The San Francisco 49ers made a bold move today, adding defensive end Chase Young via trade. However, the acquisition was not discussed with Kyle Shanahan during the head coach's weekly interview on Bay Area radio station KNBR. That's because the conversation was pre-recorded and aired after the trade with the Washington Commanders.
With talk surrounding the addition of Young off the table, Shanahan was asked about the 49ers' current three-game slump and the team's mentality entering their bye week. The coach discussed his takeaways from the latest loss, a 31-17 defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While each of the three losses has been disappointing, Sunday's was the most disheartening because of one aspect that stood out.
"I think that was the most disappointing one because when I was done watching the tape, I felt we looked more tired than the team we were playing against," Shanahan said on the "Tolbert and Copes" show. "And that's not an excuse. That's the reality, and that's not okay. For whatever reason it may be, you can't do that.
"And that's something that I really haven't said much around our team in a number of years. There's a standard that we play to that I think we've earned, that people are well aware of, the whole league is aware of, that you're not going to outwork us.
"And I don't think anybody out there was just consciously not going as hard. But I feel we got a team's best shot, and we don't surprise anybody, and they played at a higher level than us, and that's something that we can't ever let happen again."
Shanahan believes the 49ers have the personnel inside the building to turn things around. Fortunately, they have some additional time to assess their weaknesses during the three-game skid and make adjustments before playing the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 12.
The coach encouraged his players to use this time off to recharge both physically and mentally before returning on Monday.
"The good thing about our team is we know exactly who we are," Shanahan continued. "We know exactly how we have to be, and we still have all the same people who are very capable of being that. And that's why I want these guys to get away here for these five days, and I really want them to look inward. Don't look for an answer outside, what someone else can do better. Look at what you can do better.
"And when we have 53 guys come back thinking that way, when we got everyone on our coaching staff coming back thinking that way, then I guarantee our team will play better collectively."
Shanahan noted that he hopes his players do some soul-searching during the break and identify why they looked fatigued against the Bengals.
"I get all the reasons of the games and whatever, the lack of rest, but it doesn't matter," Shanahan added. "Whether you want to make an excuse or a reason, that can't happen in those three-and-a-half hours. So you've got to spend this week away the right way, not just to get your body right but also to get your mind right. When you come back, this is going to be a grind, and it always is."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.
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