49ers open preseason with 27-17 victory at Kansas City.
Shanahan era begins with some good, some bad and ultimately a victory in preseason opener
Kyle Shanahan’s debut Friday night as the 49ers coach, albeit an exhibition opener, didn’t start off much differently than his recent predecessors’ struggles.
The defense immediately caved, the offense backfired and the opponent looked superior from the outset.
But, hey, this is a new era, and the 49ers actually came back and won, which is welcome for a franchise coming off a 2-14 season.
“I was happy with the guys how they battled, and to get a win is important, I don’t care where it is,” Shanahan said after the 27-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Well, it was a good start to this rebuilding season for their firstround draft picks, Reuben Foster and Solomon Thomas. Foster broke up a pass in the end zone as he started alongside NaVorro Bowman, and Thomas applied pressure that led to an interception.
Offensively, however, this wasn’t an encouraging first im-
pression by the 49ers starters: two series, seven snaps, three yards.
Brian Hoyer completed only 1 of 4 passes, and the lone reception went for 3 yards to running back Carlos Hyde. Hoyer did thread a third-and-long pass to Jeremy Kerley, only to have it nullified by one of the 49ers’ 17 penalties.
“We never got a chance to get Carlos in a rhythm, or really the whole first offense,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan looked composed in his sideline debut. He paced with his play sheet while relaying in offensive calls. He peaked at video images on a tablet when the 49ers defense was on the field. And, for the record, he lost his first replay challenge on a Chiefs reception.
“It’s a work in progress,” Shanahan said of adjusting to his new role. “I enjoyed it. It was the same as usual calling plays, but it definitely was different.”
Beside Foster and Thomas, other rookies had their moments, including running backs Joe Williams and Matt Breida, wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Trent Taylor, starting free safety Lorenzo Jerome and quarterback C.J. Beathard, who threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes.
Tyler McCloskey provided the go-ahead points on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Beathard, who earlier connected with Bourne on a 48-yard touchdown pass and an ensuing two-point conversion pass to tie the score at 17.
THREE IMPRESSIONS
1. RUSHING DEFENSE >> New defensive coordinator Robert Saleh vowed his unit would stop the run and make it their No. 1 priority, after allowing the most rushing yards in team history and 25 rushing touchdowns last season. On the opening drive, Saleh’s unit
gave up a 10-yard run on third-and-7, and a 2-yard touchdown run.
2. QB SITUATION >> Hoyer’s seven-snap cameo won’t threaten his stranglehold on the starting spot. Matt Barkley (10 of 17, 168 yards) fared OK as the No. 2 QB, and he showed touch on a play-action pass to Garrett Celek for 24 yards. Rookie Beathard hung tough in the pocket and engineered the fourth-quarter rally. FYI: Ex-49ers quarterback Alex Smith went 4 of 6 for 48 yards while only playing the Chiefs’ first series.
3. PENALTIES >> An astounding 17 penalties is troubling, as was the variety of infractions: illegal formation, unnecessary roughness, facemask, holding, false start, pass interference, etc.
THREE WHO HELPED THEMSELVES
1. DEFENSIVE TACKLE SOLOMON THOMAS >> His pressure against the right guard nearly resulted in a sack and instead it produced an interception by Rashard Robinson. 2. DEFENSIVE END AARON LYNCH >> Two sacks, a tacklefor-a-loss and a third-down pass breakup certainly help open his contract year, even if he was dominating backups. 3. WIDE RECEIVER ALDRICK
ROBINSON >> His nice, openfield move resulted in 35 yards after the catch on a 63-yard reception. He also had a 20-yard catch to inspire hopes of him as a complementary target.
THREE WHO HURT THEMSELVES
1. CORNERBACK RASHARD
ROBINSON >> An acrobatic interception took the sting off a rough start. He allowed a 33-yard reception on the first snap, and he later missing a third-down tackle at the 8-yard line. He gave up a 29-yard catch on the Chiefs’ second series, but rebounded three snaps later with the interception. 2. RUNNING BACK KAPRI BIBBS >> His poor blocking resulted in a blocked punt in the third quarter. He’s already behind two rookies
on the running back depth chart, so this doesn’t help. 3. SAFETY CHANCELLER
JAMES >> His pass-interference penalty on tight end Gavin Escobar gave the Chiefs first-and-goal from the 1. Two snaps later, Chiefs rookie Patrick Mahomes threw a touchdown pass for a 17-9 lead.
EXTRA POINTS
• DeForest Buckner aggravated an ankle injury on the first series and did not return, although it did not appear serious.
• Thomas had his neck and shoulder areas examined in the fourth quarter but did not appear to have sustained a serious injury.
• All 49ers players stood for the national anthem, including Eric Reid and Eli Harold, who knelt last season with Colin Kaepernick. None raised a fist in protest of racial inequality, and the majority put their hands over their hearts.