The 49ers’ 2021 season has gotten off to a rocky start, and there are plenty of reasons to complain about these three big headaches.
It’s been an awfully frustrating start to the San Francisco 49ers‘ 2021 campaign.
After kicking off the year 2-0, the Niners have since suffered a three-game losing streak and find themselves at the very bottom of the NFC West amid their Week 6 bye, which arguably couldn’t have come at a better time.
Now, with San Francisco currently below the .500 mark with a record of 2-3, the hope is head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. can fix the wrongs and take some proverbial medicine for the headaches they’ve experienced up to this point.
While the season is far from over, let’s break down three of those specific headaches the 49ers have dealt with up to this point.
49ers coaching isn’t getting the job done
For all the grief and performance-bashing players tend to receive, it’s only fair to dish out the same amount of criticism for coaches where applicable.
After three demoralizing losses, which could’ve/should’ve easily been wins, it’s time to shift some of the blame to Shanahan and the coaching staff.
San Francisco has looked like a shell of its former championship-self lately, and many sports enthusiasts around the globe are beginning to wonder if the wheels are slowly falling apart. After a somewhat peculiar offseason filled with cryptic interviews, followed by a preseason that featured rotating quarterbacks, Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, every play, we’re now in a regular-season mode which consists of discombobulation and disappointment.
This was supposed to be thee year! You know, the infamous “Revenge Tour” campaign that was only set back a year because of all those injuries in 2020.
Yeah, well, sorry to burst the bubble of many members of the Faithful out there, but if things don’t drastically improve after the bye, it’ll soon be time to start talking about 2022 NFL Draft prospects.
The team has failed to put together a complete game because they’re not quite playing their best complementary football. Two out of the last three losses fall on the shoulders of a stagnant offense that is ranked 22nd in league passing and 11th overall in rushing. Shanahan is now in his fifth year as head coach, but watching the team perform lately is more indicative of a rookie coach thrown into a rebuilding situation.
49ers players aren’t executing properly
Drive-killing penalties, bad play-calling and poor execution are all recipes for disaster and losses, or better yet, disastrous losses.
During the 49ers’ Week 5 matchup against the undefeated Arizona Cardinals, the Niners committed seven penalties with five of them coming in the second half. Three of those five killer penalties occurred during their first offensive drive post halftime.
The penalty bug is not just limited to the offense. In 2021, San Francisco has been struggling to find its once-dominant defensive form, too. Now, however, the 49ers are currently tied with the defending Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in first place with eight defensive pass-interference calls.
The Bucs may have the overall talent to overcome those mistakes, but the margin for error by the Niners is much more razor-thin, and the lack of proper execution on plays is hurting the team in so many ways.
Some observers may look at those numbers and see it as an indictment towards the players, but not so fast. Players are expected to execute each play call with the highest level of perfection, so let’s flip the script and hold coaches to the same standard.
49ers have a general lack of focus
The five Week 5 San Francisco penalties mentioned earlier came in the form of offensive holding calls. Now, let’s consider the fact the 49ers have only seven such calls against them for the entire year. These five calls in one week indicate the lack of preparation going into the game.
Since Trey Lance has a different skill set than Jimmy Garappolo, Kyle Shanahan and his staff are responsible for reminding players about off-schedule, back-yard type of plays. Also, having a future franchise star player running quarterback draws and taking big shots from the defense is not a great way to begin his career.
Related Story: 3 things Kyle Shanahan must fix now after loss to Cardinals
Case in point, Lance suffered a knee injury at some point against the Cardinals and could potentially be shelved a couple of weeks.
Good thing it’s the bye week.
Eventually, Lance will learn how to protect himself for the sake of the team. But for now, coaches are responsible for helping these young players properly develop while protecting them from themselves. And on top of that, the sheer need for the entire roster to focus on the game plan, which starts with the coaching staff, needs to be much better.
The Week 6 bye is a great remedy for a struggling Niners team. It’s still early enough in the season for such a talented roster to figure things out and remain competitive within the division.
Let’s hope the bye week serves them well.