© Stan Szeto | 2019 Jun 11
Steve Young knows a thing or two about a quarterback controversy. He spent the better part of six years in one with Joe Montana.
It might seem premature to call the 49ers’ current quarterback situation — with Nick Mullens coming off an impressive start while Jimmy Garoppolo is on the shelf — a quarterback controversy, per say. Kyle Shanahan certainly won’t do that, saying on Wednesday that the possibility of Garoppolo losing his job currently doesn’t exist.
Young isn’t so sure. He won’t go as far as using the dreaded “C word” just yet, but rather a different one.
“I think what it’s done at a minimum, is caused more I’ll call it ‘creative tension,’” Young told Tolbert, Krueger and Brooks on Wednesday. “Not toxic tension. Toxic tension you have to stop. Nick is not a toxic personality, he’s a great backup and he’s a great starter so far. And he’s energizing. I feel like Kyle does trust him and I think that’s important to distinguish.”
The sample size is small with Mullens, but the numbers are a bit staggering. Through seven games, only two quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck) have thrown for more yards. From a QB rating standpoint Garoppolo has a clear edge, however, posting a 101.0 career number vs. Mullens’ 91.5.
Big Nick pic.twitter.com/0CQsJZR7xd
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 30, 2020
With Garoppolo not practicing on Wednesday, it remains unclear who will get the nod vs. the Eagles.
“It feels like Nick is the kind of guy we can put some more weight onto and I don’t think he breaks. He seems like the kind of guy you can really do that (to). And that begs the question around the tension that will build as he succeeds in the locker room. What I’m telling you is it’s not a controversy, it’s creative tension. It’s everybody gets it, Nick’s come on and done well, and I suspect as he continues that, that’ll just create more creative tension, put pressure on Jimmy and others, and it’ll actually be a positive for everybody.
“Regardless how you want to look at it, it’s good for the team. It’s good for Jimmy, it’s good for Nick, it’s good for Kyle and the truth wins out over time.
“It’s a positive in every direction to push people to play better.”
Listen to the full interview below.