49ers Urged: Ax Special Teams Coordinator
The 49ers made an erroneous decision in dismissing the coordinator following their loss in Super Bowl LVIII.
They opted to fire Steve Wilks, despite his defense performing admirably throughout the game, barring the exhaustion evident in the final moments of overtime, which was understandable given the circumstances. There was little Wilks could have done about that. Surprisingly, they didn’t let go of special teams coordinator Brian Schneider.
If anything, the downfall in the Super Bowl for the 49ers stemmed from issues with special teams, rather than defense. The defense didn’t yield a touchdown drive during regulation play. The only touchdown conceded by the 49ers’ defense prior to overtime occurred immediately after a mishandled punt deep within their own territory, placing the blame squarely on the special teams.
Initially, the mishap occurred due to an unfortunate bounce off Darrell Luter Jr.’s foot, which can happen in the game. However, the critical mistake was made by Ray Ray McCloud, who, instead of securing the ball as instructed by Schneider, attempted to advance it, disregarding the danger with bodies around. Players should prioritize safety in such situations, opting to secure possession and give it to the offense rather than attempting heroics. This error lies with McCloud and, by extension, Schneider.
Furthermore, the kicker recommended by Schneider, Jake Moody, missed an extra point, enabling the Chiefs to equalize with a field goal at the close of regulation.
The performance of the 49ers’ special teams was dismal in the Super Bowl. Accountability for this failure falls on someone, and that someone should be Schneider.
