Four Questions: 49ers Great When They Have To Be
The 49ers won a six-minute game against Green Bay, and a 30-minute game over Detroit, now they’ll need 60 minutes to beat defending champion Kansas City in the Super Bowl.
On paper, the Chiefs should repeat, it’s Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. The Niners can win it, but the team that wiped the field with Philadelphia needs to show up, not the playoff version that’s survived the last two weeks.
What lessons can Kyle Shanahan draw from the playoffs?
Kansas City won the AFC Championship when Baltimore’s first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken responded to an 8-man box by abandoning the run early. The Ravens lost their primary matchup advantage. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo baited Monken into playing a one-dimensional game.
Shanahan made Monken’s mistake a month ago against Baltimore by throwing too many passes. Kansas City’s defense is 26th in run defense efficiency, Shanahan must not abandon the run at any point in the Super Bowl, or he will meet Monken’s fate.
The 49ers have been stopped by simulated pressure and defenses with a great back seven, Kansas City has both. Shanahan will need to deliver his best game plan of the year in Las Vegas.
What are your takeaways from Brandon Aiyuk’s circus catch?
Brock Purdy converting the greatest HORSE shot of all time to win the NFC Championship is a highlight in his upcoming Disney movie starring Tom Holland. Some would call it "Haters of the Last Pick," but I prefer "Brock To The Future."
Kindle Vildor sounds like a character in Star Wars, not a starting cornerback. Now he becomes Detroit’s Jaquiski Tartt.
For Aiyuk, this is a well-earned elevation. He doesn’t have big numbers in the playoffs, but he’s been undeniably clutch. A star play in the biggest moment should help end the Pro Bowl snubs and assist in contract extension talks. Many knew what Aiyuk could do and has done. Now that expands.
How does the NFC look next year?
Ben Johnson just turned down potential head coach offers to stay in Detroit, saying he wants to win a Super Bowl. The Lions have to pay Jared Goff so it falls to GM Brad Holmes, one of the league’s best talent evaluators, to deliver another bumper crop draft to shore up their defense.
Green Bay was the youngest team in the playoffs, they will also need to focus on the back seven and draft well. Given Aaron Jones’ importance and injury history, I think they also need to look at improving their depth at running back.
Philadelphia shuffles coordinators, adding Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore. The Eagles are rumored to lose legends to retirement in Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox, though Kelce is sending mixed signals. Philly with a mortal offensive line but a better back seven will be a very different look.
Dallas kept Mike McCarthy. This is the second time Jerry Jones has retained a coach under fire through the final year of his contract. McCarthy as a possible lame-duck coach next year does the Cowboys no favors.
The Rams have rebuilt and have a full draft cupboard for the first time in years.
Seattle adds Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as head coach in a brilliant hire. His schemes have confused and shut down Shanahan offenses for two years.
Arizona is in a position to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. and give Kyler Murray an elite wide receiver.
The Niners will need to react to Detroit and Green Bay running on them and the rest of the NFC throwing on them to impact receivers. At the same time, they'll need to shore up the offensive line.
Initial thoughts on what the Niners might do against Kansas City?
On offense, the first thing is to play to their strengths. Shanahan can overthink it and get lost in the tactical weeds scheming against scheme when he needs to go strength on strength.
Regardless of what Kansas City shows on defense, the Niners have the league’s best running back, left tackle, and blocking skill players. Attack.
Spagnuolo loves to blitz, the Niners have the league’s best YAC players - plan accordingly. Kansas City takes away intermediate to deep with an excellent secondary, the Niners need to set up a blocking wall and throw short.
This is not a game for Purdy to prove himself intermediate to deep, this is a game of five-to-ten-yard plays relentlessly.
On defense, Mahomes doesn’t throw picks or get sacked so speed him up. Send six in cover zero on 3rd and long, both to close the scrambling gaps and force Mahomes to throw it away.
Do what Baltimore did not, jam Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice at the line.
The Chiefs run a lot of 12 and 13 personnel, anticipate it with five-man fronts, sit Ambry Thomas, and move Deommodore Lenoir outside. Focus on tight man coverage outside and power up front. React to what hasn’t worked in the playoffs. Sitting back with "we’ll let our front four win and play soft zone behind them" will get shredded.
Mask coverages and send unexpected blitzes. Be creative. Mix it up.
The Niners have been outcoached in the first half throughout the playoffs, they cannot afford that now. They need to come out ready and be the aggressor.
This is the opportunity the team, Shanahan, and John Lynch have waited for, a career culmination for Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey. It's time.
