What former 49ers greats would look like in Kyle Shanahan's offense?

Dec 11, 2025 at 10:37 AM

glorydayz
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Posts: 14,481

For example, what would Roger Craig look like in CMC's role?

I think the player that would look the best in this offense would have been Jerry Rice or T.O. Shanahan hasn't had a receiver like these guys since he's been here. I also think Joe Montana would have taken KS to a different level, but these are the easy one's.

Who do you guys think would have looked good in this offense from our rich history of offensive weapons?

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Dec 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM

SmokeyJoe
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Posts: 12,956

Tim Rattay.

Dec 11, 2025 at 10:41 AM

glorydayz
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Posts: 14,481

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:
Tim Rattay.

He would have lit it up in this offense

Dec 11, 2025 at 11:20 AM

spizzy
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Posts: 3,493

Honestly feel like Alex Smith would have been solid with Kyle. Plays within structure and can still threaten the edges of the defense. We would just be throwing downfield less often than we do with Brock. Jeff Garcia would be similar

Gore would fit any system, I think Kyle would love that he always hit the hole hard and falls forward

VD was a great blocker and downfield threat

Any of Harbaugh's o-line LOL

Dec 11, 2025 at 9:00 PM

glorydayz
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Posts: 14,481

Originally posted by spizzy:
Honestly feel like Alex Smith would have been solid with Kyle. Plays within structure and can still threaten the edges of the defense. We would just be throwing downfield less often than we do with Brock. Jeff Garcia would be similar

Gore would fit any system, I think Kyle would love that he always hit the hole hard and falls forward

VD was a great blocker and downfield threat

Any of Harbaugh's o-line LOL

Harbaugh's O-line would be killer!!!

Dec 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM

bvc49
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Posts: 1,843

Bill Walsh

Dec 12, 2025 at 1:49 AM

DRCHOWDER
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Posts: 20,348
NFL Pick 'em

Frank Gore with this type of usage omg

Dec 12, 2025 at 2:41 AM

All22
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Posts: 2,842

Ricky Waters would be god mode.

VD and Delanie Walker would've killed teams

Dec 12, 2025 at 5:10 AM

English
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Posts: 41,164
NFL Pick 'em

Montana Rice Craig Taylor Lott Jones Fuller Sapolu Rathman Wersching Wallace McIntyre Barton Willis Hanks Turner Gore BY

And maybe one or two others!

And coaching-wise I would take Bobb McKittrick.

[ Edited by English on Dec 12, 2025 at 5:12 AM ]

Dec 12, 2025 at 6:07 AM

#10

DrEll
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Posts: 10,977

Highly doubt we have 5 SB rings if Shanahan was our coach in the 80s / 90s. I suspect EddieD would have him selling hot dogs at the stand after 81, so it's a moot point.

Dec 12, 2025 at 6:23 AM

#11

ninersrule4
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Posts: 22,153

Originally posted by spizzy:
Honestly feel like Alex Smith would have been solid with Kyle. Plays within structure and can still threaten the edges of the defense. We would just be throwing downfield less often than we do with Brock. Jeff Garcia would be similar

Gore would fit any system, I think Kyle would love that he always hit the hole hard and falls forward

VD was a great blocker and downfield threat

Any of Harbaugh's o-line LOL

He could actually have this if he would invest in the OL instead of routinely missing on DL picks.

Dec 12, 2025 at 6:49 AM

#12

genus49
Moderator
Posts: 27,326

Originally posted by DrEll:
Highly doubt we have 5 SB rings if Shanahan was our coach in the 80s / 90s. I suspect EddieD would have him selling hot dogs at the stand after 81, so it's a moot point.

This has nothing to do with this thread. It's bad enough you continue to recycle the same lazy narratives in the Shanahan thread but stop spamming threads that have nothing to do with that.

This is about who would be good in his offense and has nothing to do with SB wins or losses.

Dec 12, 2025 at 6:51 AM

#13

genus49
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Posts: 27,326

Originally posted by English:
Montana Rice Craig Taylor Lott Jones Fuller Sapolu Rathman Wersching Wallace McIntyre Barton Willis Hanks Turner Gore BY

And maybe one or two others!

And coaching-wise I would take Bobb McKittrick.

I miss McKittrick so much. We pretty much knew the OL was going to be on point with him around.

Dec 12, 2025 at 7:19 AM

#14

49erKing
Veteran
Posts: 18,675

Sometimes I dream about a seven man front consisting of...

Nick Bosa
DeForest Buckner
Arik Armstead
Justin Smith
Navarro Bowman
Patrick Willis
Fred Warner

Dec 12, 2025 at 7:21 AM

#15

ritz126
Veteran
Posts: 4,089

I think alex smith wouldve excelled in this system.

But man i think vernon davis wouldve been something else