Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN predicts 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan as Coach of the Year based on NFL feedback
This could be an interesting year for San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. He has just one winning record in his four seasons with the team. Many will argue that last season was a fluke. It was a six-win campaign marred by a
historic number of injuries. The team had just come off a Super Bowl appearance, but the injuries completely transformed the roster by Week 2.
Most expect the 2021 49ers to more resemble their 2019 counterparts than last season's version. And now, Shanahan has a new toy to feature in his offense—No. 3 overall pick
Trey Lance.
Lance won't start. That job belongs to veteran quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance will see the field, though. Those around the NFL expect Shanahan to sprinkle in his 21-year-old quarterback as another challenge, potentially creating a two-quarterback system that could frustrate opposing defenses.
"Oh, he's going to do it," an unnamed veteran NFL coach
told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "You can already see it. Jimmy will be in the base, and Lance will get packages where you can run different play-actions off it. I can't wait to see it. They have the right coach to handle it. He wants that challenge."
Fowler spoke with "a handful" of NFL executives, scouts, and coaches to predict winners for top league awards. Among those predictions is Shanahan earning Coach of the Year after throwing a combination of Garoppolo and Lance into game plans.
Fowler believes Shanahan is poised for his second season of double-digit wins, assuming his roster can remain relatively healthy.
"The coach has made clear Lance will play, though, and New Orleans reminded us that good playcallers can find a way to use multiple passers," wrote Fowler. "Sean Payton weaved Taysom Hill into a Drew Brees game plan in years past."
If Garoppolo can make it out of September healthy for just the second time in his NFL career and remain healthy, the ESPN writer can envision the 49ers winning a lot of football games.
"Shanahan and Garoppolo are 24-8 together, so there's reason to believe the winning will continue as Garoppolo returns [from] injury," Fowler added.
More San Francisco 49ers News
'It's a big concern this year': 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan discusses Javon Kinlaw's injury, development setback
Some fans are a bit too quick to write off defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, feeling that he is yet another first-round misstep by the San Francisco 49ers. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan still believes in him and feels the defender's injury setbacks can still be overcome.
Kinlaw entered the draft as a raw but physically gifted prospect that could develop into a force along the defensive line. That development has been stalled as the 49ers do what they can to manage the second-year player's injury.
Kinlaw sustained a knee injury on December 20, 2020, against the Dallas Cowboys, forcing him to miss the season's final two games. He underwent a procedure after the 2020 season and then had what was described as a minor procedure to reduce swelling in the knee later in
49ers rookie Trey Lance to make first NFL start, says Kyle Shanahan
The San Francisco 49ers hoped quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would be able to take part in today's practice and test whether his right leg was strong enough to play on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Garoppolo didn't, and he has now missed an entire week's worth of practice.
After practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers are ruling Garoppolo "out" for the Week 5 matchup and that rookie Trey Lance would start in the veteran's place. With Garoppolo sidelined, Lance has received the majority of the practice reps this week.
"The more reps you get, the better you're going to get," general manager John Lynch said this morning on KNBR. "He does things exceptionally well. I think he's taken to our offense well. With every rep, he's going to get
Kyle Shanahan, Trey Lance 'excited' about 49ers rookie's first start
The San Francisco 49ers have ruled out quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. That means head coach Kyle Shanahan will rely on rookie Trey Lance to knock off the division leaders in his first NFL start.
It isn't easy to know what to expect from the rookie. Last weekend was his first extended playing time. While things started somewhat shaky for the 21-year-old quarterback, he did appear to get more comfortable as the game progressed.
Lance finished the game 9-of-18 passing for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 41 rushing yards on seven carries.
What does Shanahan expect from his rookie on Sunday?
"Even quarterbacks who have played a thousand games before, you have quarterbacks who are great
Transcripts: Kyle Shanahan, Trey Lance discuss plans heading into 49ers-Cardinals
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to play the Arizona Cardinals this weekend. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Trey Lance spoke with reporters after today's practice. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan
Opening comments:
"Alright, injury report, [CB] K'Waun Williams will be out. [QB] Jimmy Garoppolo is out. [TE] George Kittle is doubtful. [DL] Samson [Ebukam] is questionable. And [DT Javon] Kinlaw's questionable."
Full-steam ahead then on QB Trey Lance making his starting debut?
"Yep."
What was the week like for you? What were you feeling
