Regarding Garoppolo, Shanahan is serious—
It wasn't false hope or a bowl of chicken soup for the soul; it was Shanahan's real thought at that moment. They needed Garoppolo to step up.
There's no doubt that the San Francisco 49ers have an outstanding ground game, with the running back committee capable of breaking through defenses; but looking back at tonight's game, the Kansas City Chiefs performed excellently on targeted ground defense, never allowing the running back committee to fully open up the game.
Everything, just as Shanahan predicted before the game, so Shanahan's Super Bowl strategy preparation had always been focused on a passing offense.
And now, it was the same.
