Heading into the Week 9 bye last season, the San Francisco 49ers were skidding. Their offense had scored 17 points in each of three consecutive games — all losses — and something felt off. The euphoria of drubbing the Dallas Cowboys 42-10 was long gone, and some anxiety started to set in. The run defense had been flat for several games, quarterback Brock Purdy was committing ugly turnovers and there was a lack of continuity across the board.
The focus at that time was on defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. And Shanahan’s answer to that was moving him down from the booth to the sideline, so he could be in better communication with his players. The next game out, the 49ers held the Jacksonville Jaguars to three points. It was the first of six consecutive 49er victories and San Francisco closed out the season 7-2 before sweeping into the Super Bowl.
It’s a memory that has differing vantages. Some might see it as …