Kyle Shanahan still won’t accept that the 49ers need a new kicker.

Jake Moody was a huge disappointment. Last year’s third-round pick missed three shots on goal in the playoffs and three field goals Sunday against the 49ers. 23-20 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To be fair, he also scored three baskets, including the victory. Still, three out of six is ​​terrible for a professional kicker.

It’s time for the 49ers to cut bait and find a better kicker. And yet, Shanahan still makes excuses for Moody.

“I thought it wasn’t the easiest place to step in,” Shanahan said Monday. “The wind was weird, especially the direction he was missing the thing. It was different. But there were some big kicks and he came back and hit his first game winner on a goal. So, I thought he finished well and we “I’ll move on to next week with that.

As if the game was a positive learning experience for Moody. Please. If Moody misses another field goal next week, the 49ers will have no choice but to cut him and draft someone else.

Moody’s problem is that the 49ers put too much pressure on him by drafting him in the third round. He can’t manage expectations. Maybe he would perform better on a team that didn’t draft him in the third round.

Perhaps the 49ers could sign Matthew Wright, the kicker they originally signed to replace Moody when he suffered a sprained ankle.

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