Head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Shanahan, warms up before the team plays the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Morgan Tencza
Head coach of the San Francisco 49ers Kyle Shanahan hinted at his first move against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers will play the 49ers in the Divisional Round on Saturday in San Francisco.
During the Packers’ opening drive against the Dallas Cowboys last weekend, Love put up a strong showing. Against the Cowboys, the Packers made the decision to take the ball rather than delay. Most NFL teams wouldn’t choose to make that choice.
But for Green Bay, it was worthwhile.After 12 plays and 75 yards, the Packers scored a touchdown run of three yards by Aaron Jones. When the Packers stunned the Cowboys last week, they never looked back.
The San Francisco 49ers want to defer Saturday
This week, reporters questioned Shanahan about the 49ers’ potential to start the game on offense rather than giving Love a chance to get hot early on. Shanahan answered, “Nope,” in a comment that 49ers Webzone obtained a transcript of.
Shanahan believes Love can find rhythm at any point in the match:
“I believe he can also have rhythm at the start of the third quarter.” He also seemed to have nice rhythm on the second drive, in my opinion. It’s just everyone’s preference, I don’t think it’s because he started with the ball personally. Gaining a significant lead is always a good idea.
It’s also advantageous to score near the end of the second quarter and recover the ball first, like Dallas did. If they had scored in the first third and Green Bay had not responded, they would have immediately been back in the game.
If I sensed that our team was having difficulty with something, I may alter your opinion. Usually, I believe that to be coincidence. Usually, when you play good football, you score. You don’t when things don’t happen.
Kyle Shanahan is opposed to Jordan Love obtaining property.
When Shanahan initially joined the league, he wasn’t always of the opinion that waiting until the second half was important. However, he believes that the best way to give the 49ers an extra possession is to defer:
Indeed, merely to sort of outdo them. That is the benefit. If not, I believe things usually work out evenly. However, you have an opportunity to obtain an additional possession. I’ve been listening to people for the past fifteen years, but I didn’t know this or consider it before. Growing up and when I initially joined the League, I didn’t give it much thought, but after seeing it all now and really researching it when I was in Atlanta, I can’t help but feel strongly about it.
Against the Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers get off to a fast start with the ball.
Shanahan doesn’t appear concerned that this weekend’s events in San Francisco will be similar to those in Dallas. He also shouldn’t because the 49ers are a far better team than the Cowboys in terms of depth. Additionally, Shanahan is a superior coach than Mike McCarthy.
On Saturday, though, the 49ers need to be ready for the Packers to come out swinging. Because they are playing as though they have nothing to lose, the Packers are a dangerous team. If the 49ers score first against this Packers club, they might limit the Packers’ expectations.
However, it’s unlikely that will occur if Shanahan waits until the second half.
