Shanahan on clock flub: ‘a very bad feeling’
A few hours after the Miami Miracle, Kyle Shanahan was afraid his team might be part of the Santa Clara Stunner.
On Sunday, 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens mismanaged the clock near the end of a 20-14 win over the Broncos at Levi’s Stadium. As a result, the 49ers didn’t end the game with a kneel-down by Mullens, but gave the ball back to Denver, which ran a final play from its 39-yard line with five seconds left.
Unlike the Dolphins, who had pulled off a final-play, multilateral, 69-yard touchdown earlier in the day to beat New England 34-33, the Broncos didn’t have a miracle: The game ended when a lateral by wide receiver Tim Patrick rolled out of bounds near midfield.
Did thoughts of the Miami Miracle cross Shanahan’s mind before the last snap?
“Yes,” Shanahan said. “It was a very bad feeling.”
Why did Denver get another play? Mullens lost track of downs. Before his final snap, on fourth down, Mullens peered at the scoreboard, which hadn’t been updated.
“He looked right up at the scoreboard and you can see it on tape the scoreboard says 3rd-and-12,” when it actually was 4th-and-14, Shanahan said. “… He snapped it with (seven) seconds left on the play clock, thinking he was going to able to do it again on fourth down. But that was fourth down.”
Said Mullens: “I’ve just got to control the situation better and not be stupid.”
Mullens’ clock-management issues began on second down when the ball was snapped with about seven seconds left on the play clock.
Shanahan noted his lategame management also needed some work. He took off his headset in the final seconds and began hugging his assistants to celebrate a bit prematurely.
“It’s a good learning lesson for (Mullens) that you snap it with one second no matter what,” Shanahan said. “You don’t pay attention to the scoreboard because they’re not always on it. And your coach should never take his headset off.” Not fine with penalty: Shanahan said he will appeal the $25,000 NFL fine he received for screaming an obscenity at an official that drew an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty in a 43-16 loss at Seattle on Dec. 2.
Shanahan has said he was wrong to curse at the official and has pledged that it won’t happen again. However, his appeal apparently will be based on the fact that an official’s inaction inspired his reaction.
Shanahan was upset when inside linebacker Fred Warner lost his shoe, which was subsequently thrown backward — further behind the line of scrimmage — by Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. The officials didn’t stop play to allow Warner to retrieve his shoe, and the 49ers were flagged for being offside.
“What I would like?” Shanahan said. “For common sense to prevail and allow the guy to get his shoe that was thrown. And stop” the clock.
Asked about Wilson’s toss of Warner’s shoe, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll deadpanned: “I thought it showed great conscientious thought by Russell to try to make sure the playing field was as safe and secure as possible for all players.” Injury report: Defensive end Cassius Marsh (concussion), linebacker Mark Nzeocha (groin), safety Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder), cornerback K’Waun Williams (knee) and left tackle Joe Staley (rest day) did not practice.
Five players were limited: running back Matt Breida (ankle), defensive tackle D.J. Jones (back), center Weston Richburg (knee), linebacker Malcolm Smith (Achilles) and guard Laken Tomlinson (hip).