Shanahan system breaking new ground with Niners
Since the embryonic stages of their dynasty back in the early 1980s, the 49ers always have been known for offense. Explosive offense. Innovative offense. Record-setting offense. Championship offense.
It all started with Bill Walsh, of course, who eventually handed off the play-calling reins to Mike Holmgren, who then handed them to Mike Shanahan. Quite a lineage there. From Marc Trestman to Steve Mariucci to the slew of offensive honchos that followed them, the 49ers ever since have been trying to find their way back to the days when San Francisco was synonymous with tantalizingly dynamic offense.
Before the 49ers even take their first snap in the 2017 season, it wouldn’t be outrageous to say they already are on the way there under a new regime — as laughable as that might sound to most outsiders.
Of course, it’s very early. But an offense that finished 31st among 32 teams in the NFL rankings last season has a completely new look now with Kyle Shanahan running it.
And while nobody sensible is even close yet to comparing Shanahan’s model to the San Francisco attacks produced by his father and the other great San Francisco offensive masterminds of yore, there is little question that the potential is there for him to follow in their footsteps — and for the 49ers to become a legitimate force on offense once again.
Will that happen sooner rather than later for a team coming off back-to-back losing seasons? That is the question facing the 49ers this season as an overhauled roster attempts to soak it all in and learn the intricacies and finer details of Shanahan’s system.
This story is from the August 28, 2017 edition of Niner Report.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 28, 2017 edition of Niner Report.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Set 49ers lineup still has several new starters
Calling all cornerbacks
Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB
Always finding their way to run
49ers system accomplished at developing homegrown talent
ANOTHER COMEBACK?
Resilient veteran Verrett to miss rest of season
TOP 10 Rookie running backs
THE BACK LIST
STOCK UP STOCK DOWN
DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS
Will Mostert run for 49ers again?
Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.
THE WONDER OF WARNER
49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL
Making the right choice at QB
In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
