Originally posted by the_dynasty:
Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:
I've heard both Shanahan & Lynch on the radio here in the Bay Area multiple times this season and also have listened to them in press conferences - not once have I heard them say this team isn't or won't be a Super Bowl contender this season. Please provide a link or evidence otherwise if you feel you've heard the contrary.
I mean it was on this very site and referenced by many writers...
https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/195075-shanahan-shares-candid-thoughts-pursuing/
its not explicitly stated, sure...but if you need something stated explicitly as "we dont think we are superbowl contenders" then no coach will say it.
"I think, at that time, we had a Super Bowl defense that was as good as anyone in the league, and probably had been for like 10 years. And it was pretty obvious"
One reporter referenced the 49ers' 2019 trade for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, a midseason move that helped propel the team to the Super Bowl. Shanahan was asked if this season feels similar in terms of being one piece away from doing something similarly special.
"No, I don't feel at all like that," Shanahan said. "I think, at that time, we had a Super Bowl defense that was as good as anyone in the league, and probably had been for like 10 years. And it was pretty obvious.
"And I thought, at the time, some of the receivers we were dependent on weren't there, and we were playing some young rookies, and we thought we needed to add another guy.
"But yeah, I don't totally see it as the same situation as right now."
So if Kyle thinks we had a SB defense and were one piece away from the SB in 2019...and he doesn't think the same way of the current situation....I mean, put two and two together
You can go ahead and "put two and two together" all you want. Doesn't mean you're right in Shanahan & Lynch thinking at this very early stage of a long season that this team isn't and/or won't be a SB contender this year. What they don't know is what they don't know yet about this team...about this defense with some of the younger players (who are already making an impact; and, these young guys & the vets have Saleh scheming & coaching them up)...about injuries (who is coming back, who isn't...who is yet to be injured, unfortunately).
It's waaaay to early in the long season to go out on the assumption that your HC & GM are already writing this team off as a team that isn't and won't be a SB contender. Anything can happen between now and Game 17, including injuries to this team and other teams. Look what Lynch said this very morning on KNBR (per Barrows):
Lynch on @KNBRon trading for a defensive lineman: "We'll see.
I'm having a lot of conversations, a lot of good and productive ones."
They of course think this team can have a shot this year with it being this early in the season, and with some promising signs already in sitting at 4-1 despite all the key injuries. Does it mean they'll trade for a top DL/DE? No, but it wouldn't surprise me if they traded for
some kind of impact guy to provide much needed pass rush help and just overall DL help with all the injuries that have happened.
It should be a cheap move. I don't think the 49ers should give away any premium picks, tbh.
I just saw Colts fans suggesting to trade Ebukam because he's in a contract year in addition to Kwity Paye, and I thought hell yeah I'd take Ebukam.