Kurtenbach: The 49ers learned their lesson and corrected last season’s biggest error
The ers learned their lesson Last offseason general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan left nearly all business until the last minute Free agency the NFL Draft big-time contract extensions all were efforts in brinksmanship brought on by a mix of hubris and exhaustion from three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance It established in offseason training programs training camps and the regular season too resulting in six wins Related Articles Kurtenbach Brock Purdy s new contract should make everyone the ers fans and especially the QB happy Grading ers NFL Draft picks triumphs and head scratchers Kurtenbach The ers first-round pick could not have been better The ers first-round draft pick should be their easiest I ve spent five months watching NFL Draft Prospects Here are my favorite players I don t agree with everything the ers have done this offseason but I can t fault the band s conviction and execution of what is a clear-cut plan While jettisoning veterans and replacing them with rookies isn t a particularly effective way to improve your crew removing distractions and fostering early engagement can perhaps offset that And that s what the Niners are doing Signing Brock Purdy to a five-year contract extension was the most of vital move of this transitional offseason They followed that move on Friday by signing perennial All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to a three-year contract extension worth a revealed million on Monday Add in a George Kittle extension last month and the Niners wrapped up all their major business before the start of OTAs next week What a welcome change What a necessary expedience There will be plenty of other moves and adjustments but larger issues won t cloud such decisions this year You won t have Shanahan worrying about and or sprinting through the facility to fix a star athlete s contract while trying to install his offense which will have at least three new starters and a dramatically different feel without Deebo Samuel in the fold Robert Saleh has his work cut out for him as the squad s fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons there might be as multiple as seven new starters on that side of the ball but having Warner around to be a coach on the field a big dog for the young pups to learn from is critical And Warner can be all-in knowing his future is secure The Niners roster might not be good enough Somehow that all-important thing overall talent is being glossed over right now But the Niners will not be done in by a lack of concentration Which brings us to the biggest gift the ers received this offseason It s not the millions of dollars Purdy left on the table to ensure a stress-free contract negotiation It s not the rest of the NFL overthinking Mykel Williams contest to the point that in my apparently unique opinion the majority single the greater part talented athlete in the draft fell to pick No And it s not the fact that the Niners have been given the easiest schedule in the NFL in more than a decade either Look closely at that slate of games and you ll fast see it It s the first tournament at Seattle on Sept That s the gift Related Articles Brent Jones catches overdue spot in ers Hall of Fame ers make All-Pro Fred Warner the NFL s highest-paid linebacker ers mailbag Financing a future Super Bowl run with Purdy extension Warner up next ers set to add veteran kicker to compete with Moody Kurtenbach Brock Purdy s new contract should make everyone the ers fans and especially the QB happy The Niners don t have plenty of demanding games this upcoming season but they ll have one in Week A division contest a rivalry encounter on the road off the jump It s manna from heaven for the San Francisco coaching staff and club leaders If a match on the road in Seattle can t grab your attention and respect I m not sure what will This is the reason top college football programs play really big games on Labor Day weekend folks Nothing hones in a training camp like fear of being exposed as frauds in Week Think these offseason programs and training camp don t matter It won t take but a inadequate plays into the season to find out how incorrect you are The Niners knew what was coming well before we did Heaven forbid the NFL doesn t turn their schedule release into an event And they ve been acting as if there s no time to be wasted because well there isn t That easing into the season that the Niners are so wont to do under Shanahan It won t fly in lest the Niners want to lose the division by the first week of October Not only do the Niners open at Seattle but they have games against Arizona and the Rams before the first Sunday in October That s the toughest division in football all four teams are expected to be above this upcoming season right out of the gate Slim margins require narrow focus The Niners talked about it but now they re backing it up And amid an offseason that deserves mixed at best reviews that s something worth applauding
