Originally posted by genus49:
Originally posted by socalfan21:
Shanahan won't ever be held accountable for anything. He's going to coach here for 20 years with 10 nfc championship appearances and zero super bowls and zero care for the offensive line. He's on track for something special.
I don't believe Kyle has 0 care about the offensive line. I just think he's incredibly particular about what he wants and we better hope he gets over it or finds a way to land the guys he wants.
Who knows where we'd be right now if Weston Richburg never got injured. Alex Mack retired. They drafted McGlinchey with a top 10 pick. Traded for Trent Williams then paid him highest $ twice.
I just don't understand his obsession with Brendel...that I just can't get behind.
It's not that Shanahan doesn't care about the OL - of course he does as he knows that's the key to making his scheme function consistently at a high level. And it's not like he and Lynch haven't tried to address it.
The issue is they haven't done a good job over the years of addressing it with better OL talent across the line (excluding LT Williams), especially a long-term, quality guy at C to help control & quarterback things up front. There have been talented OL in the draft that were there for the taking in the earlier rounds. They took Puni pretty early, which was a good pick IMO and hoping he turns things around after a tough season so far (the preseason knee injury might have something to do w/ his struggles). Banks, after a slow start, began picking things up (when healthy) and making an impact next to Williams...then went to GB for big $.
So via the draft, FA, and trades, the Niners haven't been able to build an OL that year after year either consistently wins in the trenches or, at the very least against good teams/talented DLs, comes out even or at least competes well. Yesterday, we saw what happens when the Niners' OL goes against a talented DL - it's too much of a "no contest" where the Niners' OL just can't compete well and thus, the offense doesn't execute like it's drawn up and has to be continuously adjusted in-game to accommodate so they have a chance. If you have more talent across the OL, you can just do more things each game and be more competitive vs. tougher DLs, even when you have guys out w/ injuries (assuming you have some kind of competence at QB1 or QB2 - the Niners have both who are more than competent).
This has far too often been a recurring theme w/ OLs under Shanahan during his time here, unfortunately. It rears its ugly head in the playoffs when they face better teams w/ more talent on the DL. They've been able to work around it many times where other parts of their team steps up and also Shanahan schemes up adjustments, etc. But unfortunately, it catches up with them at crucial points of some of the most important playoff games.
The Colts and the OL they've built are an example showing what a good line can do that consistently wins in the trenches. They have given new life to a QB like Daniel Jones (Daniel Jones!). To his credit, he's done a very good job in making plays and running that offense. The OL only allowed six sacks through the first seven games. They've also helped a very good RB in Taylor flourish again. All this makes the Colts' offense very well balanced and tough to stop (averaging over 30 pts. a game).
Shanahan overall during his time here IMO has done a very good job as HC. Especially considering how much this team has been injured this season and previously. However, the subpar OLs under him have been a big area of deficiency, which is a key issue as it's such an important area to winning in football (winning in the trenches).
Yet keeping the faith...keeping hope alive that this will change one of these days. Hoping guys like Puni and McKivitz (since he's here through 2028) improve. Hoping the team finds better quality at the other positions (which might include LT for next year), where they can function together as a highly-competitive unit game in and game out.