Kyle Shanahan and Steve Wilks share blame for costly blitz in 49ers' loss to Vikings
No call in the days since the San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Minnesota Vikings has attracted more attention than Steve Wilks' decision to send a zero blitz in the waning seconds of the first half. Wilks has received significant criticism for that decision, which was immediately punished as Minnesota's rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison […]
No call in the days since the San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Minnesota Vikings has attracted more attention than Steve Wilks' decision to send a zero blitz in the waning seconds of the first half.
Wilks has received significant criticism for that decision, which was immediately punished as Minnesota's rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison snatched the ball away from 49ers corner Charvarius Ward and raced in for his second touchdown of the night to put the Vikings up 16-7 in a game they ultimately won 22-17.
In Thursday's press conference ahead of Sunday's game with the Cincinnati Bengals, Wilks owned his error of judgement.
"I take full responsibility for that call," Wilks said. "I have to do a better job of putting the guys in a better position.
"We have good players, I know that, and can't really press the issue. With that, moving forward, it's my responsibility to do that. I wish I could take it back, but I've got to do better.
"Our players, they've show an ability to be able to do certain things, and I've got to be able to trust that. I know exactly what we have, and the caliber of guys there and I take full responsibility for putting those guys in that position."
While Wilks conceded to being guilty of pressing things too much, head coach Kyle Shanahan also showed accountability in his weekly appearance on KNBR.
Shanahan, who explained that the call was an incorrect one as the Vikings would not have had time to spike the ball after a completion, said: "It's ultimately up to me. I mean, I heard that and I should have called a timeout and changed it, but I didn't."
The mistake on the part of Wilks was far from the only error in what was the 49ers' worst performance of what has still been an impressive start to the season.
Both Wilks and Shanahan have offered the right response in taking their share of the blame. Now the focus is firmly on ensuring there aren't further feelings of regret going into the 49ers' Week 9 bye following a tough matchup with a Bengals team that harbors the same ambition as San Francisco for this season.
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