“I messed up,” Kyle Shanahan takes blame for the controversial cover-zero blitz which resulted in Vikings TD and eventually a 49ers loss

Kyle Shanahan will hope to have a better outing against the Bengals on Sunday.

“I messed up,” Kyle Shanahan takes blame for the controversial cover-zero blitz which resulted in Vikings TD and eventually a 49ers loss

Kyle Shanahan (via NBC Sports)

The San Francisco 49ers lost their second game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday. They weren’t supposed to lose two in a row after starting the season with five wins on the trot. However, the Niners dropped one against the Cleveland Browns in week 6 and have seemingly forgotten how to win games. Against the Vikings, the Niners fell into a 10-point hole early in the game and never recovered. Their HC Kyle Shanahan might have to go back to his drawing board and change some things around.

One play that generated quite a lot of buzz on social media was Jordan Addison‘s 60-yard touchdown late in the first half. It was a spectacular play, but, according to Shanahan, it was a mistake that could have been avoided. Shanahan called a seven-man, cover-zero blitz on that particular play. It nearly came off for the San Francisco-based team as CB Charvarius Ward nearly intercepted the pass from Vikings’ QB Kirk Cousins. It wasn’t to be though, as Addison came out of nowhere and took it to the house. Shanahan talked about that play on Friday.

Shanahan told the reporters:

There was a time issue why we couldn’t make that call and that’s without a doubt on me. I’m the one who can stop that and that’s why I hold the ultimate responsibility on everything. But when I was asked two days ago about the call, he knows we can’t make that off of time and I messed up not calling a timeout so we couldn’t call it. But I had no problem with the call in terms of what we do. I love all-out blitzing. It’s just not something you can do at that time.

The Niners are still 5-2 through seven games of the season. They are in a prime position to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season and ultimately win it all. Shanahan will hope to do a better job in the Niners’ next game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Kyle Shanahan says that the Niners players have belief in Sam Darnold

The San Francisco 49ers starting QB Brock Purdy entered concussion protocol after the Minnesota Vikings game. He has been listed as questionable against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. If Purdy doesn’t suit up, the quarterbacking duties will fall on the shoulders of backup QB Sam Darnold. According to HC Kyle Shanahan, the team has a lot of belief in Darnold.

Kyle Shanahan (L) and Sam Darnold (R)
Kyle Shanahan (L – via Sports Illustrated) and Sam Darnold (R – via NBC Sports)

Shanahan said, via 49erswebzone.com:

I mean, Sam has done a lot of good things since he’s been here. He looks great on the practice field. Got to play with him in a couple of preseason games.

He further continued by giving an account of how the team feels about Darnold:

They’re amazed with how good he is throwing the football and stuff, some of the throws he makes on scout team, what he did throughout training camp, and if his opportunity with us for the first time is this Sunday, he’ll be ready to go, and our guys will be excited to follow him.

The Niners have suffered a couple of tough losses in their last two games. They will hope to bounce back in their next game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Purdy might have enough time to clear the concussion protocol and start for the Bengals game. However, Darnold is not a bad backup to have for the Niners.

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