technical details
  1. is_video => false
  2. alias => "bayarea\/\/49ers\/kyle-shanahan-takes-blame-ahkello-witherspoons-rough-game"
  3. nid => "354806"
  4. title => "Kyle Shanahan takes blame for Ahkello Witherspoon's rough game"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>SANTA CLARA \u2013 Ahkello Witherspoon had a difficult afternoon Sunday against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford virtually ignored Richard Sherman\u2019s side of the field and focused on Witherspoon. When targeting the 49ers' second-year cornerback, Stafford completed eight of the 12 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, according to <em>Pro Football Focus<\/em>. Stafford missed some open receivers down the field. Witherspoon was also called for two penalties and missed a tackle.<\/p>\n<p>But Witherspoon was playing on a bum ankle, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan took the blame for even putting Witherspoon in that situation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe wasn\u2019t 100 percent, and he wanted to play, but after watching the tape and everything, I don\u2019t think I should\u2019ve had him (play),\u201d Shanahan said on \"49ers Game Plan,\" which airs on <em>NBC Bay Area (Ch. 3)<\/em> on Saturday at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have played him last week because we didn\u2019t get his best and he obviously wasn\u2019t ready to do that, so I\u2019m going to make sure that I don\u2019t put him out there unless he is 100 percent. I think we\u2019ll find that out (Sunday) before the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 49ers may not know with Witherspoon and strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) until Sunday morning if they will be able to play against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>Kansas City\u2019s Patrick Mahomes threw 10 touchdown passes in the team\u2019s first two games \u2013 the most by any NFL quarterback through two games. On the day before his 22nd birthday, he became the youngest player to pass for six touchdowns in a game in the Chiefs'&nbsp;&nbsp;42-37 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/p>\n<p>Shanahan said the Steelers\u2019 defense made it too easy on Mahomes and his speedy wide receivers, Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, with too many blown coverages. The 49ers\u2019 secondary must be a lot more disciplined, regardless of who lines up at cornerback and safety.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou watch that Pittsburgh game, and there\u2019s about six plays in the first 2 \u00bd quarters where guys were wide open in busted coverages,\u201d Shanahan said. \u201cIf you give this quarterback and that speed a bunch of freebies by making mistakes, that\u2019s the results will be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve got to make them work for everything. And the way you do that is you stay sound, you don\u2019t make mistakes, you got to be willing to give up some check downs, but don\u2019t give up the touchdown. We have to be smart, disciplined, stay on top, and when they check it down, we need 11 guys swarming to the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe style=\"border: none; margin:0px; width:100%; height:250px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stanza.co\/@nfl-49ers?embed=true&banner=true&site=comcastsportsnet\"><\/iframe> \n"
  7. author => "Matt Maiocco"
  8. mps => {"author":"Matt Maiocco","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1537543200"
  10. created => "1537543464"
  11. changed => "1537550819"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "USATSI"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"9351","name":"Ahkello Witherspoon","url":"tags\/ahkello-witherspoon"},{"tid":"5776","name":"Kyle Shanahan","url":"tags\/kyle-shanahan"},{"tid":"1026","name":"Matt Maiocco","url":"tags\/matt-maiocco"},{"tid":"1021","name":"San Francisco 49ers","url":"tags\/san-francisco-49ers"},{"tid":"1016","name":"NFL","url":"tags\/nfl"}]
  15. field_bean_single_col => {"bean":{"49ers-insider-podcast---1col":{"#view_mode":"default","field_content":{"#theme":"field","#weight":1,"#title":"Content","#access":true,"#label_display":"hidden","#view_mode":"default","#language":"und","#field_name":"field_content","#field_type":"text_long","#field_translatable":"0","#entity_type":"bean","#bundle":"custom_block","#object":{"label":"49ers Insider Podcast - 1col","description":null,"title":"49ers Insider Podcast - 1col","type":"custom_block","data":{"view_mode":"default"},"delta":"49ers-insider-podcast---1col","view_mode":"default","bid":"1101","vid":"10641","created":"1477067674","changed":"1521646456","log":"","uid":"21","default_revision":"1","revisions":[],"field_block_size":{"und":[{"value":"single"}]},"field_content":{"und":[{"value":"<h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\">The 49ers Insider Podcast<\/a><\/h3><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cba1724c-7b6c-4676-881d-bfedfb56debe\/embed?type=artwork&theme=light-gray-custom&primary_color=%23a1083d&playlist_type=playlist&playlist_size=3\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 505px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n\r\n","format":"code","safe_value":"<h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\">The 49ers Insider Podcast<\/a><\/h3><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cba1724c-7b6c-4676-881d-bfedfb56debe\/embed?type=artwork&theme=light-gray-custom&primary_color=%23a1083d&playlist_type=playlist&playlist_size=3\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 505px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n"}]},"field_display_desktop_large_only":{"und":[{"value":"0"}]},"field_hide_on_mobile":{"und":[{"value":"0"}]},"field_allow_http_elements":{"und":[{"value":"1"}]},"field_allow_lld_domains":[],"_drafty_revision_requested":"FIELD_LOAD_CURRENT","entity_view_prepared":true},"#items":[{"value":"<h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\">The 49ers Insider Podcast<\/a><\/h3><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cba1724c-7b6c-4676-881d-bfedfb56debe\/embed?type=artwork&theme=light-gray-custom&primary_color=%23a1083d&playlist_type=playlist&playlist_size=3\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 505px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n\r\n","format":"code","safe_value":"<h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\">The 49ers Insider Podcast<\/a><\/h3><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cba1724c-7b6c-4676-881d-bfedfb56debe\/embed?type=artwork&theme=light-gray-custom&primary_color=%23a1083d&playlist_type=playlist&playlist_size=3\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 505px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n"}],"#formatter":"text_default","0":{"#markup":"<h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\">The 49ers Insider Podcast<\/a><\/h3><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cba1724c-7b6c-4676-881d-bfedfb56debe\/embed?type=artwork&theme=light-gray-custom&primary_color=%23a1083d&playlist_type=playlist&playlist_size=3\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 505px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n"}},"#pre_render":["_field_extra_fields_pre_render"],"#entity_type":"bean","#bundle":"custom_block","#groups":[],"#fieldgroups":[],"#group_children":[],"#theme":"entity","#entity":{"label":"49ers Insider Podcast - 1col","description":null,"title":"49ers Insider Podcast - 1col","type":"custom_block","data":{"view_mode":"default"},"delta":"49ers-insider-podcast---1col","view_mode":"default","bid":"1101","vid":"10641","created":"1477067674","changed":"1521646456","log":"","uid":"21","default_revision":"1","revisions":[],"field_block_size":{"und":[{"value":"single"}]},"field_content":{"und":[{"value":"<h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\">The 49ers Insider Podcast<\/a><\/h3><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cba1724c-7b6c-4676-881d-bfedfb56debe\/embed?type=artwork&theme=light-gray-custom&primary_color=%23a1083d&playlist_type=playlist&playlist_size=3\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 505px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n\r\n","format":"code","safe_value":"<h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/page\/49ers-insider-podcast-matt-maiocco\">The 49ers Insider Podcast<\/a><\/h3><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cba1724c-7b6c-4676-881d-bfedfb56debe\/embed?type=artwork&theme=light-gray-custom&primary_color=%23a1083d&playlist_type=playlist&playlist_size=3\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 505px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n"}]},"field_display_desktop_large_only":{"und":[{"value":"0"}]},"field_hide_on_mobile":{"und":[{"value":"0"}]},"field_allow_http_elements":{"und":[{"value":"1"}]},"field_allow_lld_domains":[],"_drafty_revision_requested":"FIELD_LOAD_CURRENT","entity_view_prepared":true},"#language":"en","#page":null,"#contextual_links":{"bean":["block",["49ers-insider-podcast---1col","edit"]]}}}}
  16. section => "49ers"
  17. team => "49ers"
  18. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  19. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/bayarea\/2018\/09\/21\/ahkellous.jpg","alt":"ahkellous.jpg","title":"Kyle Shanahan takes blame for Ahkello Witherspoon's rough game"}
  20. sponsor => ""
  21. region => "bayarea"
  22. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=304476467003440&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2F49ers%2Fkyle-shanahan-takes-blame-ahkello-witherspoons-rough-game&display=popup"
  23. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Kyle%20Shanahan%20takes%20blame%20for%20Ahkello%20Witherspoon%27s%20rough%20game&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2F49ers%2Fkyle-shanahan-takes-blame-ahkello-witherspoons-rough-game&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2F49ers%2Fkyle-shanahan-takes-blame-ahkello-witherspoons-rough-game"
  24. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Kyle%20Shanahan%20takes%20blame%20for%20Ahkello%20Witherspoon%27s%20rough%20game&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2F49ers%2Fkyle-shanahan-takes-blame-ahkello-witherspoons-rough-game"
  25. tags_hide => []
  26. type => "article"
  27. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/bayarea\/49ers\/kyle-shanahan-takes-blame-ahkello-witherspoons-rough-game.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/bayarea\/2018\/09\/21\/ahkellous.jpg"]}
  28. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2018\/09\/21\/ahkellous.jpg","alt":"ahkellous.jpg","title":"Kyle Shanahan takes blame for Ahkello Witherspoon's rough game"}
  29. article_type => "article"

SANTA CLARA – Ahkello Witherspoon had a difficult afternoon Sunday against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford virtually ignored Richard Sherman’s side of the field and focused on Witherspoon. When targeting the 49ers' second-year cornerback, Stafford completed eight of the 12 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. Stafford missed some open receivers down the field. Witherspoon was also called for two penalties and missed a tackle.

But Witherspoon was playing on a bum ankle, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan took the blame for even putting Witherspoon in that situation.

“He wasn’t 100 percent, and he wanted to play, but after watching the tape and everything, I don’t think I should’ve had him (play),” Shanahan said on "49ers Game Plan," which airs on NBC Bay Area (Ch. 3) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“I shouldn’t have played him last week because we didn’t get his best and he obviously wasn’t ready to do that, so I’m going to make sure that I don’t put him out there unless he is 100 percent. I think we’ll find that out (Sunday) before the game.”

The 49ers may not know with Witherspoon and strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) until Sunday morning if they will be able to play against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes threw 10 touchdown passes in the team’s first two games – the most by any NFL quarterback through two games. On the day before his 22nd birthday, he became the youngest player to pass for six touchdowns in a game in the Chiefs'  42-37 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

Shanahan said the Steelers’ defense made it too easy on Mahomes and his speedy wide receivers, Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, with too many blown coverages. The 49ers’ secondary must be a lot more disciplined, regardless of who lines up at cornerback and safety.

“You watch that Pittsburgh game, and there’s about six plays in the first 2 ½ quarters where guys were wide open in busted coverages,” Shanahan said. “If you give this quarterback and that speed a bunch of freebies by making mistakes, that’s the results will be.

“We’ve got to make them work for everything. And the way you do that is you stay sound, you don’t make mistakes, you got to be willing to give up some check downs, but don’t give up the touchdown. We have to be smart, disciplined, stay on top, and when they check it down, we need 11 guys swarming to the ball.”