The Family Shanahan has been linked in multiple reports to the 49ers.
Former NFL head coach Mike Shanahan – who won two Super Bowls in Denver – reportedly interviewed with the Niners on Jan. 1 for the team’s vacant head coaching position.
His son, Kyle Shanahan – who most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns – has been reported to be a possibility as offensive coordinator in San Francisco either as part of the staff of his father (should he be hired) or on someone else’s staff.
In fact, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has reported that current defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would consider Kyle Shanahan for the offensive coordinator position should he become head coach.
If the 49ers were to go in that direction, however, there might be a major point of concern:
Kyle Shanahan, like his father, has long been a proponent of the zone-blocking scheme, while the 49ers’ offensive line has been very successful with a power-blocking scheme. In fact, tackles Joe Staley and Anthony Davis and guards Mike Iupati and Alex Boone have been some of the NFL’s best run blockers the past several seasons and the team has been one of the league’s top running teams with its more straightforward power scheme.
It’s possible that bringing in either Shanahan would signal a complete change for the way the 49ers line operates.
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Because 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was sacked 52 times in 2014, it could be argued that perhaps that wouldn’t be a bad thing. Yet that could be due more to the multiple injuries that hampered the line this past season and destroyed continuity. From 2011-2013, San Francisco’s offensive line was one of the team’s strengths.
Kyle Shanahan has been the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans from 2008-2009, the Washington Redskins from 2010-2013 and the Browns this past season.
In Cleveland, Shanahan was reported to be a fan of quarterback Brian Hoyer and at odds with upper management, which wanted Johnny Manziel to start. Pat McManamon of ESPN.com reported this week that Shanahan – who resigned from the Browns after one season and is now interviewing for other jobs – was popular and respected by players in Cleveland.
In taking the job in Cleveland last year, Shanahan instituted a new offensive scheme based on zone blocking and lots of play-action passes, according to McManamon. The Browns began the season 7-4 before Hoyer eventually was replaced by Manziel and injuries and problems sent the Browns on a tailspin. They finished 7-9 and had the 23rd-ranked offense in the NFL. The 49ers had the 20th-ranked offense.
Kyle Shanahan has had some success as an NFL offensive coordinator, however. He’s had four teams (the 2008 and 2009 Texans and the 2012 and 2013 Washington teams) finish in the top 10 in total offense.
But bringing the zone-blocking scheme to San Francisco might create some difficult, painful adjustments.
