fearsomefour
Legend
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2013
- Messages
- 17,135
It’s amazing was a massive infusion of talent can do for a coach.Before I get to McVay, let’s take a glance at Kyle Shanahan. McVay appeared to OWN HIM for two years but I saw it differently. My eyes told me Shanny had a superior game plan a couple times but players like Aaron Donald wrecked it. The Niners looked bad for two years. He was roundly criticized for the Falcons’ SB loss. Suddenly this year, he has the top team in the NFC (last night’s loss notwithstanding).
Next, let’s consider Mike Tomlin. In my 55 years, I’ve never seen a coach with a lead go for it on 4th down on his half of the field late in a game his defense dominated. Brilliant, Ballsy, Unprecedented! Yet this is a coach who was criticized for his handling of Bell and Brown.
How about the curious case of Wade Phillips. He’s been fired more times than a turret on the USS Arkansas. Yet he leads the most effective unit on the team after two years of leading the least effective unit.
Finally, I invoke the name we all despise most... Bill Belichick. Wasn’t he fired by the Browns after four losing seasons of 6,7,7,5 wins per?
My point is, often a coach “appears” to be only as good as the collective around him. This OLine is every bit as abysmal as I’ve ever witnessed. Under these conditions, no coordination is possible for success. So my suggestion, as many others have said, would logically to be to evolve to a short passing game and principles based on different personnel packages. Yet this is the year Goff has been given more ownership of the offense and we have subs who have limited reps with this one scheme. Are we really suggesting reinventing all this midseason and invite even more mistakes? While Brown and Henderson were running into brick walls, we think Gurley should’ve been the one absorbing the blows?
Understand, McVay is ultimately responsible for the direction of the team. Adjustments are necessary from game to game and play to play. McVay could do better...but could that not be said of all 32 head coaches? If a handful of plays go differently, this is 7-2 team. While many of the suggestions registered here have merit, I only ask for two things before we continue:
Perspective and Context
Shanny has a nice and clever offense.
The main difference this year is there is just much more talent on the roster.