Shanahan explains 49ers’ wide receiver woes
SANTA CLARA — Kendrick Bourne, passes are still coming your way.
Dante Pettis, welcome back to the doghouse.
That’s one way to interpret the message San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan delivered in the wake of Monday night’s 2724 overtime defeat to the Seattle Seahawks, in which Bourne and Pettis each had a pair of untimely drops.
On Pettis, Shanahan said Tuesday: “The more he doesn’t take advantage of his opportunities, the less opportunities he gets.”
These are not new issues. The 49ers’ young receivers, including rookie Deebo Samuel and second-year slot man Richie James Jr., have been inconsistent in their ball-catching ability, as has veteran Marquise Goodwin, whose third-down drop at the 8yard line on Monday’s opening series set the tone for a bad night by the receiving corps.
Such concerns prompted the 49ers to acquire Emmanuel Sanders in an Oct. 22 trade, and after reaping immediate dividends from him, the 49ers may have to get by without him because of a rib injury. Sanders left in the second quarter against the Seahawks and will be a gametime decision Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals visit, as is tight end Geoge Kittle (knee, ankle).
OK, so back to Bourne and Pettis, a duo that’s battled drops since Jimmy Garoppolo reported in April for his comeback season.
Shanahan expressed more patience and confidence in Bourne,
although not excusing his two big drops Monday. The first resulted in a Seahawks interception, and later came a drop at the 10-yard line to force the 49ers to settle for a tying field goal with 6 minutes left in regulation.
“Bourne has as good of hands as anyone in this league,” Shanahan said. “Sometimes when you do (drop), you don’t focus, you don’t concentrate on it because you aren’t scared of dropping it. That’s why you see some guys like Odell Beckham, at a time he had more drops than anyone in the league, and that guys’ hands are as good as anyone.
“Those are two very big drops Bourne had. That doesn’t mean we are not going to keep going to him. He’s made a lot of big catches for us.”
Bourne had a trio of third-down conversions before halftime, including a 10yard touchdown catch for a 10-0 lead. His drops weighed on him afterward.
“I am just down on myself because those type of things can happen,” Bourne said after the game. “It is just about focusing in on the ball, because I know I can catch the ball. It is not hard. Sometimes you just squeeze it harder than other situations. When I am wide open I tend to get more relaxed than when someone is on me.”
Pettis had no catches on three targets, the final of which he dropped across the middle on second-and-10 of their final possession.
“He’s had a number of opportunities,” Shanahan said of Pettis, a 2018 secondround pick. “I’m one of the guys who believes in him the most. That’s why he’s here. And he’s had his opportunities.”
Pettis has caught 11 of 24 targets for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
“He did get a couple (targets) last night because of injury and I didn’t think he made them. We’ll see how this week goes. Dante has the ability. We’re waiting for him to pick it up and have consistency and take advantage of some of these opportunities he’s got.”
Pettis had only one pass targeted his way the previous game, and he caught it for a touchdown in that win on Halloween at Arizona.
That was one of Jimmy Garoppolo’s career-high four touchdown passes that night. But on Monday night, his passes weren’t all spirals, and Shanahan said his quarterback will look at improving his ball placement.
“But when a ball touches the receivers hands, the receiver needs to make that play,” Shanahan said. “I know our guys are capable. We had some big ones last night that really hurt us. It’s not something you can avoid or hide from.”
It appeared eight passes could be classified as drops: two by Pettis, Bourne and Goodwin, plus one apiece by Deebo Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk.
Added Shanahan: “Those guys have to bounce back. I know last night was a tough game for our group, but we have three days of practice to get the confidence back in their hands. I’m definitely not going to let it affect me as far as a playcaller (this) Sunday.”