The John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan era is just beginning in Santa Clara, but after a dismal 2-14 season last year, optimism for 2017 is unusually high.
The Niners opened up the preseason with a sound 27-17 victory over the Chiefs last week trotting out a much different roster than a season prior. Brian Hoyer has taken over as Colin Kaepernick’s successor, although he’s probably hoping to have a bit more success. Stanford product and first-round pick Solomon Thomas is looking to make waves as well in his rookie season.
But perhaps the most intriguing factor about this team is the change in San Francisco’s mentality. NFL insider Adam Schefter joined Murph & Mac on KNBR Thursday where he gave a hopeful early take on the Niners season.
“It’s preseason, you don’t want to get too carried away, but I’m telling you — and I think any other 49ers fan that watched — there just seemed to be a different vibe about them,” Schefter said. “They looked confident. They looked like they knew what they were doing. They looked like there was hope. I mean, that’s what I felt watching them.”
Schefter’s comments are a good sign for a franchise that has been spinning its wheels in ineptitude ever since the “mutual parting” of Jim Harbaugh at the end of the 2014 season. Since that time, San Francisco has been a laughing stock, going 5-11 in 2015 which led to the firing of head coach Jim Tomsula, and regressing again in 2016, leading to another firing of a first-year head coach in Chip Kelly. The 49ers responded by cleaning house this offseason, and going all in on new general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, giving both six-year deals.
The Niners will have a chance to build onto Schefter’s comments on Saturday where they take on the Denver Broncos in Santa Clara for their second preseason game.
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Schefter’s comments on the 49ers, skip to the 2:30 mark.