The San Francisco 49ers head into Thursday night’s game with a 0-2 record. Realistically, the primary reason for their lack of early-season success has been a dreadful offensive performance, specifically the team’s passing game.
It’s in this that first-year head coach Kyle Shanahan has put the onus on quarterback Brian Hoyer to step up.
“I want him (Hoyer) to get his edge back. I want him to get his confidence,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said, via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. “We need Brian to step up, and we need everyone around him to step up.”
Hoyer is coming off a Week 2 performance that saw him complete 15-of-27 passes for just 99 yards in a narrow 12-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It’s a game that saw him get pressured just five times, so the blame cannot necessarily be placed on San Francisco’s offensive line.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ defense ranks in the top 10 in total yards allowed, points allowed an against the pass through two weeks. At this point, it really is on the team’s passing game to step up big time moving forward.
San Francisco hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. Should Hoyer struggle, there will definitely be continued calls for rookie third-round pick C.J. Beathard to replace him under center.