SANTA CLARA – Maybe it’s because he’s been benched before. Maybe it’s because as a veteran and he knows his situation. Whatever the reason, the one person who seems well aware that a change could be made at quarterback IS the quarterback.
“Look around the league, coaching, players, if you don’t give the results, people are going to make changes, that’s just the way it goes,” 49ers embattled starter Brian Hoyer said. Through three quarters of the 49ers crushing overtime loss in Arizona last Sunday, Hoyer had missed on 11 passes, which is a high number. Of the 30 quarterbacks who started most of the season, Hoyer is ranked last in quarterback rating at 67.9. The 49ers have only two touchdown passes through four games and Hoyer has thrown four interceptions.
Nevertheless, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has been unequivocal in his support for Hoyer. When asked Monday if he had gotten to the point where he would consider making a change at quarterback, Shanahan said, “No I wouldn’t.” Shanahan then went on to say that Hoyer made some key throws.
“… guys weren’t great at catching them for him, either. I think it’s a two-way street,” Shanahan said. “I think it takes everyone, coaches included. We all need to do better, and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Shanahan, however, also said the pass protection has been good, particularly with tackles Joe Staley and Trent Brown. The running game, a quarterback’s best friend, has also been strong. The one area where the 49ers have faltered is with dropped passes. The 49ers are among the league leaders in that category according to Stats.com. Aldrick Robinson (3 drops) Matt Brieda (2), Marquise Goodwin (2), and George Kittle (2) are the top offenders. If half those passes are caught, that could have led to more points, and with the 49ers losing three games by a total of eight points, simply catching the ball could have made a difference between wins and losses.
But the fact remains that Hoyer needs to be more accurate and he needs to improve his pocket presence. This season he’s waited too long in the pocket and at other times, he’s inability to set and throw has led to wayward throws. Hall of Famer Steve Young may have said it best on KNBR’s Tolbert and Lund show.
“Then he stays in the mode of kind of desperation and then he comes into this game and all of the sudden he’s pressing, ‘I need this. I’ve got to have it,.’” Young said in assessing Hoyer. “Then your eyes drop and you’re thinking of something else and you’re not free to go play the way you can.”
Support, even with Shanahan, might erode particularly if Hoyer doesn’t play well in Indianapolis, where the Colts have struggled defensively.