Kyle Shanahan, 49ers Offense Called Out for 'Lack of Urgency' in Loss to Falcons
The fourth quarter continues to be an issue for San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan as his team fell 28-14 to the Atlanta Falcons.
In this case, it wasn't that San Francisco failed to protect a lead. Instead, the Niners weren't exactly in a hurry to overturn a two-score deficit in the final frame.
Their penultimate drive took 8:08 off the clock and didn't even end with points as a Jimmy Garoppolo pass fell incomplete on fourth down inside the red zone.
Many were surprised by San Francisco's deliberate pace and play-calling given the situation:
The 49ers are sitting at .500 (3-3), and there's a good chance they'll own a losing record this time next week. It's difficult to see how San Francisco has the weapons to match the Kansas City Chiefs blow for blow.
Shanahan has far too much equity built up to this point to think he'd be on the hot seat at any point this season. But that doesn't make him immune to criticism, and there's no question the Niners offense is performing below where you'd expect it to given Shanahan's reputation.
49ers' Nick Bosa out After Suffering Groin Injury vs. Panthers
San Francisco 49ers star edge-rusher Nick Bosa is out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers with a groin injury, per ESPN's Bill Barnwell.
Bosa has been no stranger to injuries in his short NFL career. After a fantastic rookie season in 2019 that saw him post nine sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits and win the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, he played in just two games in 2020 after a torn ACL ended his campaign.
The 24-year-old responded in 2021 with 15.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 32 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles in 17 games to earn his second Pro Bowl bid.
But a concussion ended his day against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round, a 23-17 Niners win. He was able to return in time for the 13-10 divisional-round victory over the Green Bay Packers, in which he posted two sacks.
When Bosa has been on the field in his career, he's been elite and has turned an already good 49ers' front into a downright dominant unit—one that made Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers look mediocre in last year's playoffs.
That makes any absence from the star edge-rusher particularly tough to overcome for a Niners team with Super Bowl aspirations.
While Bosa is out, look for Charles Omenihu and Drake Jackson to see more snaps off the edge.
Jimmy Garoppolo: Panthers Were Among ‘Top Couple’ Teams Involved in 49ers Trade Talks
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was apparently close to being on the other sideline for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
He told reporters the NFC South team was "at the top of the list, one of the top couple" clubs in pursuit of him via trade this offseason.
There was a time this offseason when it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the veteran quarterback would be traded. After all, the 49ers traded up to select Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft and were ready to hand the offense to the younger option.
Carolina was connected to Garoppolo during the offseason but ultimately decided to trade for Baker Mayfield instead.
Perhaps it would want a do-over at this point considering it is off to a 1-3 start with Mayfield largely struggling while completing 54.7 percent of his passes for 747 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
San Francisco never traded Garoppolo, and his shoulder surgery may have weakened the market in trade discussions.
That is a fortuitous break for the 49ers at this point because Lance was lost for the season to injury. Having Garoppolo means the team still had a veteran option who led it to the NFC Championship Game last season and the Super Bowl during the 2019 campaign.
It has been an up-and-down start for Garoppolo and the 2-2 49ers, as he stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety and threw a late pick during an ugly loss to the Denver Broncos and managed the game while effectively getting the ball into Deebo Samuel's hands during the most recent win over the Los Angeles Rams.
He could have been managing games for Carolina had a trade happened, but he is instead looking to lead San Francisco to the postseason once again.
49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo Played 'Pretty Damn Good' vs. Rams, Kyle Shanahan Says
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was impressed with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's work in the team's 24-9 home win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.
Garoppolo completed 16-of-27 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown.
Pro Football Focus thought highly of Garoppolo's work, per David Lombardi of The Athletic.
Lombardi also gave credit to the chemistry between the quarterback and coach.
Garoppolo led a pair of 75-yard touchdown drives in addition to a 67-yard drive capped by a chip-shot field goal. The 49ers' final score came via a Talanoa Hufanga pick-six.
Garoppolo was also well-protected by the offensive line, which didn't allow a sack all game. That led to him picking apart the Rams secondary. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel notably had a day with six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
It was a great bounce-back win for the 49ers after an ugly 11-10 loss to the Denver Broncos the week before. That game featured Garoppolo running out the back of his own end zone for a safety. The 49ers also gained just 81 yards in the second half.
The offense has apparently turned it around, however, and it will hope to keep that momentum into a Week 5 game on Sunday at the Carolina Panthers.
49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo on Viral Lip-Reading Video: 'Not Sure Exactly' What I Said
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo apparently doesn't know what he said while walking off the field after throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 11-10 road defeat to the Denver Broncos.
A video circulating on social media appeared to show Garoppolo criticizing head coach Kyle Shanahan's play-calling after he was picked off by Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith on a deflected pass to Deebo Samuel.
Fans, after trying to read his lips, believe Garoppolo said "All your plays suck, man," to Shanahan.
Garoppolo acknowledged that he's "not sure exactly what I was saying" but that he's probably said "a lot worse things on the field."
Shanahan addressed the viral video earlier this week, calling it a "joke" and adding that he's "pretty sure" that's not what Garoppolo said.
If there is tension brewing between Garoppolo and Shanahan, the two will need to put their differences aside for the betterment of the team.
Garoppolo is slated to start his second game of the season against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday after taking over for Trey Lance in a Week 2 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Lance is sidelined for the remainder of the year with an ankle injury.
49ers' Kyle Shanahan Says Jimmy G Lip-Reading Video 'Is a Joke'
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't believe that Jimmy Garoppolo criticized his play-calling despite a video circulating on social media appearing to show the veteran quarterback doing just that.
"The clip to me is a joke," Shanahan told reporters Thursday. I’m pretty sure that’s not what he said."
During Sunday's 11-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, Garoppolo didn't appear to be on board with Shanahan's game plan.
After Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith picked off Garoppolo on a deflected pass to Deebo Samuel late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, the ninth-year quarterback was seen walking off the field shaking his head.
Garoppolo was also caught on camera speaking his mind about Shanahan's play-calling, and fans began to speculate that he said, "All your plays suck, man," after trying to read his lips.
The 30-year-old finished the game having completed 18 of 29 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown against one interception. It was his first full game this year since taking over for the injured Trey Lance, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, and going 13-of-21 for 154 yards and one touchdown in a 27-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Shanahan and the 49ers decided to replace Garoppolo as the starter entering the 2022 campaign, so his relationship with the head coach and franchise might not be in a great spot. That said, he and Shanahan will need to work through their issues if San Francisco wants to reach the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams lead the NFC West with a 2-1 record, with the 49ers, Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals at 1-2. The 49ers and Rams will meet on Monday in L.A.