Shanahan emphasizes the importance of NFL coaches being able to adapt

Shanahan emphasizes the importance of NFL coaches being able to adapt. The original appearance appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Those who believe 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan needs to evolve and adjust his offense have found someone who agrees.

His name is Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan said Friday that the essence of coaching is finding a way to constantly adapt and get the most out of your personnel.

Some adjustments are noticeable. Others are more subtle. But rarely do things stay the same from game to game, Shanahan said.

“That’s what you try to do every week,” Shanahan said before the 49ers traveled to their Week 16 game against the Miami Dolphins. “That’s what you always try to do.

“You don’t just say, ‘Hey, today I’m going to try to play the wishbone offense and stuff.’ Which players do you have? What do you believe in? And what gives these guys the best chance of success?”

The 49ers were forced to do something different on offense this season. They played most of the season without running back Christian McCaffrey, the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and their top receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

The 49ers rank eighth in the NFL with 365.1 total offensive yards per game while ranking 16th with 22.4 points per game.

Shanahan noted that changes were made to the offensive philosophy to open the 2022 season, as Trey Lance opened the regular season as the starter. The 49ers switched to an offense that emphasized the quarterback-driven running game.

“When he got out there, you saw a different offense,” Shanahan said. “You see different things. You have to adapt your players.”

Shanahan said he was unable to inherit the offense he brought to Washington with the Houston Texans more than a decade ago with Robert Griffin III at quarterback.

“I had to do things I had never done before,” he said. “Not because you’re just reinventing yourself or trying to change the league, but because you’re trying to figure out what can help the guys you have succeed.

“And that can constantly change depending on the skill of the player. But as a coach I would say: If you want to make it in this league and have some success in this league, you have to be better able to adapt to everything, otherwise you will only be successful if you have the perfect situations.

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