As long as 49ers’ defense is elite, expect more ‘Conservative Kyle’ vs. Dolphins and beyond

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kyle Shanahan readily admits that depending on the situation, he’s a different play-caller than the one who pushed the envelope sometimes beyond the bounds of wisdom after arriving at 4949 Marie P. DeBartolo Way in 2017.

That’s why Shanahan, now a wise old hand at 42, has no intention of getting into an empty-the-playbook contest with Mike McDaniel, his former lieutenant and the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

To steal a line from former New York Jets coach Herm Edwards in 2009, “You play to win the game.”