San Francisco 49ers: Brian Hoyer shouldn’t start at quarterback again in 2018
By Peter Panacy
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan finally made a much-needed switch from Brian Hoyer to C.J. Beathard at quarterback. And Hoyer shouldn’t start again in 2018.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer shouldn’t see another starting snap this season.
This, in the aftermath of yet another lackluster performance in Week 6 during the Niners’ 26-24 road loss to the Washington Redskins — a game that resulted in head coach Kyle Shanahan making a much-anticipated switch from Hoyer to rookie QB C.J. Beathard.
I’ll admit, I was a bit wrong about Beathard.
More from SF 49ers News
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- Updated 49ers salary cap space ahead of 2023 NFL Draft
- Deebo Samuel fully admits his hatred of LA Rams
- Brock Purdy jokingly says he’s learning to throw left-handed
- 49ers news: Trey Lance is in the dark regarding trade talk
Sure, I realized Beathard played well in two preseason games. And I wouldn’t argue with anyone who said Hoyer has been terrible for the vast majority of 2017.
I thought it too soon for Beathard. In Week 9 against a questionable Arizona Cardinals team, perhaps. But not now. Not during the third of three-consecutive road contests and against a good Redskins defense.
Credit to Beathard. He proved me wrong.
While Beathard looked like a rookie at times, he flashed enough to suggest Hoyer has no business starting another game for San Francisco this season.
Just look at the side-by-side stat comparisons from Week 6:
Beathard’s 245 yards passing were against a Washington defense that allowed an average of just 222.5 yards through the air entering Week 5.
Not bad at all.
C.J. Beathard’s second ever NFL drive: A length of the field touchdown drive in the two minute drill. He’s your starter for the rest of 2017
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) October 15, 2017
Barring injury, or the worst of quarterback meltdowns from Beathard, Hoyer shouldn’t start again this season. 2017 isn’t about wins and losses, not anymore. And with last week’s shocking release of linebacker NaVorro Bowman, the 49ers have already committed themselves to the future.
Not winning now.
We all knew Hoyer wasn’t going to be the long-term answer under center. And five-plus weeks into 2017 showed he’s not much of a stopgap solution either.
Kyle Shanahan: C.J. Beathard will be the starting QB moving forward. pic.twitter.com/RszzoY00YU
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 15, 2017
This isn’t to say Beathard is the answer. Rather he’s the uncertainty, the X-factor that could either point to a possible draft “diamond in the rough” or a misuse of a third-round pick. We just don’t know yet.
But playing Beathard from here on out, even through some guaranteed eventual struggles, points toward the future and not the present.
Hoyer still has an important role, though. Veteran quarterbacks, as mentors, can provide useful advice to any rookie signal-caller. Remember, Hall of Famer Joe Montana had Steve DeBerg long before becoming a household name.
More from Niner Noise
- 49ers 2023 NFL Draft tracker: Pick-by-pick news and analysis
- Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
- 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
Beathard probably isn’t heading towards a Montana-like trajectory, but you get the point. At least I hope you do.
Regardless, the Hoyer-starting era in San Francisco should come to a close. We’ll see what the rest of this season brings, and it’s way to early to pencil in starting lineups next year.
Next: 49ers vs. Redskins: Full Week 6 grades, analysis for San Francisco
But we know what Hoyer offers. It’s nowhere near enough to warrant another start.