49ers vs. Chiefs: 5 things we learned from Niners’ first preseason game
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Kyle Shanahan Needs to Install Discipline
The 49ers committed 17 penalties for 131 yards. That’s a lot.
Penalties are common during the postseason. Teams are rusty, and there are always fringe players trying to push the boundaries, as they attempt to make the roster.
Still, this isn’t a good start for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad in this regard.
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Six of those penalties came on special teams, and there were a number of false starts on offense.
At least veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks wasn’t offsides (sorry, I had to).
“Expected it a little bit going into the first preseason game, but definitely was disappointed” by the many penalties, Shanahan said, via Eric Branch of SFGate.com. “We’ve had them in practice. It’s something we just talked to the team about. It’s something we definitely need to get better at and clean up on Monday.”
The 49ers are a team in transition and will face a slew of challenges this season. Penalties are ones that can derail a team’s development.
So it’s inherent Shanahan makes this a major priority after such a horrid week in this category.
This means discipline during practices — ensuring good habits and techniques. It’s a coaching problem, and it starts at the top.
Next: 49ers' grades & analysis from preseason win over Chiefs
Shanahan, like many of his players, is still learning the ropes. Yet this is going to be something to monitor as the preseason drags on.