Despite key misses, Kyle Shanahan has no regrets after 49ers’ Super Bowl loss
Kyle Shanahan was not a head coach filled with regret coming out of the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss last weekend.
“I am proud as can be of how our team handled everything, how I did, how John did, how everyone did,” Shanahan said Thursday at a news conference alongside general manager John Lynch, where the two fielded questions from reporters about the wide-ranging criticism they’re received from the game.
“Now we can deal with whatever because we’re proud of how we handled it. If I wasn’t proud of that, then the stuff would be very hard on me,” Shanahan said.
As players cleared out their lockers Wednesday, many were obviously dejected after blowing a 20-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter en route to a 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. And while Shanahan and Lynch were clearly unhappy with the result, they spoke with resolve about the future, even though history says it’s unlikely the 49ers will get another shot at the Super Bowl in 12 months.
After the previous 53 Super Bowls, only eight teams that have lost have gone back the next season, and only three teams have won it.
“We do believe we’re different,” Lynch said. “There’s not many teams that go from four wins to 13 and dominate an NFC in the playoffs and get there. We believe this team is different. We believe we’re capable of doing that. We have to own the disappointment, but some of the things being said, I think this group is very strong in terms of who we are.”
Shanahan pointed out that during his first season in 2017, the 49ers became the first club in league history to start 0-9 and finish 6-10. San Francisco this year became the third team to reach the Super Bowl after having four or fewer wins the previous season.
“There are lots of stats, but I think we have a lot of stats that prove we’re different people and I want those guys to keep that in their minds,” said Shanahan. “We’ve got to deal with some of this and get it out of our system and stuff. I know it will fuel us more and we’ll be pumped to come back and get after it.”
49ers coach faces Super Bowl questions
Thursday was the first time Shanahan has spoken publicly since after the Super Bowl and he’s gone over the game “Probably a thousand times in the last three days,” he said, and doesn’t have any regrets about his play calling in the fourth quarter or the decision to play conservatively and not use his timeouts before halftime.
Shanahan decided to let the clock run after the defense forced a punt from the Chiefs. He could have called a timeout to give quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo more time to drive the length of the field for a go-ahead touchdown. Instead, Shanahan’s focus was avoiding giving Patrick Mahomes a chance to score before the break as the game was tied at 10.
In hindsight, would Shanahan handle anything differently?
“No, absolutely not,” he said. “I think that was one of the reasons we were up 10 points going into the fourth quarter. Absolutely wouldn’t have called a timeout at that time because we were expecting to be backed up and inside the 10. ... No, I was as confident as what we did in that situation as anything we’ve done all year. I mean that strongly. That’s something you work at for two weeks studying that team, what they’re capable of doing. You’re not going to give the ball back to them no matter what in that situation.”
The 49ers nearly had a chance to score anyway. But a long pass to tight end George Kittle to Kansas City’s 13-yard line was wiped out by a controversial offensive pass interference penalty, keeping at least three points off the board.
Garoppolo has also been a target of criticism after struggling in the fourth quarter by going 3 for 11 for 36 yards after completing 85 percent of his passes during the first 45 minutes of game time. There’s been some outside chatter about the 49ers going another direction under center, but that won’t be the case — at least this offseason.
Garoppolo’s start Sunday was the 29th of his career, including regular season and playoffs, which is less than two full seasons.
“I think Jimmy is one of the main reasons we got to the Super Bowl,” said Shanahan. “I think he overcame a lot. This was his first year in his career going through an entire NFL season. He still doesn’t have as many starts and stuff as Baker Mayfield.
“I think (Garoppolo) had a hell of a first year truly playing the position, especially coming off an ACL where you have to fight through that a ton as a quarterback, where your rhythm and everything is not there at the beginning of the year. For him to be like that and to not let the pressure get to him, and to improve as the year went, I think says a ton about Jimmy. I can’t tell you how much I loved coaching the guy as a player and as a person this year.”
49ers defense had problems
Much of the talk has been about San Francisco’s offense, but the defense played a significant role in the loss as well.
Perhaps the biggest play in the game came midway through the fourth quarter when the Chiefs converted a miraculous third-and-15 play for 44 yards when Mahomes took a deep drop from shotgun, narrowly avoided the pass rush from DeForest Buckner, and found speedy receiver Tyreek Hill for a momentum swinging play.
Kansas City on that series began going no huddle in an attempt to tire out the 49ers pass rush that was controlling the game to that point.
It appeared second-year cornerback Emmanuel Moseley was at fault in coverage. He bit on an underneath receiver rather than staying deep on Hill because it appeared Mahomes would be unlikely to hit the long throw over the top.
“It’s tough not to take the bait on a 20-yard in route because you rarely think they are going to have the time to get a 60-yard throw over the top of that,” Shanahan said. “That was a tough play for Moseley just not to take that bait because usually it can’t hold up. That’s why (DeForest) Buckner was one inch away from him, too. He held onto it as long as he could, which wasn’t long, then threw it up. They’ve got the right two guys for that play and it was a hell of a play by them. That’s why they got back into the game.”
One of the biggest free agency decisions of the offseason revolves around defensive lineman Arik Armstead’s looming free agency. Armstead has said he wouldn’t mind playing on the franchise tag if a long-term contract doesn’t come. The 49ers would have to do some maneuvering because tight end George Kittle and Buckner are due for new contracts — and receiver Emmanuel Sanders and safety Jimmie Ward are also headed for free agency.
“Arik is an excellent player,” Lynch said. “He had an excellent year. I think everything is on the table. We want to find a way to keep him and make him a part of the 49ers for a long time.”
Finally, defensive end Dee Ford isn’t expected to have surgery despite being nagged with knee tendinitis dating all the way back until training camp.
“Not as we know right now,” said Lynch. “We’ll have those conversations. But, I think Dee is in good health right now.”