‘Clearly honest’ Shanahan gets blamed for no-blitz call originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Four days later, Steve Wilks’ controversial Zero-Blitz play late in the first half of the game 49ers‘ loss for the Minnesota Vikings Monday evening, it was still a topic of discussion.
As the 49ers try to overcome the loss to the Vikings and focus on the Cincinnati BengalsWilks’ play call that ultimately led to a Minnesota touchdown was brought up again when Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters Friday.
One day later Wilks took full responsibility For the call, Shanahan blamed himself by asking about conversations between the two coaches this week.
“Just about football, the fact that it happened,” Shanahan told reporters Friday in Santa Clara. “There was a timing issue where we couldn’t make that call and that’s definitely on me. I’m the one who can stop this and that’s why I bear ultimate responsibility for everything. But when I was asked about the call two days ago, he knows we can’t do that out of time and I made a mistake by not calling a time out, so we We couldn’t call him.
“But I had no problem with that call in terms of what we’re doing. I absolutely love blitzing. It’s just not something you can do at this point. So we just talk like that. Let’s talk about football, nothing else.”
When Shanahan spoke to reporters Wednesday, he made it clear that Wilks “made a mistake,” providing a blunt assessment of the situation.
On Friday, 49ers general manager John Lynch was asked about what happened this week during an appearance on KNBR’s “Murph and Mac Show.”
“I think there’s one thing that I hope everyone realized and appreciated here in the Bay Area and the 49ers fans. Loyal, wherever they are, they have a head coach that is l “One of the most honest people you’ll ever meet.” Lynch said. “If you could have been in our room internally we would tell you and our whole team would tell you how much they believe in Steve and that has been communicated as well.
“But both things can be true. You can have a ton of conviction and not like a particular call. Even on that quote that was pulled, where he definitely shouldn’t have called that, there was a ton of context as to why Steve might call this out and the chain of events that led to it, and that he has a ton of belief and all these things.”
Shanahan, Wilks, Lynch and the 49ers all hope to move on from the controversial call when they host the Bengals at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
RELATED: Charvarius Ward defends Wilks’ zero blitz play call
A rebound performance is what all parties involved need to wipe the bitter taste from their mouths.
