49ers overreactions: Can Shanahan’s play-calling be a liability? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Let’s face it, folks, the 49ers were the least impressive team that advanced through the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
There was not one phase of the team that played well enough — from start to finish — to meet the 49ers’ lofty expectations as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
But, at the same time, every single aspect of the 49ers made at least one play that contributed greatly to their 24-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Brock Purdy had one of his most uneven performances of the season, as the quarterback appeared to lack decisiveness in handling a wet football in the steady rain at Levi’s Stadium.
Every aspect of the 49ers was just off, and that includes those on the sideline calling the shots.
And that’s where we start with this edition of 49ers overreactions:
Shanahan’s play calling CAN be as much of a liability as it is a strength. (Tony Noble)
Overreaction? No.
There is a chicken-and-egg element to the 49ers’ offense.
When coach Kyle Shanahan is dialing up the plays and things are working, it appears as if the 49ers simply cannot be stopped.
But is it really that the play calls are so good, or are the players on the field executing so well that it does not matter what Shanahan is calling?
It is probably a little of both.
The most bizarre call of the game was when the 49ers opened the second half with a running play to receiver Jauan Jennings.
That one caught everyone by surprise (except for the Packers’ defense), including the 49ers’ head coach.
The problem occurred when the 49ers checked into a play on the wrong wristband — the one in which Deebo Samuel would be featured. But Samuel was out of the game due to a shoulder injury, and Jennings took his spot and, thus, got the handoff.
A lot of this game did not go smoothly.
So much of the early part of the game is pre-scripted, as Shanahan wants to see how the defense will react to certain…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-overreactions-shanahans-play-calling-224230489.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-01-23 22:42:30
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