5 mistakes Kyle Shanahan, SF 49ers can’t afford to make vs. Jets

No. 2: SF 49ers must be aggressive on fourth-down tries

Kyle Shanahan handled his fourth-down play-calling duties a bit strangely at times in Week 1. The decision to go for it on 4th-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line made sense even if Raheem Mostert was stopped just short. And there was another fourth-down attempt later in the game from midfield where a conversion attempt would have been beneficial.

But an earlier 4th-and-short, which resulted in the 49ers securing a field goal instead of a conversion. Another 4th-and-short ended up with a punt.

The back-and-forth nature is easy to second guess, especially considering the second goal-line situation and how Arizona bounced back and only gaffed by a missed field goal the subsequent possession.

Yet the Jets aren’t the Cardinals here. San Francisco won’t have to contend with a top-end wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, as New York is especially banged up at the position. Denzel Mims is out. Jamison Crowder, the top option, could be out as well.

And Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is nowhere near as mobile as Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

All this translates into what Shanahan should already know: New York’s offense doesn’t present anywhere near the challenges of Arizona’s, and the 49ers defense should have a much easier time making defensive stands over the course of Sunday’s contest.

That means Shanahan should stay aggressive when both smart and possible.