Niners coach keeps faith in counterpart Gase, Sam
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan believes the Jets need to be patient with head coach Adam Gase and quarterback Sam Darnold.
“Adam has been great with quarterbacks,” Shanahan, whose 49ers face the Jets Sunday at MetLife Stadium, said. “They all like working for him. He’s a guy that you can carry conversations with. It’s not just a one-way street. I know Adam’s working his tail off to help improve things around Sam. You guys just stay patient with both of them, and they’ll end up coming through.”
Shanahan is considered one of the best offensive minds in the NFL. He said he has studied Darnold since he was at USC and believes he has what it takes to be successful in the NFL.
“I’m a big fan of Sam’s,”
Shanahan said. “He’s a very good player. He’s going to have a very good career in this league. He makes a lot of plays. If you’re not on your stuff, if you let him get comfortable back there, he’ll pick you apart as good as any quarterback. He can throw it very well and he sees the field extremely well. We’ve just got to make sure not to let him get comfortable because when he does, he’ll show everyone why he’s that good.”
Shanahan can relate to what Gase is going through. He inherited a terrible team in San Francisco. The 49ers went 6-10 and 4-12 in his first two seasons before going 13-3 last year and making it to the Super Bowl.
“When you take over a team and are trying to take it over the hump, it’s always a challenge,” Shanahan said.
“You’ve got to change the culture. You’ve got to find a way to win. There’s lots of ups and downs when you’re going through that. I’ve been there plenty of times. You’ve just got to block out the noise and stick with what you believe in and keep training guys to do it and go one direction.”
The Jets signed LB Alec Ogletree to the active roster off of their practice squad. The former Giant could be in line to start after Blake Cashman was placed on injured reserve last week with a groin injury. The team also elevated RB Josh Adams and WR Josh Malone off the practice squad for Sunday’s game with the 49ers. The Jets elevated the same two last week off the practice squad. Adams scored a touchdown in last week’s game.