49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Thread

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by Giedi:
A good mobile QB was essential in Walsh's offense, I think, simply because essentially back then - that's how a lot of defenses countered Bill's offense was zone defense and when you drop that many defenders into the short zone, that gives the QB some running lanes and can get some easy first downs. I'm thinking if Walsh had Marino forced on him - he'd make his offense more like the Raider Offense. More vertical and with a much stronger run game. That, I think, was the problem with Marino's offense - he didn't have a super bowl caliber run game that can take defenses out of the nickel and dime defenses he faced in the playoffs.

Then why did they draft Jim Druckenmiller?

Pretty sure Walsh wanted Jake Plummer. Someone overruled him.

Originally posted by JBrack:
Then why did they draft Jim Druckenmiller?

You tell me. I didn't mention Mooch in my post at all.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by JBrack:

Then why did they draft Jim Druckenmiller?

You tell me. I didn't mention Mooch in my post at all.

Its the same offense. To basically say Walsh wouldn't want a Marino or Manning type QB is pretty ludicrous, imo.

Originally posted by thl408:

Pretty sure Walsh wanted Jake Plummer. Someone overruled him.

It was reported that Clark and Policy wanted to go their own way when it came to the quarterback position based on all the concussions Steve had dealt with they wanted a big traditional pocket passer and not another mobile QB.

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by JBrack:

Then why did they draft Jim Druckenmiller?

You tell me. I didn't mention Mooch in my post at all.

Its the same offense. To basically say Walsh wouldn't want a Marino or Manning type QB is pretty ludicrous, imo.

The WCO as we know it started because of Virgil Carter the backup QB in cincy in the early 70s. Greg cook got hurt and was more of the traditional strong arm QB. Walsh adjusted his offense to carters weaker arm and more athleticism. Moving forward Walsh would look for this athleticism.

No doubt Montana would have loved Marino or Namath or more traditional QB but I think the offense would have looked more vertical then it became known for.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by thl408:

Pretty sure Walsh wanted Jake Plummer. Someone overruled him.

It was reported that Clark and Policy wanted to go their own way when it came to the quarterback position based on all the concussions Steve had dealt with they wanted a big traditional pocket passer and not another mobile QB.

That's was a huge mistake. I'm not saying Plummer would have been a hofer, but I would have loved to see what he would have done with a few years under Steve and mooch.

Originally posted by Niners816:

The WCO as we know it started because of Virgil Carter the backup QB in cincy in the early 70s. Greg cook got hurt and was more of the traditional strong arm QB. Walsh adjusted his offense to carters weaker arm and more athleticism. Moving forward Walsh would look of this athleticism.

No doubt Montana would have loved Marino or Namath or more traditional QB but I think the offense would have looked more vertical then it became known for.

Exactly, Walsh also said he was the greatest QB he ever saw play. That was my point.

Originally posted by Niners816:

That's was a huge mistake. I'm not saying Plummer would have been a hofer, but I would have loved to see what he would have done with a few years under Steve and mooch.

Well he did end up playing for Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by Niners816:

The WCO as we know it started because of Virgil Carter the backup QB in cincy in the early 70s. Greg cook got hurt and was more of the traditional strong arm QB. Walsh adjusted his offense to carters weaker arm and more athleticism. Moving forward Walsh would look of this athleticism.

No doubt Montana would have loved Marino or Namath or more traditional QB but I think the offense would have looked more vertical then it became known for.

Exactly, Walsh also said he was the greatest QB he ever saw play. That was my point.

That was 1970 though....he hadn't adopted the more horizontal passing game that essentially became the main tenet of the WCO. We have no clue how his offense would have looked if Cook doesn't get hurt. Maybe having a strong arm QB he never gets to this high percentage dink and dunk game that revolutionized the sport. It was all done out of necessity.

Now, in 1988 having already established his WCO I'm sure he would have had no problem adjusting to more of a strong arm QB. We saw what Holmgren did with Favre in GB... it can work. But even Holmgren's GB WCO was more vertical then ours because of Brett's arm.

Originally posted by Niners816:

That was 1970 though....he hadn't adopted the more horizontal passing game that essentially became the main tenet of the WCO. We have no clue how his offense would have looked if Cook doesn't get hurt. Maybe having a strong arm QB he never gets to this high percentage dink and dunk game that revolutionized the sport. It was all done out of necessity.

Now, in 1988 having already established his WCO I'm sure he would have had no problem adjusting to more of a strong arm QB. We saw what Holmgren did with Favre in GB... it can work. But even Holmgren's GB WCO was more vertical then ours because of Brett's arm.

There is some truth to that but thats what good coaches do. They tailor the offense to the players they have.

If you have a qb who can throw a 50 yd bomb accurately obviously you are going to adjust your play calling accordingly.

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by JBrack:

Then why did they draft Jim Druckenmiller?

You tell me. I didn't mention Mooch in my post at all.

Its the same offense. To basically say Walsh wouldn't want a Marino or Manning type QB is pretty ludicrous, imo.

Walsh would make his offense work with any QB, but mobility is the key. A mobile QB reduces the need for a top flight RB. Note: I'm not saying the WCO *won't work better* without a top flight RB, of course it will. But a mobile QB can get you those 3rd and 1s a lot easier than a Marino could. A good solid work horse RB that can catch a pass would be just as good in this offense as a brilliant hall of fame Walter payton back that had brick hands.

Originally posted by JBrack:

There is some truth to that but thats what good coaches do. They tailor the offense to the players they have.

If you have a qb who can throw a 50 yd bomb accurately obviously you are going to adjust your play calling accordingly.

Up until that time Walsh's main influence offensively was Al Davis. Davis was in more of the Sid Gillman mode which was way more vertical. I'd be willing to bet that Walsh's offense if it would have been totally designed around Cook would have resembled more of an air coreyll type attack.

To Walsh's credit (and it's why he's my favorite football guy ever) is he went totally the opposite of convention and went all in towards the skill sets of Carter. In process he came up with the passing game that was basically the extension of the run game. He honed this offense for almost a decade until he got to us and armed with the knowledge of what worked in this scheme picked joe. It was the perfect marriage of system and player. The results speak for them self.

It would have been interesting to see how it would have played out with a different QB but I'm glad it happened like it did because the WCO as it stand (more specifically our 80s flavor and Holmgren & Mike Shanahan's variants) is my favorite thing about football.

How I Evaluate Each Position:

Quarterback

By Bill Walsh

PSX Draft Insider Special

QUARTERBACK
Ideal size: 6-3, 210
To become a great quarterback, there must be instincts and intuition. This is the area that can be the difference between a very solid quarterback and a great quarterback. This isn't an area you can do much with as a coach. You can certainly bring a quarterback up to a competitive standard, but to reach greatness the quarterback must possess that inherently, ala Billy Kilmer, Sonny Jurgensen, Ken Stabler and Warren Moon.
If throwing a ball were the only aspect of playing quarterback, then this would be an easy position to evaluate. However, because of the dynamic role he plays on the team, a quarterback must have physical, mental, emotional and instinctive traits that go well beyond the mere ability to pass a football.
Still, if he can't pass, he obviously won't be a good quarterback either. For now, let's assume our quarterback candidate has shown an ability to throw the ball.
Now, he must be courageous and intensely competitive. He will be the one on the field who is running the team. His teammates must believe in him or it may not matter how much physical ability he has. If he is courageous and intensely competitive, then other players will know and respect that. This will be a foundation for becoming a leader.
Naturally, he will have to perform up to certain physical standards to maintain that respect and become a leader.
Arm strength is somewhat misleading. Some players can throw 80 yards, but they aren't good passers. Good passing has to do with accuracy, timing, and throwing a ball with touch so it is catchable. This all involves understanding a system, the receivers in the system, and having great anticipation. It is a plus to be able to throw a ball on a line for 35 yards, but not if it is off target or arrives in such a way that it is difficult to catch.
Remember, the goal of passing a ball is to make sure it is caught ... by your intended receiver.
You look at how complete an inventory of throws a quarterback possesses -- from screen passes to timed short passes to medium range passes and down the field throws. This complete range. For the scout, not having a complete inventory does not eliminate the quarterback. But you are looking to evaluate in all facets and distances and types of passes in throwing the ball.
There have been quarterbacks of greatness, Hall of Fame quarterbacks, who didn't have a complete inventory of passes. But you're looking to see the potential of the quarterback in each area. You can see where the emphasis of the offense would be if he were with your team.
A quick delivery , one that is not telegraphed to help the defense, gives the quarterback an advantage when he finds his intended target. That's when it is essential to get the ball "up and gone'' with no wasted motion. Some of this can be acquired by learning proper technique. But to a certain degree, a quick release is related to a quarterback's reaction time between spotting his receiver and getting the ball "up and gone.''
Touch is important, especially in a medium range passing game. One of Joe Montana's most remarkable skills was putting the right touch on a pass so that it was easily catchable by a receiver, who often did not have to break stride.
The ability to read defenses is not something that players have learned to a high degree coming out of college. Even if they have, the pro defenses are very different. But most systems require quarterbacks to look at primary and secondary receivers, usually based on the defense that confronts him. You can see if he locates that secondary receiver -- or maybe even an emergency outlet receiver -- with ease or with a sense of urgency.
This should work like a natural progression, not a situation where it's -- "Oh, my gosh, now I must look over here ... no, over there.'' You can see which quarterbacks handle these situations with grace. These are the types who have a chance to perform with consistency in the NFL.
Mobility and an ability to avoid a pass rush are crucial. Some quarterbacks use this mobility within the pocket just enough so they are able to move and pass when they "feel" a rush. But overall quickness and agility can make a remarkable difference. As an example, there were some very quick boxers in Sugar Ray Leonard's era, but he was quicker than they were and because of that he became a great champ.
Quarterbacks must be able to function while injured. The pro season is about twice as long and more punishing than a college season. They are vulnerable to getting hit hard every time they pass. They must be able to avoid being rattled, get up and show they are in control and can continue to lead the offense.
The single trait that separates great quarterbacks from good quarterbacks is the ability to make the great, spontaneous decision, especially at a crucial time. The clock is running down and your team is five points behind. The play that was called has broken down and 22 players are moving in almost unpredictable directions all over the field.
This is where the great quarterback uses his experience, vision, mobility and what we will call spontaneous genius. He makes something good happen. This, of course, is what we saw in Joe Montana when he pulled out those dramatic victories for Notre Dame.

http://www.espn.com/blog/san-francisco-49ers/post/_/id/25126/awkward-beginnings-kyle-shanahan-finding-his-rhythm-as-49ers-head-coach

I really enjoyed​ this article. I remember at the beginning of this offseason there was some slight ridicule of Shanahan in an article that he was bouncing around between receivers and Qb's too much like a passing game coordinator. That is of course a byproduct of him choosing not too have an offensive coordinator, which does add on more to his plate.

Fast forward and now we're seeing him more and more involved with the whole team, which I think is an important component of being the head coach. We're getting articles of him participating in drills with all the different position groups now. My favorite part of him that I am continuously reading though is his strict attention to detail. After every practice he watches closely over the film work and looks for all areas of improvement. I would compare what we have been reading about his tireless worth ethic towards details since arriving here as very Belichick-esque. Now let's just hope it lends Belichick-esque results.

Originally posted by Niners816:

Originally posted by JBrack:
There is some truth to that but thats what good coaches do. They tailor the offense to the players they have.

If you have a qb who can throw a 50 yd bomb accurately obviously you are going to adjust your play calling accordingly.

Up until that time Walsh's main influence offensively was Al Davis. Davis was in more of the Sid Gillman mode which was way more vertical. I'd be willing to bet that Walsh's offense if it would have been totally designed around Cook would have resembled more of an air coreyll type attack.

To Walsh's credit (and it's why he's my favorite football guy ever) is he went totally the opposite of convention and went all in towards the skill sets of Carter. In process he came up with the passing game that was basically the extension of the run game. He honed this offense for almost a decade until he got to us and armed with the knowledge of what worked in this scheme picked joe. It was the perfect marriage of system and player. The results speak for them self.

It would have been interesting to see how it would have played out with a different QB but I'm glad it happened like it did because the WCO as it stand (more specifically our 80s flavor and Holmgren & Mike Shanahan's variants) is my favorite thing about football.

One of the main reasons Walsh switched from a Vertical passing attack to a more Horizontal passing attack was the O Line rule changes that allowed the O Line to extend their hands. That was the big kicker in allowing the O Line to have a much easier time pass protecting for the QB. I've reviewed some of the rule changes since Walsh's time and other than banning crack back blocks and cut blocks, the rules have actually put more protections for the QB and the WR's/TE's. I think that's the one reason Brady is still alive - and the fact that it's a pass happy league that has pretty much almost eliminated the need for a blocking fullback.