49ers’ Kyle Shanahan weighs pros and cons of Steve Wilks moving to the sidelines

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has spoken to his defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks, about possibly moving from the coaching box to the sidelines during games. While it doesn't sound like a final decision has been reached, it may ultimately hinge on Wilks' preference.

The 49ers started the season 5-0, allowing an average of 267 total yards per game during that stretch. However, in their recent three-game losing streak, this average surged to 395.3 total yards, and Wilks has drawn significant criticism from fans.

Shanahan, drawing from his own experience, explained the advantages and drawbacks of being positioned in the coaching box, away from the players during games.

"I think all that stuff's a little bit overrated," Shanahan said on KNBR's "Tolbert and Copes" show. "There's pluses and minuses to both. I was a coordinator for a long time, and I was on the field for eight of my nine years calling plays, and I was in the box one year. And I loved being in the box for that one year. And the reason was, I enjoyed having a chair and a desk, because you're thinking so much, you're writing stuff down, and, man, is it nice to have a table there, to have everyone away, and kind of always organizing your thoughts and writing stuff, and it can help you call a game better."

There are also significant drawbacks to being separated from the team, factors that Wilks will have to consider during the 49ers' bye week.

"There's also times that, man, I need to talk to this dude, and I don't feel like talking to him on the phone," Shanahan shared. "I need to look him in his eyes and have a conversation with him. There's stuff about that I missed. So, I don't ever think that's the answer or what's wrong."

Shanahan and Wilks have had those discussions and may continue to do so in preparation for the 49ers' Week 10 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"Now, I have talked to Steve about possibly coming down," Shanahan said. "One thing I do love about Steve is I think he's a man; he's a leader of men. And I would love, in some instances, to have him down there, to be able to address some guys certain ways, and things like that. And when you do that, there are always stuff you lose from being up top. So there are pluses and minuses to both."