Kyle Shanahan Raves About Mac Jones After Strong Start in 49ers Win
The San Francisco 49ers were down a couple of star players in Week 2, but they still managed to grind out a 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints. That was thanks in large part to quarterback Mac Jones, who filled in for Brock Purdy under center in this one. After the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn’t shy in praising Jones for putting together a strong outing in his first start with the Niners.
Jones hasn’t exactly enjoyed a lot of success in the NFL, but his stock could be on the rise after a strong performance against the Saints. And with Purdy expected to miss at least one more game, Shanahan and the 49ers will continue to rely on Jones to lead their offense forward in the immediate future.
Kyle Shanahan Gushes Over Mac Jones
Ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, Jones was linked heavily to San Francisco, which had the No. 3 overall pick. Instead, they took Trey Lance with that selection, which led to Jones falling all the way to the No. 15 overall pick, where the New England Patriots selected him. Jones earned a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie, but a slew of coaching changes and a lack of talent around him on offense led to him regressing mightily over the next two seasons.
Jones got traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2024 season, where he worked as Trevor Lawrence’s backup. Over the offseason, Jones ended up signing with the 49ers, with the hope being that Shanahan and the team’s coaching staff could help build him back up after a rough start to his career.
Against New Orleans, Jones looked solid, as he threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Purdy will obviously take over when he’s healthy enough to play again, but it was encouraging to see Jones deliver the goods, and Shanahan revealed that he was quite impressed with what he saw from the former Alabama Crimson Tide star.
“I thought Mac played real well,” Shanahan said after the game. “We had a number of things we had to change up … Thought he handled the situation well, thought he delivered the ball real well. Obviously, would like to have that fumble back, hopefully we can get rid of it a little earlier … But yeah, I thought he did a hell of a job.”
49ers Set to Turn to Mac Jones Again in Week 3 if Brock Purdy Can’t Go
GettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is congratulated by Christian McCaffrey #23 after passing the ball for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half in the game at Caesars Superdome on September 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The Saints’ defense isn’t exactly one of the better units in the league, but seeing Jones lead the 49ers to victory in enemy territory is obviously going to make the team thrilled. With Purdy potentially missing a few more games, that will give Shanahan and company the confidence needed to run the offense as they typically would with their $265 million stud.
San Francisco will have the benefit of returning home in Week 3, but they will be taking on another 2-0 team in the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals, when they return to action. The Cardinals haven’t exactly dominated in their wins over the Saints and Carolina Panthers, but they will offer Jones and the rest of the offense a much tougher challenge next week. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
Dolphins’ Defensive Struggles Mirror Joe Barry’s Troubling Past in Green Bay
When a coach with a controversial track record joins a new team, their performance is placed under immediate scrutiny. For many Green Bay Packers fans, the name Joe Barry is synonymous with a defensive philosophy that often felt frustratingly passive. The news that Barry had landed with the Miami Dolphins as their linebackers and run game coordinator was met with a sense of knowing trepidation by his former critics. Now, with the NFL season underway, the Dolphins’ defensive struggles are raising familiar questions about Barry’s impact.
While Barry is not the defensive coordinator in Miami, his influence on the linebacker corps and run defense is significant. The team’s poor performance in these areas has not gone unnoticed, and for those who followed his tenure in Green Bay, the results look eerily familiar. The Dolphins’ defense is currently facing significant challenges, and the statistics paint a troubling picture that aligns with a career-long trend for the veteran coach.
Green Bay Packers Fans Are All Too Familiar With Joe Barry
Joe Barry’s time as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 2021 to 2023 was marked by consistent fan frustration. Despite having a roster loaded with first-round talent, his defenses were often criticized for playing a soft, “bend-don’t-break” style that allowed opposing offenses to dictate the terms of engagement. The scheme frequently gave up easy completions underneath and struggled to get off the field on third down, leading to long, sustained drives that wore down the defense.
This approach was particularly maddening for a fanbase that saw Pro Bowl talent at every level of the defense. The disconnect between the talent on the field and the results on the scoreboard ultimately led to his departure from Green Bay. His defenses, while occasionally posting respectable total yardage numbers, often failed to make critical stops in key moments. This history has created a narrative that follows him, one where his units look good on paper but fail to play with the aggressive, game-changing style that modern NFL defenses require.
The Dolphins’ Defensive Woes in 2025
The Miami Dolphins brought in a new defensive staff to elevate a unit that has its own share of high-end talent. However, the early returns have been alarming. Through the first part of the season, the Dolphins’ defense ranks among the worst in the league in several critical categories, particularly in the areas under Barry’s purview.
According to the latest NFL defensive rankings from Fox Sports, the numbers are stark:
- Total Defense: The Dolphins are ranked 29th, allowing an average of 418 yards per game.
- Scoring Defense:They are also 29th in points allowed, surrendering 33 points per game.
- Rushing Defense: The run defense, a key responsibility for Barry, is ranked 27th, giving up 156 yards per game.
These statistics are not just numbers on a page; they represent a fundamental inability to stop opposing teams. The struggles in the run game are particularly concerning, as a weak run defense puts immense pressure on the secondary and makes it difficult to control the clock. For a team with championship aspirations like the Dolphins, having a defense that is consistently on its heels is an unsustainable formula for success. The high number of yards and points allowed suggests a systemic issue, and it’s a pattern that closely mirrors the criticisms leveled against Barry’s units in the past.
Is History Repeating Itself?
While it is unfair to place all of the blame on one position coach, Barry’s role as the run game coordinator makes the team’s struggles in that area impossible to ignore. His career has been marked by stops where his defenses have underachieved relative to their talent level. His first defensive coordinator stint with the Detroit Lions in 2007-08 was a disaster, and his time in Washington from 2015-16 produced similarly uninspiring results.
The recurring theme is a defensive philosophy that appears to prioritize preventing the big play over aggressively attacking the offense. This often results in allowing opponents to methodically move the ball down the field, controlling possession and wearing down the defense. In Miami, we are seeing this play out again. The defense is not just giving up yards; it is failing to create negative plays or force turnovers at a rate needed to win consistently.
For the Dolphins, the hope was that a new coaching staff could unlock the potential of a talented group. Instead, the early season struggles have brought a familiar sense of disappointment. Joe Barry’s presence on the staff, combined with the team’s porous run defense and overall poor statistical rankings, suggests that a change in scenery has not necessarily led to a change in results. The pressure is mounting in Miami, and the defensive coaching staff, including Barry, will need to find answers quickly before the season slips away.
