My top 3 candidates and their "red flags"

1. Demeco Ryans- don't really have any strong red flags with Ryans but the biggest drawbacks are that a) the 49ers defense was really good before he got promoted and he won't have that same luxury of talent here b) he's a defensive head coach.

Counter: First of all it's not easy to maintain a top defense in multiple years. Even if you're given talent you have to keep guys bought in, constantly adapt and change to new trends on the other side of the ball, teach and grow new players (Hafunga for ex.) and then on top of that actually make the scheme BETTER. Bosa said he's the best defensive coach he's been around. And yes that includes over Saleh. You can't discredit Ryans for having talent on his team. He's a teacher, schemer and leader all in one. As for him being a defensive HC, this is the biggest real concern. However he's got plenty of connections to the Shanahan and Kubiak trees. He can get a bright mind on the offensive side of the ball and develop a line of guys who can take the reigns if the OC gets poached. Not only this but they call the LB the QB of the defense. I think you need to have some sort of awareness about offenses in order to be a great LB, which Ryans was. .

1. Shane Steichen – Again hard to find red flags with this guy. The only thing I got is that sometimes I watch and wonder if his scheme can be consistent or be sustainable. He's got plenty of talent to work with here but sometimes a good bit of the big plays, that talent does in fact make a play rather than them being schemed open. Also when defenses start to figure out a balance with this 2 high shell stuff so their run defenses stop suffering, can he adapt his scheme again?

Counter: Steichen is calling particular plays because he's knows the talent he has on the field. He trust his guys to win their matchups and trust Hurts to get it to them and it works well because they are dialed up at the right times. As for consistency, he's had success with Herbert and then took on the challenge in growing Hurts and succeeded. It's no accident wherever he's gone the offense has gotten better. Two very different QBs shows his flexibility and ability to scheme and build the system around players. Even though similar things were said about peps ability to coach QBs, this is different because Steichen has called plays and been successful at it independently of any superior talent or play calling coach above him. I trust him to adapt because of his proven flexibility.

1. Gannon- This is the "boring" hire many people would prefer not to have but would in the end be ok with. Only real red flag is that his run defense is not very good. He has the talent on the DL and in the LB position unlike what we had and unlike Ryans, who coached a top run defenses and pass defense, his run defense still hasn't been good. He's also a defensive minded coach.

Counter: I think he's sacrificed a bit of the run defense willingly in order to maintain a stellar pass rush and pass defense. The offense was putting up points for them so you're not going to run the ball when you're down 14 points. That means you can't really take advantage of the run game and resort to passing against a team that had a league leading 70 sacks- the next team isn't even close (Chiefs at 55). Complain about his aggression all you want but back to back top 10 defenses and a 70 sack season ain't easy. Obviously adjustments need to be made for the talent level here but that goes for any candidate. It's about evaluating what they do with their talent and the production they get and how sustainable they've been able to get it. Getting talent is the job of the GM not the coach.