Niners give up 20 4th-quarter points in loss to Seahawks.
Niners braintrust’s most crucial task is finding a QB
In Kyle Shanahan’s four seasons at the helm of the 49ers, he has led his team to the playoffs just once. Typically, that kind of track record would leave a head coach on edge going into Black Monday.
But Shanahan was anything but worried about his job after a 6-10 season.
“I’m excited this year is over and now it’s time to figure out how to improve us,” he said after Sunday’s 26-23 season- ending loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Of course, Shanahan is right to not be worried. Less than a year ago, he
had the 49ers in the Super Bowl.
But he’s also right to be thinking about next season nine months out.
To start, San Francisco’s roster has 27 unrestricted free agents and 11 more restricted free agents this offseason. That’s as tough a spot as any in the NFL.
And while Shanahan and general manager John Lynch’s decisions on each of those free agents are important — those choices will determine the Niners’ success next season — nothing compares to the importance of the Niners’ braintrust making the right moves at the quarterback position in the coming months.
What Shanahan and Lynch do at the most important position in professional sports will likely determine how successful we’ll view their overall tenure in Santa Clara.
Yes, this offseason is critical and pivotal to the direction of the Niners.
Were they a one-hit-wonder, or are they an organization you can count on to compete for division, conference, and league titles year-in, year- out?
I think they can be the latter, but they need to overhaul their quarterback room in a serious way.
Let me ask you this: How many games do you think the Niners would have won had they put competent quarterback play on the field for all 16 games this season?
They won six — and were in a whole mess of other games — with only brief flashes of competence in 2020.
Perhaps Jimmy Garoppolo is that competent quarterback in 2021. But he’s expensive and untrustworthy — even if you’re somehow sure of him when he’s on the field (a big ask, if you ask me), you can’t guarantee he’ll stay healthy.
And we certainly know that C. J. Beathard and Nick Mullens aren’t the answer at the most important position in professional sports.
There are competent quarterbacks to be had elsewhere. Perhaps one can be found in the draft — the Niners have the No. 12 overall pick in April. Or maybe there’s an upgrade to Garoppolo available via trade or free agency as well. Matt Stafford or Matt Ryan would look nice in San Francisco’s offense.
Regardless, changes need to be made. Despite all the injuries, this team was too good, too talented, to finish with six wins.
The best teams in the NFL can win with backup quarterbacks. New Orleans ssometimes looks better with Drew Brees’ backups — Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston — in the game. Having seen the highs and lows of Mullens and Beathard for a second go-around this season, it seems downright miraculous that the Niners won even six games.
And it can’t be overlooked that the Niners seemed to struggle to win with their starting quarterback.
There’s no easy choice — no obvious answer. There’s a serious risk in running it back with Garoppolo under center. But there’s also a risk in going to someone else, especially a rookie.
And it’s important to remember, again, that we are less than a year removed from the Niners’ Super Bowl LIV loss and Garoppolo’s eyes- closed interception and fourth- quarter implosion.
Every team says it wants to win a title, but there’s a difference between when the Jaguars or Jets say that and when the 49ers push the narrative. Around these parts, that standard is actually upheld — it’s title or bust.
So many things about this Niners organization are titleworthy. If you weren’t convinced of that watching this team fight hard and play reasonably well in meaningless games, then I can’t help you.
Yes, it takes a team to win a championship, but that team better have a top-notch quarterback at the helm.
If you can’t get top-notch, at least make sure that you can trot out competent for all 16 games. Because no one wants to watch another season like the one that just ended.