49ers’ Shanahan turns to Beathard at QB
Hoyer benched in first half as switch on offense leads to rally in loss to Washington
For six weeks, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan preached patience. As his team’s winless streak reached five games, the first-year head coach resisted the urge to make drastic changes. Four losses by three points or fewer — two of them in overtime — gave Shanahan hope that his squad was close.
But on Sunday, with San Francisco in a two-touchdown hole midway through the second quarter, Shanahan’s patience ran out at the quarterback position, and he benched ninth-year veteran Brian Hoyer — a journeyman signed this offseason — for rookie C.J. Beathard.
The third-round pick out of Iowa gave San Francisco a spark. He and his teammates reeled off
17 unanswered points to tie the score entering the fourth quarter.
And when Washington took a nine-point, late-game lead, Beathard threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to pull his team within
26-24 with two minutes left. But the result was the same. A sixth consecutive loss, another narrow margin. San Francisco on Sunday became the first team in NFL history to lose five games by three points or fewer.
But players and coaches agree on one thing.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” wide receiver Pierre Garcon said. “I guess (that shows) going from three-point (loss) to two points. … (Shanahan) is doing a good thing. … We’re coming along, and it takes time. … (Beathard) did well. He came in and helped us out. We moved the ball down the field, checked some plays and scored touchdowns, which we needed. He just needs more experience.”
Although Shanahan just last week had talked publicly about the need for patience, internally he weighed his options at quarterback, and with Hoyer struggling and the offense having gained only 32 yards through 11⁄ quarters, Shanahan said he “went with my gut.”
Beathard — grandson of Bobby Beathard, the architect of the Redskins’ Super Bowl teams of the 1980s — was coming off of two strong weeks of practice, and so Shanahan made the move.
Beathard came close to directing a potential game-winning drive, completing a pass to the Washington 40 with 38 seconds left. But an offensive pass interference call shortly after moved San Francisco out of field goal range. His interception with three seconds left sealed the defeat.
But Beathard’s play prompted Shanahan to confirm he will remain the starter.
“It wasn’t perfect, but we’ve got a tough guy that hangs in there and makes things happen,” Shanahan said.
The decision at quarterback represented the second big decision Shanahan had made in the last three days as he and general manager John Lynch continue to try to lay the foundation for this rebuilding project while also trying to win.
On Friday the team released four-time all-pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, granting the 2010 third-round pick and longtime face of the defense’s request. In recent weeks, Bowman, who missed all but four games last season because of a torn Achilles, had seen his playing time decreased as coaches gave backup Brock Coyle more playing time.
Rumors swirled that Shanahan and Lynch also sought a trade partner for running back Carlos Hyde. Shanahan on Sunday called those reports “absolutely 100% false.” But the fourth-year veteran has split time with rookie Matt Breida as of late as Shanahan considers every solution for improvement.
Veterans in the locker room have taken note of the moves, but because of the way Shanahan communicates and carries himself, they say they understand and appreciate the coach’s decisionmaking.
“He’s making decisions that are best for the team,” safety Eric Reid said. “That’s how he approaches every day, and we respect that as players. We’ve seen the progress from last year. We’ve just got to get over the hump.”
Shanahan’s leave-no-stone-unturned approach stems from the lessons he has learned not only as an assistant in the NFL the last 13 years but also from growing up as the son of two-time Super Bowl- winning coach Mike Shanahan, who spent three seasons as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator
(1992-94), helping the 49ers win the Super Bowl in his final season before going to Denver as head coach.
The elder Shanahan, whom Kyle coached under as offensive coordinator in Washington from
2010 to 2013, always stressed the importance of attention to detail and demanding and expecting perfection in every area of an organization.
Kyle Shanahan now finds himself applying those lessons while also developing his own philosophies. Balance is key as he works to win games by relying on veterans and also build for the future while grooming young players. But Shanahan believes it’s possible to do both, and effectively.
“I think you do everything you can to give yourself the best chance to win now without sacrificing the future. I take it all into account. There’s not just an easy answer that veterans give you the best chance to win, but you’re not developing the younger guys. Guys compete. They compete every day in practice. They compete on the field, and you try to do what’s best for your team that gives you a chance to win every week.”