Why Stephen A believes 49ers firing Wilks a ‘bad look’ for Shanahan originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers moving on from Steve Wilks after just one season as the team’s defensive coordinator doesn’t sit well with Stephen A. Smith.
The ESPN analyst ripped Kyle Shanahan on Thursday’s “First Take” episode and explained why he believes the firing actually is a bad look on the head coach.
“I think it should be a bad look. I’m disgusted,” Smith said. “My heart goes out to my brother Steve Wilks because he keeps getting screwed over time and time and time again. Arizona, Carolina, here he is in San Francisco. You’re there for your first year — one year — you have the top-three-ranked defense in the National Football League.”
Smith went on to say he understands that Wilks and his unit had an inconsistent showing in 2023, and concerning struggles carried over into the postseason.
The 49ers’ defense was depleted against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers and didn’t look any sharper against Jared Goff and the “loaded” Detroit Lions, but San Francisco barely escaped each game with a win that ultimately led them to Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs, where Smith noticed a change in the effort and intensity.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, even though Patrick Mahomes went down the field, game-tying field goal, overtime, game-winning touchdown, I think San Francisco’s defense played pretty damn well,” Smith argued. “I don’t think anybody would deny that collectively over the course of those 60 minutes-plus of the Super Bowl, you’d expect Kansas City’s offense to look a little better than it did, but Steve Wilks’ defense had something to do with negating that.”
Smith wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t faulting Shanahan for doing his job and what he believed was best for the team, but he emphasized that he is “sick and tired” of some coaches getting certain chances that others don’t.
Shanahan’s three blown Super Bowl leads were one thing Smith pointed…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-stephen-believes-49ers-firing-191207005.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-02-15 19:12:07
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