A week ago, headlines on the sports pages of the SF Chronicle echoed in newspapers across the country saying: "Raheem Mostert becomes 49ers' new lead running back."
You were quoted as saying: "Raheem has earned it these last few weeks." "We need to give him more opportunities. He's given us no choice. I'm happy for him. He's been extremely impressive." Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said Mostert's "burst" makes him special. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk mentioned something different. "His uniqueness is his decisiveness," Juszczyk said. "He makes his decisions very quickly, he doesn't hesitate, and he hits the hole."
According to you, Kyle, it doesn't matter what makes Mostert special. "I'm not exactly sure what it is," Shanahan said, "but it's time for people to notice." WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY? The kid has been outstanding in this, his first full season as a running back. However, he continues to be treated as almost an afterthought, and your treatment of him as a reward for his stellar play is to continue to play with his playing time like a third-stringer. You're sure not doing much to inspire his confidence with your shuffling the running backs like a deck of cards. Consistency and rhythm are the KEYS to winning, not musical chairs.
Matt Breida is a great spot player but isn't strong enough and has missed many games due to ankle or leg injuries, so he's an ideal complement to the starter, not a lead back. However, your insistence on using Tevin Coleman, who has been a disappointment, is curious. Let's compare the two.
Coleman is in his 5th season, and Raheem has surpassed his output in all but one of his seasons. Coleman's best season was 800 yards with four touchdowns. This season, Mostert already has accumulated 662 yards and five touchdowns, all in a backup role as the No. 3 back with limited carries. He also has scored two touchdowns on pass receptions. Imagine what he could have accomplished this season if he had been named the lead back and treated as such from the beginning. I would wager he would be pushing 1,000 yards and be considered as a Pro Bowl running back, not just a Pro Bowl special teams gunner.
It's not too late, but you'll have to adapt your philosophy that "all three are good." Mostert has blinding speed, extremely strong legs, and amazing balance, all of which may be attributed to his world-class status as a surfer. You have a star on your hands, one who may be an all-time great if you are SEROUS about providing him the opportunity, and NOW is a better time than never.
You have two weeks left until the end of the season and another one or two until the playoffs get underway. The running game needs consistency and rhythm in the playoffs. Changing RBs like your socks does anything but and that was PAINFULLY obvious against the Falcons. Two critical games await us, and it's time to stop demonstrating your creative genius and solidifying the part of the 49er attack that will be vital from here on out. EVERY possession is important and cannot be wasted, and every time he's not in the lineup, you are not going with your best as you did against the Ravens and Saints. Simple as that.
In my opinion, Kyle, you are a superior play designer -- the best. You're also an excellent coach. However, the elephant in the room is inconsistency, and your play calling has proven to be impulsive at times and may have cost you a Super Bowl way back when. In fact, it's often aggressive until the clock is running down. Then it appears you play not to lose. For a perfect example from the King of Clock Management, just go to YouTube and watch the online video of the 49ers' final drive against the Cowboys in the Catch game. Watch the way Bill Walsh mixed the run and the pass using veteran back Lenvil Elliott. It's a refresher course in brilliance.
I may be a couch potato at this age, but I was fortunate enough to see every great 49er RB and brilliant offensive coach in the team's history from McElhenny to Mostert and Buck Shaw to Bill Walsh. This is your opportunity to get the monkey off your back, adapt, and put a truly dominant ground game on the field for the playoffs. We're all rooting for you, Kyle. This team may still go down as one of the greatest in 49er history. It's now up to you. GOOD LUCK!
