Steve Young sees 49ers success in 2020 as their biggest test

The 49ers shocked the world in 2019 going from winning only 10 games in the previous two seasons combined, to coming within minutes of winning Super Bowl LIV.

Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young believes the 49ers’ path back to glory will be much more difficult with the team now having a target on their back. Coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense is now under the microscope. He has the incredible task of maintaining a high level of offensive creativity going forward.

Young spoke during a video tribute to Dwight Clark on August 7th, hosted by Matt Maiocco and spoke about the 49ers and what challenges lie ahead for them in their quest to make it back to another Super Bowl appearance.

“This is not the year that you want to come off [as] the innovator because you’re now going to get stared at like never before, and that’s what’s happened with the 49ers,” Young said. “So, with that in mind, you got to know that most everything that the 49ers did last year that was innovative, will now be ubiquitous throughout the league.

“Go watch the Saints - 49ers game in New Orleans. There was innovation all over the place. I can’t remember ever feeling that way ever before where I just like, ‘My gosh, the innovation and what’s happening in this game is amazing.’ And then that game now, is going to be — everyone in the world is going to run those plays, and learn how to defense those plays, right?”

Shanahan, who is known for his creativity as an offensive coordinator, will need to come up with even more surprises for opposing defenses. His players will need to execute even more accurately than before when they remained under the radar even through the postseason.

“There’s an extra level of challenge this year because the rest of the league now knows that they are the kings,” Young said. “They’re everybody’s homecoming game. Every game that they play will be the biggest game that other teams play.

“The play calling will be put out there and every defensive coordinator is like, ‘These 49ers! This is the game you better…’ So everyone is hyper focused. They are going to be tested how great they are. They are great but how great?”

Being able to catch other teams off guard could be the biggest advantage lost by Shanahan and his team. If they pass muster, Young believes it proves that the 49ers have staying power.

“That will be tested this year and it’ll be fun to watch,” Young said. “Because if they can withstand that scrutiny and that intensity, that’s when you think, ‘We’re going to be great for a long time.’ Because that’s a big filter, a big hurdle to get through.

“One of the easier hurdles is coming from behind. People aren’t really ready for you, you get good really fast, and you kind of run through the season and run the table. It almost happened last year. That’s the best kind of way to do it. Now comes the hard work and if they can do it this year, you got to think that they can do it every year for four or five years.”