49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Thread

Originally posted by NYniner85:

NFL offenses with the highest conversion rates on 3rd & 4th downs in 2025, per TruMedia:

📋? 49ers - 50.6%
📋? Packers - 49.6%
📋? Chargers - 46.7%
📋? Bills - 46.7%
📋? Patriots - 46.2%
📋? Bengals - 45.6%
📋? Colts - 45.5%
📋? Cowboys - 44.3%
📋? Bears - 43.8%
📋?… pic.twitter.com/dNDE6GGYq7

— PFSN (@PFSN365) March 23, 2026

I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Originally posted by tankle104:
I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Good play calling and the ability to move helps a ton.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by tankle104:
I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Good play calling and the ability to move helps a ton.

I think Brock masks a lot of our protection issues. Protection for Mac was ugly:

Purdy was significantly more effective at avoiding sacks, maintaining an elite pressure-to-sack ratio of approximately 5.9%. In contrast, Jones posted a much higher ratio of 37.5%,

Interestingly, Jones faced a lower pressure rate (18.6% of drop-backs) compared to Purdy (43.6%), yet he still took more total sacks

I know Jones is a statue and not great at avoiding pressure but he was beat to death out there. Mac makes our o line look like bottom 10 and Brock makes them look like top 15. I think the answer is somewhere inbetween - like 18-22 ranked overall. I know the PFF stuff says different but i'm just going off of watching. Our run game was dreadful too. worst O line blocking for run game I've seen in a long time. I know some had to do with WRs. etc. I really hope it's different this year.

Originally posted by tankle104:
I think Brock masks a lot of our protection issues. Protection for Mac was ugly:

Purdy was significantly more effective at avoiding sacks, maintaining an elite pressure-to-sack ratio of approximately 5.9%. In contrast, Jones posted a much higher ratio of 37.5%,

Interestingly, Jones faced a lower pressure rate (18.6% of drop-backs) compared to Purdy (43.6%), yet he still took more total sacks

I know Jones is a statue and not great at avoiding pressure but he was beat to death out there. Mac makes our o line look like bottom 10 and Brock makes them look like top 15. I think the answer is somewhere inbetween - like 18-22 ranked overall. I know the PFF stuff says different but i'm just going off of watching. Our run game was dreadful too. worst O line blocking for run game I've seen in a long time. I know some had to do with WRs. etc. I really hope it's different this year.

Kyle and Brock were truly making something out of next to nothing most of the year

Originally posted by tankle104:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by tankle104:
I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Good play calling and the ability to move helps a ton.

I think Brock masks a lot of our protection issues. Protection for Mac was ugly:

Purdy was significantly more effective at avoiding sacks, maintaining an elite pressure-to-sack ratio of approximately 5.9%. In contrast, Jones posted a much higher ratio of 37.5%,

Interestingly, Jones faced a lower pressure rate (18.6% of drop-backs) compared to Purdy (43.6%), yet he still took more total sacks

I know Jones is a statue and not great at avoiding pressure but he was beat to death out there. Mac makes our o line look like bottom 10 and Brock makes them look like top 15. I think the answer is somewhere inbetween - like 18-22 ranked overall. I know the PFF stuff says different but i'm just going off of watching. Our run game was dreadful too. worst O line blocking for run game I've seen in a long time. I know some had to do with WRs. etc. I really hope it's different this year.

where are you seeing that? Im seeing around 20%

Also ESPN also had our OL ranked high in pass protection and bad in run blocking.

Originally posted by tankle104:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by tankle104:
I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Good play calling and the ability to move helps a ton.

I think Brock masks a lot of our protection issues. Protection for Mac was ugly:

Purdy was significantly more effective at avoiding sacks, maintaining an elite pressure-to-sack ratio of approximately 5.9%. In contrast, Jones posted a much higher ratio of 37.5%,

Interestingly, Jones faced a lower pressure rate (18.6% of drop-backs) compared to Purdy (43.6%), yet he still took more total sacks

I know Jones is a statue and not great at avoiding pressure but he was beat to death out there. Mac makes our o line look like bottom 10 and Brock makes them look like top 15. I think the answer is somewhere inbetween - like 18-22 ranked overall. I know the PFF stuff says different but i'm just going off of watching. Our run game was dreadful too. worst O line blocking for run game I've seen in a long time. I know some had to do with WRs. etc. I really hope it's different this year.

It's no secret that Purdy is more mobile than Mac. Especially when Mac was playing with a really bad knee that limited him even more. He get's the ball out quicker than Purdy so that helped a little but if the D put the big pressue on him he had no chance.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:

Originally posted by tankle104:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by tankle104:
I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Good play calling and the ability to move helps a ton.

I think Brock masks a lot of our protection issues. Protection for Mac was ugly:

Purdy was significantly more effective at avoiding sacks, maintaining an elite pressure-to-sack ratio of approximately 5.9%. In contrast, Jones posted a much higher ratio of 37.5%,

Interestingly, Jones faced a lower pressure rate (18.6% of drop-backs) compared to Purdy (43.6%), yet he still took more total sacks

I know Jones is a statue and not great at avoiding pressure but he was beat to death out there. Mac makes our o line look like bottom 10 and Brock makes them look like top 15. I think the answer is somewhere inbetween - like 18-22 ranked overall. I know the PFF stuff says different but i'm just going off of watching. Our run game was dreadful too. worst O line blocking for run game I've seen in a long time. I know some had to do with WRs. etc. I really hope it's different this year.

It's no secret that Purdy is more mobile than Mac. Especially when Mac was playing with a really bad knee that limited him even more. He get's the ball out quicker than Purdy so that helped a little but if the D put the big pressue on him he had no chance.

thats every QB except maybe Lamar

Originally posted by tankle104:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by tankle104:
I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Good play calling and the ability to move helps a ton.

I think Brock masks a lot of our protection issues. Protection for Mac was ugly:

Purdy was significantly more effective at avoiding sacks, maintaining an elite pressure-to-sack ratio of approximately 5.9%. In contrast, Jones posted a much higher ratio of 37.5%,

Interestingly, Jones faced a lower pressure rate (18.6% of drop-backs) compared to Purdy (43.6%), yet he still took more total sacks

I know Jones is a statue and not great at avoiding pressure but he was beat to death out there. Mac makes our o line look like bottom 10 and Brock makes them look like top 15. I think the answer is somewhere inbetween - like 18-22 ranked overall. I know the PFF stuff says different but i'm just going off of watching. Our run game was dreadful too. worst O line blocking for run game I've seen in a long time. I know some had to do with WRs. etc. I really hope it's different this year.

To be fair part of that was because we faced some pretty good pass rushing teams with a 7th round rookie having to play LG and being clearly overwhelmed.

But I don't disagree with your main point. Though his detractors will simply claim he also hurts the protection by holding the ball too long unlike Mac.

I'll take Purdy what Purdy does though all day long.

Originally posted by genus49:
To be fair part of that was because we faced some pretty good pass rushing teams with a 7th round rookie having to play LG and being clearly overwhelmed.

But I don't disagree with your main point. Though his detractors will simply claim he also hurts the protection by holding the ball too long unlike Mac.

I'll take Purdy what Purdy does though all day long.

Seattle might be an extreme example cause they were so dominant this year and won the Chip but the way they abused our O line was wild. I just want an o line that can still have a respectable game when they're going up against good fronts. I don't expect them to win every rep but to not get beat like a red headed step child. lol

Man, I don't see how the 49ers can do enough in the draft to overcome this. They're going to be basically running out the same unit next season except a year older, a year slower. The left guard will be different, but every single other player from the OL to the FB, all of whom had their ASS WHOOPED, will be starting. I mean straight up belt to ass beatdowns across the board. Shanny better be reverse engineering MacDonald's scheme and cooking up ways to break his rules because they're going to maintain a gaping talent advantage again next season.

Originally posted by Heroism:
Man, I don't see how the 49ers can do enough in the draft to overcome this. They're going to be basically running out the same unit next season except a year older, a year slower. The left guard will be different, but every single other player from the OL to the FB, all of whom had their ASS WHOOPED, will be starting. I mean straight up belt to ass beatdowns across the board. Shanny better be reverse engineering MacDonald's scheme and cooking up ways to break his rules because they're going to maintain a gaping talent advantage again next season.

I hope we get a C somewhere that can push Brendel.

Puni was for sure impacted by the knee, he was atrocious early, and graded out better as the season progressed, but I don't think he was ever truly healthy.

Trent is a year older and will surely decline further, but should be well above average if healthy.

McKivitz is meh. He's turned into an average starter. Can't have stars everywhere.

As bad as Burford was last year, like worst in the league bad, I think shuffling in a few new guys at least gives us the chance to improve. Jones seems like a guy who could at least do one thing well, and that's not get overpowered in the run game. That's an improvement.

And who knows, maybe we draft a T early and throw him in the competition for RT or LG, as he's groomed to replace Trent?

I am also worried about this unit, but we've had a ton of needs to address this offseason, and have done a pretty good job thus far. This Jones signing should not be looked at as we're just giving up again, but rather that we're giving ourselves a few fresh faces to compete. Optimism is warranted this time of year, my friend.

Originally posted by Chance:
I hope we get a C somewhere that can push Brendel.

Puni was for sure impacted by the knee, he was atrocious early, and graded out better as the season progressed, but I don't think he was ever truly healthy.

Trent is a year older and will surely decline further, but should be well above average if healthy.

McKivitz is meh. He's turned into an average starter. Can't have stars everywhere.

As bad as Burford was last year, like worst in the league bad, I think shuffling in a few new guys at least gives us the chance to improve. Jones seems like a guy who could at least do one thing well, and that's not get overpowered in the run game. That's an improvement.

And who knows, maybe we draft a T early and throw him in the competition for RT or LG, as he's groomed to replace Trent?

I am also worried about this unit, but we've had a ton of needs to address this offseason, and have done a pretty good job thus far. This Jones signing should not be looked at as we're just giving up again, but rather that we're giving ourselves a few fresh faces to compete. Optimism is warranted this time of year, my friend.

I'm a realist. I don't see much to be optimistic about in this specific aspect. I watched the tape many times. I saw the vicious beat downs in back-to-back games. I saw MacDonald toying with the 49ers pass protection rules and getting his 4 rushers 1-on-1s against 5 OL. It's going to be the same guys getting mollywhopped next season against Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, etc. We know the Seahawks will add to the pass rush, too. They always do.

There's no center coming to help. Shanahan has never drafted a center—let alone played a rookie.

It's not just the OL. It's about the entire aspect of the run game. The WRs, TEs and FB. They all got wrecked. Juice getting ragdolled by Emmanwori replays in my head. There are no reasons to believe the 49ers will be better in that area. Kittle will be 33 coming off a big injury; Juice will be 35.... The Seahawks are flat out stronger, nastier and more violent across the board.

The most frustrating part to me is seeing how McVay has successfully positioned himself to compete with Mike MacDonald. He saw the Shanahan killing storm on the horizon. He responded by reconstructing his OL from a smaller, athletic group to massive, hulking wall around Stafford; he fired the previous underperforming OL coach and hired a stud; he evolved his base personnel from 11 to 13 to counter MacDonald's heavy nickel/dime defense. MM wants to stay small? Bet. McVay will then go big and play bully ball.

I don't get a sense of urgency from the 49ers. It seems like they're content to sit on their hands and believe that they simply need to execute better with what they have. The draft is the only reason for optimism, but the signs from their visits and meetings seem to indicate that the Niners are taking an edge or WR early…yikes.

Originally posted by ritz126:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:

Originally posted by tankle104:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by tankle104:
I feel like Brock is awesome on 3rd and 4th down and the last couple years he hasn't had great weapons (oft injured Kittle and really just CMC).

if all our weapons stay healthy - having huge ass Evans, Kirk, Pearsall, CMC, eventually Kittle… that's a pretty sweet variety of weapons and they can beat any coverage.

the issue we had last year was we didn't have anyone who could really consistently beat man coverage, especially late in the year cause Pearsall was our only guy and he was hurt.

we also didn't have anyone at the WR position who was a major target for the RZ - now we have Evans. So as a whole, I think the signings have been very exciting. If we can just bolster our pass rush and have a healthy season - I think this team is going to be a problem for anyone.

Good play calling and the ability to move helps a ton.

I think Brock masks a lot of our protection issues. Protection for Mac was ugly:

Purdy was significantly more effective at avoiding sacks, maintaining an elite pressure-to-sack ratio of approximately 5.9%. In contrast, Jones posted a much higher ratio of 37.5%,

Interestingly, Jones faced a lower pressure rate (18.6% of drop-backs) compared to Purdy (43.6%), yet he still took more total sacks

I know Jones is a statue and not great at avoiding pressure but he was beat to death out there. Mac makes our o line look like bottom 10 and Brock makes them look like top 15. I think the answer is somewhere inbetween - like 18-22 ranked overall. I know the PFF stuff says different but i'm just going off of watching. Our run game was dreadful too. worst O line blocking for run game I've seen in a long time. I know some had to do with WRs. etc. I really hope it's different this year.

It's no secret that Purdy is more mobile than Mac. Especially when Mac was playing with a really bad knee that limited him even more. He get's the ball out quicker than Purdy so that helped a little but if the D put the big pressue on him he had no chance.

thats every QB except maybe Lamar

Not true. Several QBs have the ability to roll away from pressure. Mac just isn't one of them.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by Chance:
I hope we get a C somewhere that can push Brendel.

Puni was for sure impacted by the knee, he was atrocious early, and graded out better as the season progressed, but I don't think he was ever truly healthy.

Trent is a year older and will surely decline further, but should be well above average if healthy.

McKivitz is meh. He's turned into an average starter. Can't have stars everywhere.

As bad as Burford was last year, like worst in the league bad, I think shuffling in a few new guys at least gives us the chance to improve. Jones seems like a guy who could at least do one thing well, and that's not get overpowered in the run game. That's an improvement.

And who knows, maybe we draft a T early and throw him in the competition for RT or LG, as he's groomed to replace Trent?

I am also worried about this unit, but we've had a ton of needs to address this offseason, and have done a pretty good job thus far. This Jones signing should not be looked at as we're just giving up again, but rather that we're giving ourselves a few fresh faces to compete. Optimism is warranted this time of year, my friend.

I'm a realist. I don't see much to be optimistic about in this specific aspect. I watched the tape many times. I saw the vicious beat downs in back-to-back games. I saw MacDonald toying with the 49ers pass protection rules and getting his 4 rushers 1-on-1s against 5 OL. It's going to be the same guys getting mollywhopped next season against Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, etc. We know the Seahawks will add to the pass rush, too. They always do.

There's no center coming to help. Shanahan has never drafted a center—let alone played a rookie.

It's not just the OL. It's about the entire aspect of the run game. The WRs, TEs and FB. They all got wrecked. Juice getting ragdolled by Emmanwori replays in my head. There are no reasons to believe the 49ers will be better in that area. Kittle will be 33 coming off a big injury; Juice will be 35.... The Seahawks are flat out stronger, nastier and more violent across the board.

The most frustrating part to me is seeing how McVay has successfully positioned himself to compete with Mike MacDonald. He saw the Shanahan killing storm on the horizon. He responded by reconstructing his OL from a smaller, athletic group to massive, hulking wall around Stafford; he fired the previous underperforming OL coach and hired a stud; he evolved his base personnel from 11 to 13 to counter MacDonald's heavy nickel/dime defense. MM wants to stay small? Bet. McVay will then go big and play bully ball.

I don't get a sense of urgency from the 49ers. It seems like they're content to sit on their hands and believe that they simply need to execute better with what they have. The draft is the only reason for optimism, but the signs from their visits and meetings seem to indicate that the Niners are taking an edge or WR early…yikes.

Everyone considers themself a realist. Proclaiming yourself as such doesn't imply optimism is not a valid position. You want to wallow in the mud halfway through an offseason, be my guest. We're all looking at crystal balls here, so you're only doing a disservice to your own sanity.

*This isn't a blame Kyle Post, just posting the pain we've been through*