Breaking down 49ers GM John Lynch’s NFL Network TV spot
Earlier this week, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch stopped by NFL Network to discuss rebuild plans. Here’s what he had to say.
One of the more noticeable differences between the current 49ers regime and the one that was just replaced is the amount of visibility the former is displaying compared to the latter.
With Trent Baalke in place, the 49ers provided limited media access in terms of making certain individuals available to talk — it would be rare to see Baalke doing a TV hit.
Now, with John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan in place, it’s much different. They’re at the forefront of the rebuild movement and are being made to be the true faces of the franchise.
San Francisco 49ers
This has been evident in terms of media appearances, as well as access (see Peter King’s MMQB piece on the 49ers during draft weekend).
The media tour kept rolling, with Lynch appearing on NFL Network to talk about his time in San Francisco and his thoughts on the team.
Brian Hoyer’s the starter — for now
Obviously, the team is searching for a franchise quarterback.
Lynch said himself and Shanahan both value the position highly. The pair know that without one, the team will only go so far. It was mentioned in their first meetings together, so it’s a point of emphasis for them.
In the offseason, San Francisco signed free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer to a two-year, $12 million deal to be the presumptive starter.
Hoyer played with Shanahan in Cleveland from 2013-2014, where he enjoyed the best season of his career. In 2014, he passed for 3,326 yards with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
For the 49ers, this a guy viewed more of short-term than long-term.
“Right now, we got Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley and Beathard who we drafted from Iowa,” said Lynch. “Do we have that franchise guy? I don’t know. We’re hoping one of those guys — right now, it’s Brian Hoyer and we’re hoping he takes it and runs with it. I can tell you this, we’re committed to finding that guy but we’re very happy with what we have right now.”
That doesn’t like a resounding ring of endorsement for the current guys at the position and it shows they don’t view the present options as viable ones.
The last sentence makes it all the more likely a 2018 run at potential free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, or if that doesn’t pan out, a look at next year’s draft top quarterbacks prospects which is said to be rich.
The point is, Lynch is content with Hoyer for now — a rebuild project, not a finished one.
Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster a “nucleus”
One of the biggest achievements thus far of the Lynch Era is the drafting of defensive end Solomon Thomas and linebacker Reuben Foster. Both were highly rated by a number of teams and San Francisco managed to acquire both due to a marvelous trade facilitated by the 49ers.
They’re both brought into a situation that is in need of help — San Francisco was 32nd in total defense last season, mainly due to their abhorrent rush defense. Those two are seen as the alleviation to those woes. Here’s Lynch regarding Thomas and Foster:
"We’re really proud of the guys that we drafted and we feel like they give us a chance to put a nucleus together that can change the fortune of this franchise and get it back to where we wanna be and where this franchise belongs, and that’s on top."
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Thomas will join fellow first-round picks Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner on the defensive line; Armstead is slotted to be featured in an edge rushing role while Buckner will play interior.
Foster will line up with NaVorro Bowman and what appears to be Ahmad Brooks in the linebacking corps; Bowman will occupy middle linebacker and Brooks will play strong-side linebacker. Both rookies are expected to be full-time starters.
Next: San Francisco 49ers: Breaking down defensive line’s alignment in 2017
This 49ers rebuild and regime continues to differ itself from the prior front office. From the changed relationship San Francisco has with the media to the successful NFL Draft, things are far different — and for the better.