, particularly up to now three years. Even after 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 achieved this 12 months there’s sure to at the very least be discuss of him making a change beneath 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 recreation supervisor. That was the knock-on Jimmy Garoppolo throughout his time in SF — though he did win loads of video games.
Jimmy G’s limitations have been on the forefront when the Niners confronted the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LIV. That recreation slipped away partially as a result of Garoppolo not making a play within the fourth quarter. When circumstances have been excellent, Garoppolo was nice, however every time he was nudged off his sq. only a bit, the second grew to become too massive. That’s the concern most have at the back of their minds with Purdy. Because the moments get larger, will Purdy have the ability to reply the decision or will he fold just like the garden chair Jimmy G typically impersonated?
Purdy’s four-interception recreation 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 received again on observe — profitable their subsequent six till operating into the Ravens. Hopefully, the 49ers discovered loads from that loss as a rematch may very well be forward in the event that they make it previous the Lions.
However it is a large recreation for Shanahan as a result of there’s rising stress on him to recover from the hump. The 49ers are certainly one of solely 4 franchises with 5 Tremendous Bowls. It’s been nearly 30 years since San Francisco final received 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 may very well be time for coach and administration to sit down down and have a troublesome dialog. We’re not there simply but however Shanahan and the Niners want to interrupt by means of.