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The Gold Standard: San Francisco 49ers Podcast Network

NFC West Mixtape: Who is the best head coach in the division?

·32 min·3 clips
How can you give Kyle Shanahan the edge over Mike McDonald when the Seahawks won two of three matchups and just won the Super Bowl?
The episode begins with hosts Rob Statz-Guerrera from the Gold Standard 49ers Podcast and Dan Bienz from Seahawks Forever Podcast introducing the NFC West Mixtape show. They note the quiet period two weeks before the NFL draft and decide to rank the division's head coaches. Dan outlines his three criteria: longevity, highest highs, and playoff performance, leading him to rank Sean McVay first due to nine years of success, averaging over ten wins a year, a Super Bowl championship, and two appearances with different quarterbacks. Rob disagrees, ranking Kyle Shanahan first for his ability to manage an injury-plagued 49ers team last season despite ownership-imposed financial constraints, noting Shanahan's improved game management and calm demeanor. Dan challenges Rob's ranking by pointing out the Seahawks' two wins over the 49ers and their Super Bowl victory under Mike McDonald. Rob explains his ranking places McDonald third because of his limited sample size, though he acknowledges McDonald's potential for future greatness. Dan critiques Sean McVay for underachieving last season, suggesting he struggled psychologically against McDonald's Seahawks. They discuss McDonald's strengths, including his handling of player competitions and sideline influence on play-calling. Rob highlights the Rams' special teams failures as a coaching flaw for McVay. The conversation shifts to how McDonald will handle success, including staff turnover and maintaining team chemistry. They briefly touch on new Cardinals coach Michael Flohr, giving him a pass for his first year given the team's rebuilding state. The hosts reveal their final rankings: Dan has McVay, Shanahan, McDonald, Flohr; Rob has Shanahan, McDonald, McVay, Flohr. They invite listener feedback and promote their podcasts before signing off.

As heard by us

A pre-draft NFC West coaching debate gets its energy from a real split at the top.

The Gold Standard's NFC West Mixtape turns a quiet pre-draft window into a brisk argument about the division's head coaches. Rob Statz-Guerrera and Dan Bienz start with the Cardinals at the bottom, largely because Michael Flohr has not yet coached a game for them, then move into…

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Why you'd press play

You can settle the NFC West head-coach argument before the draft arrives - or at least pick a side.

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