Niner Noise
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Revisiting Niner Noise’s ‘bold’ predictions for the 49ers in 2017

By Peter Panacy

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers, center, looks to linebacker NaVorro Bowman #53 in the tunnel before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers, center, looks to linebacker NaVorro Bowman #53 in the tunnel before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers 12-9. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers 12-9. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Prediction No. 2: Quarterback Brian Hoyer Finishes 2017 with a 90.0-Plus Passer Rating

What Actually Happened: Brian Hoyer was benched in Week 6 and finished with a 74.1 rating

Nope.

We all knew it. Veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer was supposed to be a stopgap option under center until the 49ers landed their franchise quarterback for the future.

After all, he worked with head coach Kyle Shanahan before — back in 2014 when both were with the Cleveland Browns. Hoyer had success there too, arguably with a poorer roster than what we thought the Niners would field in 2017.

So, why not think he’d have a good season, right?

What We Said

"First, Hoyer already knows Shanahan’s offense from both men’s time together with the Cleveland Browns back in 2014. Even with an abysmal offensive unit that year, Hoyer still managed to throw for well over 3,000 yards. While his passer rating wasn’t overly great that season (76.5), a better supporting cast points to the possibility of Hoyer replicating the numbers seen from 2015 and 2016 — 91.4 and 98.0, respectively."

What Happened

Hoyer had only two games — Week 3 versus the Los Angeles Rams and Week 5 versus the Indianapolis Colts — where he had a passer rating better than 90. The others weren’t exactly pretty.

Shanahan’s frustration eventually boiled over in Week 6 at the Washington Redskins, where Hoyer was benched in favor of the rookie, C.J. Beathard, who wasn’t much better.

Hoyer was subsequently released on Oct. 31 after the Niners picked up former New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

So much for the “he knows the system” argument.