49ers: Kyle Shanahan has every reason to take Jared Goff seriously in NFC Championship
The NFC West underwent a major shift in 2017. The San Francisco 49ers hired head coach Kyle Shanahan on February 6 of that year, nearly a month after the Los Angeles Rams hired Sean McVay to elevate a young quarterback by the name of Jared Goff.McVay was more than successful with his task as Goff's […]
The NFC West underwent a major shift in 2017. The San Francisco 49ers hired head coach Kyle Shanahan on February 6 of that year, nearly a month after the Los Angeles Rams hired Sean McVay to elevate a young quarterback by the name of Jared Goff.
McVay was more than successful with his task as Goff's production went off the charts during his first two years. Shanahan should know from personal experience; Goff went 3-0 against the 49ers from 2017-18 on his way to becoming an MVP candidate.
Times have changed since then. Shanahan's Niners are set to play in their fourth NFC title game in five years this Sunday. Goff fizzled out of L.A. and has revitalized his career with another upstart NFC team in the Detroit Lions, the next team in the way of the 49ers' sixth Lombardi Trophy.
What's stayed the same is Shanahan's respect towards the quarterback he used to face twice a year.
Goff didn't ride anyone's coattails en route to his second career NFC Championship. The former first-overall pick is putting up numbers and tape reminiscent of his peak days out in L.A. It's gotten the attention of the head coach he'll face Sunday in Santa Clara.
"I think [Goff]'s shown some of the stuff that he did in LA," Shanahan told media members Wednesday. "I think '17, '18, really '18 when he played at an MVP type level. When they give him a good scheme, when he's got good people around him, Jared is gonna always find the spot.
"He's as accurate as any quarterback I've seen," Shanahan continued. "He can play at a very top level if you make things easy for him, he will gash you. I've seen it over and over whether it's with the Rams, whether it's with Detroit."
There's no coach speak to be found here. In three games from the two years Shanahan specified, Goff absolutely obliterated San Francisco. He totaled 693 yards and nine touchdowns on 8.9 yards per attempt. He completed 71% of his throws and was sacked just once.
Was the 49ers' defense back then as talented as it is now? Absolutely not. but Goff has found another scheme and supporting cast to thrive with in the Motor City. He finished the regular season eighth in adjusted EPA/play (0.152) and sixth in success rate (49.7%) among starting QBs.
Up those numbers to 0.244 and 55.7%, respectively, through two postseason games thus far. He's past heating up.
"You better be on your stuff or he can embarrass you fast," Shanahan concluded.
Unlike the last two weeks, Goff won't be able to rely on the Lions' home crowd to boost him up. Chants of his name throughout sold-out Ford Field have been said to get the veteran quarterback in a calm state to perform. He's not getting any of that treatment in the Bay Area despite his time playing ball at Cal.
Goff is also 0-5 against the 49ers since 2018, a testament to how much more improved San Francisco's defense became, and how much they learned about facing him. Their last meeting was in Week 12 of 2020, a 23-20 Niners road win.
Shanahan's memories of Goff playing at the top of his game will keep the 49ers locked in come Sunday.
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