By Scooter_McG
There has been speculation surrounding why former 49ers assistant HC and TE coach Jon Embree was first asked to take a pay cut, then let go by the 49ers. It appears the reasons are starting to come into focus.
Adam Schefter reports that Anthony Lynn, the former Chargers HC and long time offensive coach around the NFL (including stops as OC at Buffalo and last year with the Lions) has agreed to join the 49ers as the assistant HC. If true, this is a hire that could have some significant benefits for the 49ers, but also may signify some high profile changes to the coaching staff.
First off, Lynn is a renowned run game specialist. He spent large portions of his coaching career as a RBs coach prior to moving up to OC and then HC duties. As we know, the running game is a vital cog in the 49ers offense so having a well respected running game mind like Lynn in the ranks makes a lot of sense. Second, Lynn helped develop Justin Herbert his rookie year, and was the mastermind of the offense that helped make him rookie of the year. This should bode well for the development of Trey Lance next year.
But what is interesting is that for the 49ers, the role of running game expert is already well catered for by current OC and run game mastermind Mike McDaniel, who prior to being elevated to OC was the 49ers run game coordinator. The hiring of Lynn is a big development as it may indicate the 49ers believe McDaniel, who is a finalist for the Dolphins HC job, may well be on the move and they need to insulate themselves should that occur.
It should also be noted that Lynn has significant experience working with RBs and that current 49ers RBs coach Bobby Turner (who has been with the Shanahan's forever) is now 72 years old. In fact, Lynn was once coached by Turner (and Mike Shanahan) as a player, when he was a RB with the Broncos and is familar with Turner's coaching style. At some point the 49ers will have to accept that Turner can't do this forever, and while there has been no indication that Turner has any inclination to give coaching away any time soon, it behooves them to bring in someone that can assist or take over should Turner decide to call it a day.
It would appear the 49ers have been aggressive in their pursuit of Lynn, and knew that to get him on board before he got snapped up elsewhere they needed to include an assistant HC title in the role.
I think this is an excellent and exciting hire by the 49ers that should pay big dividends in the development of Trey Lance and ongoing evolution of the 49ers running game. And it may also put into focus who the 49ers see as their ideal backup and mentor to Lance - Lynn has significant history working with Tyrod Taylor in the past and it would not surprise at all if that connection is re-established in 2022.
Sounding like Mike McDaniel is going to the Dolphins, wonder if JG soon follows. At least it isn't a step down, we shall see!!
ReplyDeleteYeah... or at least that the 49ers believe he is a very big chance of getting the job. They knew Lynn wouldn't stay on the open market long so did whatever it took to get him so they have someone ready to step into McDaniel's role if he leaves.
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DeleteI won't be surprised if this move is independent of McDaniel's future, and had everything to do with Lynn's availability.
DeleteAs you point out, that is indeed an exciting hire. You had mentioned in a post on Jack's blog that game management might have had something to do with Embree's demotion/departure. If that turns out to have been the case -- and I doubt we'll ever know the answer to that -- and if Lynn is any good at that, so much the better.
ReplyDeleteLynn certainly brings more experience in a HC role than Embree.
DeleteLynn is a good coach and, as an ex-player, can identify well with the players.
DeleteHis in-game Achilles heel as a HC was his poor clock management.
Scooter
ReplyDeleteAfter demanding Embree take a 60% pay cut, then firing him, is NOT a good look for the 9er organization. But I agree, hiring Lynn was an excellent move by the 9ers. As you point out, he can replace McDaniel should he leave, pay dividends in the development of Trey Lance and the ongoing evolution of the 49ers running game.
It may not look good re Embree, but sometimes you have to do things that to others look ordinary to strengthen the organisation.
DeleteWhen Embree was hired as assistant HC the team had their triumvirate of offensive geniuses in Shanahan, LaFleur and McDaniel. One of them left last year, and looks like another is a good chance of leaving this year. Embree was never going to offer the team the input on offense those guys provide.
They needed to bring someone in that can, and Lynn was a perfect candidate. But they were only going to be able to hire him by offering a role commensurate with his experience. The OC role is taken, and they aren't going to fire McDaniel given his importance to the coaching staff. And they couldn't afford to wait for the Dolphins to make their decision either, as Lynn reportedly had other offers.
They did what they had to.
The Embree take was completely bogus -- he was not forced to take a 60% cut and then fired. He was fired from one of the two jobs that accounted for 60% of the income. He chose not to keep his TE coaching job.
DeleteIt's not completely bogus. But yes, the "he was fired" part does appear to be wrong. Reading up on it his contract may have been over. So more a case of the 49ers offered a new deal for much less without the assistant HC role, which he decided not to take.
DeleteYes, you summarized it right -- he was not fired but offered a different contract with a reduced role. The take by Wilcotts implied thru omission that he was asked to take a 60% for the same role when under contract. I call that take bogus.
DeleteYeah, it has been made out to be a lot worse than what it was, to support an agenda.
DeleteHis contract was up and he wasn't offered the same role or pay. That is completely above board, even if it can sting for Embree to not be wanted back by the team in the same role. And Embree made the choice not to take the new role being offered, as his is right.
Not to mention, Lynn is an exceptional leader. His leadership alone should add wind to the cultural sail the 49ers pride themselves on. I consider it a significant upgrade.
ReplyDeleteAgree, his hire will pay dividends.
DeleteWill Lynn potentially provide usable/beneficial advice to KS during games especially in the 2nd half?
ReplyDeleteHopefully he won't be advising Kyle on clock management.
DeleteI must say, with Pep Hamilton's role at the Texans unsettled atm, I would love the 49ers to double down and bring Hamilton across as the QB coach and passing game coordinator.
ReplyDeleteFamiliar with Hamilton as a coach during his days with Stanford. Not sure if he's that much of an upgrade over Scangs.
DeleteHe's done a great job with Herbert and Mills the past two years, and did a nice job with Luck prior to that. I think he'd be a great fit for Lance and is familiar with Lynn.
DeleteAt one time, many Cardinal fans thought the Pep owed more to Andrew than vice-versa. Maybe he has become a good coach.
DeleteI think Luck undoubtedly made Hamilton look good. He was a special talent.
DeleteBut at the same time Luck progressed nicely under Hamilton. Hamilton didn't hinder his development in any way. Luck was impressive as a rookie with Bruce Arians as OC, but also made nice strides in his second NFL season in terms of decision making once he was reunited with Hamilton. And now Hamilton has had two other highly talented QBs he's coached that have also developed nicely under his coaching as rookies the past two seasons.
Might be time for Cardinal fans to accept it was a bit of a two way street with Luck/ Hamilton. They helped each other.
Tomlinson will probably be extended next week, if at all, since as per Rohan Chakravarthi, Tomlinson has a void in his current contract that hits on February 15th, leaving a dead cap hit of $1.2 million on the books for the 49ers.
ReplyDeleteWill Shanny fork over $8 million a year for a guard? Dunno. Heard they tried to extend him prior to the 2021 season. Tomlinson decided to bet on himself, and they took Banks in round 2.
Delete"When I think about what San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ organization are about to do next with quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, I’m reminded of what a smart man once told me.
ReplyDeleteBe careful what you wish for.
Because what they’re about to do next is embrace Lance, the promising 21-year-old quarterback they drafted last year, and trade away Garoppolo, their starter since 2018. No surprise there. Expected for months, the move is supposed to improve the 49ers at the game’s most important position.
And maybe it does, with Lance’s talents trumping quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s history of success. But I’d be careful. We’ve seen this picture before … with someone named Shanahan, no less … and it didn’t follow that script.
Rewind the videotape to the 2005 AFC playoffs when the Denver Broncos advanced to the conference championship game for the first time since John Elway was under center. Jake Plummer was the quarterback on a 13-3 team that was the AFC’s No. 2 seed, behind Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh was the only speed bump left between him and a Super Bowl.
So what happened? He lost. The Broncos lost. Then Denver gave up on Plummer, trading up in the first round of the 2006 draft to choose his replacement, a quarterback the Broncos believed would take them to the next level.
Jay Cutler.
The coach of that Denver team was Mike Shanahan, Kyle’s father, and if this story sounds familiar it’s because it should. Jake Plummer was 39-15 with the Broncos, never losing more than he won in any of his four seasons there, reaching the postseason three consecutive years and hanging the first playoff loss ever on Tom Brady.
But Shanahan – Mike, that is – thought he could upgrade his club at the position. So he chose Cutler, whom one scouting service at that time said “has the ability to make every throw and can make plays with his feet when things break down,” and he was patient. He waited until the 12th game of Cutler's rookie season to start him.
But the move was a gamble. The Broncos were 7-4 and in the midst of a possible playoff run, so there was considerable risk in starting an unproven rookie. Yet Denver took the leap. Result: Cutler won two of his five starts, and the Broncos missed the postseason for the first time in four years.
They didn’t return until 2011.
After the season, Plummer was traded away, and Cutler was handed the keys to the car. The future, it seemed, was in good hands. Except it wasn’t. Cutler never had a winning season in Denver. He was 17-20 in three years there before he was traded to Chicago. Worse, the move cost Shanahan, who was fired after an 8-8 finish in 2008.
And Plummer? He never played again. He retired rather than report to Tampa Bay."
CLARK JUDGE
https://www.si.com/nfl/talkoffame/nfl/cautionary-tale-49ers-garoppolo-lance
The Chiefs were able to do it with great success. I think Lance has a great chance with his work ethic and midwestern roots.
DeleteI think it's going to be ok. A strong running game and a good defense will go a long way towards being competitive.
DeleteCutler is a good example of why a player's mental makeup matters as much as physical talent. From everything I have heard Lance has the intelligence, work ethic and maturity you want at the position.
DeleteCigarettes and indifference to losing are the first two things that come to mind regarding Cutler.
DeleteROFLMAO, In an IQ contest with a head of lettuce, this clown would have to cheat to come in third place!
ReplyDelete5 Players the 49ers Could Trade This Offseason: Grant Cohn
GEORGE KITTLE, JIMMY GAROPPOLO, DRE GREENLAW, ARIK ARMSTEAD, MIKE MCGLINCHEY
https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/5-players-the-san-francisco-49ers-could-trade-this-offseason
McGlinchey isn't really a tradeable commodity because of his injury. I think the chances are he starts the season on PUP. They could also restructure his cap hit this year to be less than the scheduled $10 million. He looked good in Pass Pro this year, something Compton won't ever be able to do.
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