02-15-2024, 09:51 AM
(02-15-2024, 08:18 AM)lex24 Wrote:(02-14-2024, 03:07 PM)Mick Wrote: Steve Wilks got the boot today, which makes sense, just like firing Kapler made sense. Farhan did a terrible job, so Kapler had to go. Shanahan did a terrible job, so Wilks had to go.
https://twitter.com/search?q=steve+wilks...r%5Esearch
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/3952...one-season
Anthony Lynn, assistant head coach, left for the Washington Commanders, and defensive line assistant Darryl Tapp joined him.
How did Shanahan do a “terrible job”
He didn’t fumble on the first drive. He didn’t have back-to-back penalties, which took them out of their second drive. He didn’t have a punt hit him in the ankle and then not cover up. He didn’t get an xtra pt blocked He didn’t miss his blocking scheme on the key play in overtime which was a touchdown, but for the screw up. He didn’t fail to stop the Chiefs on final drives. Twice.
Shanahan didn’t lose this game. Frankly, the players really didn’t either. They played their guts out. They got beat. Because they couldn’t handle Mahomes. Which puts them in good company.
But it’s always the coach. Shanahan is one of the best coaches in the NFL. One of the most respected. One of the best offensive minds. But when they lose, it’s his fault. Always the case.
By the way, Wilks was dumped in part for the same reason Kapler was. The players didn’t believe in him. Bosa made that clear what he threw him under the bus.
Mick dateline='[url=tel:1707925680' Wrote: 1707925680[/url]']
BostonCard dateline='[url=tel:1707925288' Wrote: 1707925288[/url]']
lex24 dateline='[url=tel:1707710746' Wrote: 1707710746[/url]']
Great season. Great game. My concern was Mahomes having ball and chance at end. Didnt expect it twice.
Only reason I can think that they took ball first was defense had just been on.
Patrick Mahomes Is Literally Impossible to Stop When You Need to Stop Him (substack.com)
Came across this analysis:
Quote:56 quarterbacks have led 125 drives in the playoffs in which:
It was the fourth quarter or overtime;
The drive ended with under a minute left to play;
And the offensive team was either tied or trailed by 7 points or fewer going into the drive.
Of those 125 drives, only 50 (or 40%) saw the offensive team score what they needed to either tie the game or take the lead. Great QBs tended to have better success rates than average in those situations; Tom Brady, for instance, went 5-for-11 (46%), while Drew Brees went 3-for-6 (50%) and Aaron Rodgers was 3-for-4 (75%). Josh Allen and Jeff Garcia each went a perfect 2-for-2 in their drives.
But only one QB has been an absolute outlier of perfection in this statistic:
Unfortunately, it was the guy the Niners were playing against on Sunday.
BC
Along those lines, Shanahan has stated that he took the ball first because each team was only guaranteed one series and the third series was sudden death and he wanted the ball for the third series. Mahomes said it would never have gotten to that point because if the 49ers had scored a TD with a conventional extra point, then KC would have driven for a TD and gone for two points and the win. Which Mahomes, most likely, would have gotten, based on the above.
Then the take is - doesn’t matter what they did. Mahomes was going to beat them. Shanahan’s decision was logical and defensible. Particularly when you add that the defense had just been on an 11 play drive. And needed the rest.
I didn’t think about the third drive in real time. Obviously the staff had done some analysis. Right move? Wrong move? To me that’s not the question. Was it thought out. Yes. Is it logical. Yes. They lost so all us folks, sitting comfortably on our tush can point and say - “bad”.
20-20 hindsight. There’s no substitute.
I'll respond to your comments, then give you the last word. I know having the last word is important to you, so it's all yours...
Forget about losing his third Super Bowl with a double digit lead. Put that to the side for the moment.
Shanahan hired every coach and every player. He has the ultimate responsibility. When he hired Wilks, he knew he was unfamiliar with the defensive system, and that he concentrated on DBs when the 49er defense is based on DL first, LBs second, and DBs third. Ditto the special teams coach, ditto hiring Moody as the kicker. And his unceremonious dispatch of Wilks reminds me of Eddie DeBartolo's "He's gone" comment on Marc Trestman, after Trestman's offense finished third in the NFL in points scored (and first in the NFL his prior year), but was unceremoniously dismissed by the 49ers owner.
Wilks' defense gave up 19 points in regular time. During the season, 11 of KC's opponents gave up more, seven gave up less, two gave up the same. Wilks -- like Trestman -- ranked third in the NFL in points allowed. Wilks did good things, he shut down the Detroit Lions with halftime adjustments. Shanahan hired and managed him. That's on Shanahan. And I'll use your points...Wilks didn't injure Greenlaw or Hufanga, or draft or trade for the players on defense. He coached who he was given, including the 49ers' DBs. He wasn't responsible for the OT coin-flip strategy, that was on Shanahan.
Shanahan's juggernaut offense scored 19 in regulation against the Chiefs. Eight teams scored more against the Chiefs this season. I would have expected more than 19 from Shanahan's high powerd offense with high powered players. It wasn't Wilks' choice to abandon the run in the 3rd quarter, and he didn't let an extra point be blocked. He didn't blow protection on Purdy's last pass, that was an OL hired by Lynch and Shanahan and given the starting assignment and coached by a Shanahan-hired and managed coach.
And special teams, including the hiring and management of the coach, is on Shanahan.
Wilks has been scapegoated by a coach who can't win the Big One.
Now you can have the last word. I won't respond.
Audaces fortuna iuvat