Shanahan, Sherman defend Saleh following loss
GREEN BAY, WIS. >> As guilty as the 49ers offense was for failing to get a first down on its final three series, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s unit couldn’t stop Aaron Rodgers from rallying for a 3330, Packers victory.
Afterward, coach Kyle Shanahan and cornerback Richard Sherman staunchly defended Saleh, whose become a hot-button topic among frustrated fans.
Rodgers produced a game-tying touchdown pass with 1:55 remaining, then led the winning drive in the final 1:07 that led to Mason Crosby’s walk-off, 27-yard field goal.
Asked if he had a say in any of the defense at the end, Shanahan replied: “I could have say but I’m not going to just hop into it a defense and start calling plays. That’s on Saleh. Saleh’s very good at what he does. I have a ton of confidence in him and a ton of confidence in our scheme.
“They made the plays to win at the end. We didn’t.”
Earlier Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the first team to fire a defensive coordinator, doing so with Mike Smith. Saleh is in his second season as a first-time coordinator and Shanahan has never hinted at making a switch.
Sherman blamed a lot of the 49ers bad plays on the players failure to execute, and he took accountability for an illegal-contact penalty that nullified DeForest Buckner’s third-down sack on the final drive.
“I hear a lot of stuff out there blaming the coaches and Saleh and the DB coach. It’s like, it doesn’t really matter,” Sherman said. “If you call the perfect call and they don’t run the play the way you call it, what else can you do? If you call man and you don’t take the man, it’s going to lead to a big play.
“People don’t know ball,” Sherman added. “This is one of the most sounds scheme in football. When you don’t play sound, it can lead to busts. …He’s called great games and continues to call great games. We’ve got to find a way to reward him and finish.”
• One of the biggest surprises was not that Matt Breida battled through an ankle injury, but that Raheem Mostert served as the No. 2 back instead of Alfred Morris. Mostert had a career-high 87 yards (12 carries) while Breida started and produced 61 yards (14 carries).
Shanahan sided with Mostert after an impressive showing in practice, adding: “We didn’t know whether we’d have Breida until today. We worked (Mostert) a lot during the week and he had a real good week of practice. He was up to the challenge and did a real good job.”
• For the second straight game, the 49ers opened with a touchdown drive, marching 75 yards in seven plays and capping it with a 3-yard scoring run by Breida. The 49ers also scored on their opening drive against the Cardinals, only to fall apart after that in a five-turnover loss (28-18).
And just like last game, the 49ers defense blew it in pass coverage on its first snap, allowing a 60-yard reception to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the 17. Sherman, who was on the other side of the field, blamed that on a blown coverage.
• Shanahan did not dispute a report they may bring in former Houston Texans starter Tom Savage as a No. 3 quarterback. “He’s one of the guys we’re looking into. We have to see how this roster is,” Shanahan said. “We’ve been wanting to add a third one since we lost Jimmy. We’ll see how these guys are health wise. If we can, we’d like to get a third win in here.” Nick Mullens has yet to take a NFL snap and was summoned from the practice squad after Jimmy Garoppolo’s Week 3 injury.