Well, saw this one coming from a mile away, but Steve Wilks, recently of the booth, and pushed to the field, was pushed out the door. The defense, which was 100 shades of inconsistent this year, ultimately fell way short of expectations since the last 2 DCs did a much better job with less talent.
Granted, the defense did pretty damn well in this last Super fuckup until it really mattered, but there was no late stop on 4th down to end the game. There was no 3rd down sack to put KC behind the eight ball. Instead, Shanny was outmaneuvered by his own hubris and 2 huge mistakes to seal the deal.
That being said, the team is in good shape for the next couple years with most of the important guys signed to contracts. The only 2 that will be hard to keep are Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings. But Purdy is on his rookie deal, so he’s the bargain of the century,
Not ready to start worrying about the draft yet, but it will be a thing. soon enough At some point this team needs to get a TE that can produce, more O line depth, and a replacement for Dre Greenlaw. Corner depth would be nice as well.
I guess the rest of the league will be happy that the 49ers won’t get a draft pick or 2 for hiring and firing Wilks.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
Check this out.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/02/15/travis-kelce-patrick-mahomes-super-bowl-overtime/
It’s behind a paywall, but yeah, I saw the footage of KC celebrating when they saw us take the ball. I’m pretty sure Shanahan didn’t know what was happening despite his ‘3rd possession’ comment.
Mainly because the FG in OT means nothing. He might as well have gone for it on the 4th and 3 from the 6. If he didn’t get it, then KC starts at the 5. Instead by kicking the FG KC KNOWS what they need to do. They get the ball at the 25 and start their drive knowing the only need about 40 yards to tie, and the TD for the win.
And of course, Reid said that if they get to the point of tying the game with a TD in the 1st OT, he’d go for 2.
I’m not going to think about the SB any longer what’s done is done. We had a chance and blew it.
https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/greenlaw-will-make-full-recovery-after-successful-achilles-surgery/1703763/
On to free agency, draft and FO hires. I still think we miss Peters but we shall see. I will pay attention to what Washington does this year.
So close.and threw caution to the wind. Need to clamp down on too many huge contracts . Pay close attention to the gyrations of our salary cap. NFL does annual raises of the team level. Can we still straddle it
Washington has a nothing roster of bad to average players. Lots of draft capital and FA dollars though . Avoid sacrifice of high 1st rd QB’s this year and build the oline and front 7. Get Sam darnold in FA for this season.
We need to pay a few players some money this year and possibly a FA or two. I think our cap space is pretty good. compared to the last couple of years. I don’t think we give long-term contracts to very many players. BA, Jennings, are two and I would like to see us lock down Purdy to a long-term deal that is team friendly while we have the chance.
Nice
Just read Jimmy G got busted for PED’s. Raiders can now kick him to the curb and it won’t cost then anything. That mistake cost Jimmy some cash.
Above article says we pushed out some big contracts into the future coupled with the Hargrave FA add we cannot handle anymore big FA contracts.
Last year’s draft a dud but we know have early picks to make this year’s a greater chance to get good depth and an OT starter
To me last years draft was exceptional since we didn’t have picks until the 3rd round compensation. Quite a few of last years picks will be contributors this year. But Purdy was the gem.
https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/san-francisco-49ers
Aiyuk has to fit his new contract into the above team cap figures.. Bosa has huge cap hits starting this year.
Purdy 2022 rookie. 2023 class underwhelming so far.
Lol. a sign of aging.
I guess drake Jackson with rookie contract has the edge on chase young
What has happened to nick Zakelj time to get off the pot dude .
He got hurt
Nov 7 fanpost at NN
Zakelj suffered a torn bicep during the game. Here’s Shanahan explaining his injury:
“It wasn’t like your normal tear. It was a little one that was high. He complained about it all day. We sent him in. It had a slight tear. He had a couple of opinions. They said it was only going to get worse. So we had to do the surgery.”
This is why they keep him on roster.
https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/1/23331938/49ers-nick-zakelj-center-future
Zakelj is OK for the full offseason. Size, athleticism , brains so shanalynch give him all the preseason minutes if you need convincing. September 2024 he is the starting C.
Draft RT in 1st and RG in 2nd if Burford is just a backup. Fix the oline.
Lynch on Nick Zakelj: “We really do believe he has center in his future.”
From comments in 2022 article
Now there is an age test. Oldies think pot meant toilet. I plead guilty.
Draft day suspense and trades. Will aiyuk stay away until the summer squeezing every dollar he can. Or will he or deebo be traded
https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/178763-graziano-situation-consider-trading-brandon/
Matt Barrows sides with Aiyuk over Deebo with an either/or over who to keep with cap blowing up
They need to keep both and Jennings.
Yeah I agree since it’s taken close to 30 years to find decent WR’s. Maybe Crabtree but he wasn’t as good as the 3 we got now. But in Crabtree’s defense we didn’t have the offensive backing that we now have.
The Giants are quietly doing things they signed a 25 yr old Otto Lopez. And, they invited Panda back though no one thinks he makes the team but I still they bringing back players that knew how to win. Good to have them around some of the new kids.
I kind of like the Giants moniker also: San Francisco Giants baseball ‘Nothing like it.’
I am starting to get hyped I do this every year and most every year turns out dismal. But so what spring training and hope go hand in hand.
didn’t realize Dusty Baker is back as a special assistant. And Melvin seems like a real manager to me. Kap had his own ways that worked at times but I didn’t like the way handled pitchers for the most part.
IMO, Giants FO still has some serious work to do in the next couple weeks. People are sort of joking about bringing back Pablo, but honestly, Pablo is probably still better than half the current roster….
Yeah, the SP is still weak. Pen is not too impressive either. One more hitter would be nice.
Unfortunately, just read something Z said, he thinks the roster is pretty much set for now. I’m a bit excited to see how the team looks, but no way is that a “set roster” for the long haul. Still hoping for one or two additions, but time is running out.
I have been harping about bringing up the kids and this year they are doing it. If our young pitchers can hold their own and progress we are going to be looking good.
Agree, I’m guessing that’s one reason they haven’t signed more vets. Let’s hope the kids do bring some excitement. It will take time, but let’s see what they’ve got…
Five years in and they have one guy so far. Bailey. Curious to see how Dirty Harry does but I’m not overly excited. Schmitt could be something.
I’m not overly excited either but I feel there’s a chance this years squad might be fun to watch.
Hope Lee lives ups to the promise.
I have to say I think Shannys OT decision was seriously flawed.
He spoke of a 3rd possession as the reason to receive the ball first. As a math exercise it works on a simplistic level. In any other universe there is no way Mahomes/Reid were going to let that happen.
If the Niners kick a field goal the Chiefs will go 4 downs to score a TD knowing it becomes sudden death.
If the Niners score a TD the Chiefs will go 4 downs to do the same and then go for 2, also knowing it becomes sudden death.
By taking the ball they ensured Mohomes/Reid will always go 4 downs and/or go for 2 to win rather than face a 3rd possession and sudden death.
Now it’s possible the Niners score and hold the Chiefs and the Niners win, but they hadn’t stopped them late in the game and they know for certain what Mahomes is capable of after watching him score 21 points in six and a half minutes in the last SB loss.
Weighing these factors in real time, rather than some prior analytical math exercise, was his folly IMO.
yep, we were out coached. I hope our new DC is a little more aggressive.
There is no question that taking the ball first was a massive mistake by Shanny. If the Defense was gassed, so what? They might force a turnover, a fumble, a pick, and then you have the ball now where a FG wins it outright. Worst worst case, KC makes a TD and they go for 2 and make it. At least now you know what you have to do, it’s 4 down time all the way.
Panda in the Giants camp — can SF just EVER let their old players go? If they want him around to yuk it up, invite him in as an advisor — on how to hit balls off the dirt or a foot outside…
IIRC panda was in camp a few years ago and couldn’t quite make it work. I don’t see how it would be much different now.
Yep. Reid said they discussed the playoff scenario in the preseason. Shanny didn’t have a fucking clue. Still and all the fumble and the punt fu Kip were just stupid shit.
Throwing in the 3Q instead of emptying the RB stable contributed also.
Tired of the Shanny meltdowns in the biggest game as well.
Reading all these projections about who the next DCo will be and Pete’s name keeps getting into the discussion somehow.
Seems extremely far fetched he’d have an axe to grind with Seattle to me.
Not that I wouldn’t love to see it but, Brandon Staley is a head scratcher.
We’ll find out in short order but I’ll stick with my longshot candidates, Bill, who’s not likely to see another HC offer at his age, Vrabel, who’s simply waiting for the next vacancy to open, and could simply be a 1yr rental or, Rivera, who might not see another HC offer come his way either.
I’m sure there’s a multitude of assistants out there as well who I could hit on a bet.
Given our current roster and the limited window to climb back into the Playoff race, the next DC should be LB friendly and smart enough to play with some swagger instead of the passiveness Wilks did in being ‘safe’.
Riverboat Ron I think would be perfect.
https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/san-francisco-49ers-should-stay-away-from-brandon-staley
No way no how no fucking way should Staley be on the table. He’s a fucking nightmare.
Not that Cohn knows anything most of the time other than speculation but this scenario would definitely be OK with me –
https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/will-jeff-ulbrich-become-the-49ers-next-defensive-coordinator
I loved the way Ulbrich played. He played like Bowman but just didn’t quite have the skills. He was fearless.
Down with Ullbrich.
Might be contract issues getting Ulbrich here, but we will see.
I’m guessing they hire internally, less of a “good fit” risk.
I’m not sure internally is the way they go.Korueuk (sp) seems he just wants to stay as DL coach, and the other candidates maybe to green? I’ll throw another couple names in the arena..Phil Parker head coach Iowa , and Glen Schuman DC Georgia both have experience as LB/DL Parker is older at 60? Schuman 34 both have done tremendous jobs on D..
Johnny Holland’s (current LB coach) name has popped up as a possibility, something I discuss in my
New thread.