SANTA CLARA–It’s easy to get caught up in what I’d call an “August High” when you visit an NFL training camp.
Storylines abound. Rookies look young and spry. The familiar allure of the NFL — speed, power, grace, all capped by those helmets we adored on bedsheets as kids — is intoxicating.
All of those were in play when Paulie Mac and I made our first visit to Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers practice this week. Reuben Foster was named a starter by Shanahan. Kendrick Bourne snagged passes in drills. Rashard Robinson swiveled his hips and tracked receivers.
It’s all enough to get you overly excited about the “new” 49ers.
Which is why my big takeaway from this visit is . . . . caution.
Patience.
A tapping of the brakes.
It would be very modern era sports fan of us to feel too much excitement for the John Lynch-Shanahan era of perceived competence, and to forget that the 49ers haven’t posted a winning season since 2013. It would be very modern era sports fan of us to expect instant turnarounds, and to forget the 49ers had statistically the worst defense in franchise history just eight months ago. It would be very modern era sports fan of us to overlook the fact that the NFL is a quarterback league, and the 49ers have yet to land their QB of the future.
In other words, the modern era sports fan is one that thinks Twitter moves too slowly, and wants results yesterday.
Lynch and Shanahan were given six-year contracts, so ownership acknowledged, via the pocketbook, that an instant turnaround is not likely. Vegas installed the 49ers’ over-under win total at 5, and only Cleveland (4.5) is lower in the league.
Would you be happy with a 5-11 49ers season? You probably should be, given the amount of work Shanahan has to do to install his philosophy, to figure out his head coaching persona, to deal with an influx of youth.
Eleven losses is a lot of losses. Will you be willing to not pound 808-KNBR and moan the direction of the franchise if the team loses 11 games? Would you be willing to lay off of Jed York and Paraag Marathe if the team loses 11 games?
Admit it. It’ll be hard. NFL Sundays are precious days in this country, and if your beloved 49ers are losing two of every three, you’re going to need to draw deep into your well of patience.
But that’s the reality. Those are the odds. The 49ers are very appealing in August. They look crisp. The DJ at practice is spinning loud beats. Players are dancing. Shanahan is drawing plaudits from players for his brains and schemes.
Beware the ‘August High’, is my takeaway. Fortify yourself for the real world, where Seattle and Green Bay and Atlanta and Dallas are the glamour boys.
I think the 49ers are turning the ship slowly in the right direction. I’m just readying myself — and so should you — for a little more time at sea before we see the shore.