Nevius: Can we believe in the 49ers’ brain trust?

John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have gotten a pretty smooth ride since they ? became GM and head coach of the 49ers. Approval has been virtually unanimous.

Part of it is the relief that they can hold a press conference without treating the microphone like a live snake.

Shanahan, in particular, has been on the longest sustained streak of pitch perfect comments I’ve ever heard. His presser on the dismissal of Reuben Foster should be required viewing for every new coach in the NFL.

He nailed every point. He was honest, he was pissed off, he expressed some concern for Foster, but was incredulous that this guy, with everything to lose, screwed up anyhow.

“He has continued to disappoint us,” Shanahan said.

Exactly.

Lynch, the former TV guy, can do sound bites in his sleep.

So, do they represent the team well? Check.

But here’s a troubling question: Can we trust their judgement? ’Cause right now it doesn’t look great.

The Foster fiasco isn’t just a black eye for the franchise. It is a punch in the gut.

Shanahan and Lynch went way out on the diving board to choose Foster. And, at the time, they were pretty pleased with themselves. Lynch even allowed a reporter from Sports Illustrated to embed in the draft room that year so he could sing the praises of the shrewd 49er brain trust.

Thirty teams passed on Foster because of red flags. But Lynch looked deep into his eyes and saw something others missed.

“When you start talking football with this young man, he lights up a room,” Lynch was quoted as saying. “I believe in this kid and think he’s going to be a great player for this organization for a long time.”

Wow. John. Did you get played or what?

Not that we all don’t want to rehabilitate someone. Especially when others have given up. You feel good.

And hey, you must have said, look Foster’s numbers. We can get him, coach him up and we’ve got our linebacker.

But let’s remember who he was before he got here. He had problems at Alabama, including an altercation at a club where three people were shot and killed, one of whom was a friend of Foster’s.

“Wrong place, wrong time,” Foster shrugged after the triple homicide.

Then he goes to the NFL Combine and hits the Daily Double - flunks his drug test and gets into a beef with a worker and is sent home.

Sent home from the Combine? Has that ever happened?

Honestly, the worst is to hear apologists for the 49ers talking about how hard Reuben was working and how much the team liked him before this one mistake.

Nonsense. The guy has been an exasperating, violent screw-up since the day he arrived. We will get to the domestic violence, but even the other stuff is head-shaking. The illegal assault rifle on his bathroom (?) floor. Getting caught with weed while driving in Alabama?

All we know about Foster’s relationship with this woman is that it is toxic and it ends in violence.

When he was arrested the first time (and I can’t believe we have to say that), in February, the same woman said he hit her repeatedly and dragged her down the stairs by her hair. With photos of her bruised face, the case seemed open and shut. The Santa Clara DA’s office was emphatically on board.

Then, in an extremely convenient development, the victim recanted her story. Foster ended up with probation and hours of public service.

Shanahan alluded to that previous arrest in his press conference, and made it clear that they’d warned Foster this was his last chance.

To which Foster apparently replied, “Yeah, people say that a lot.”

The point is, given all that history, what made you guys think you could magically turn Foster around? It would have been a miracle.

And, if I could offer some advice, this isn’t the time for miracles. This is the time for strong, tough, steady guys to rally round Jimmy G.

And so far, we are not impressed. There are a few winners. George Kittle has been a nice surprise.

Tackle Mick McGlinchey, this year’s first rounder has been fine.

But the 2017 draft - with two choices in the first round - looks like a bust. Foster is a certified disaster, of course.

But the struggles of Solomon Thomas are worrisome. So far he looks like a serviceable interior lineman - but with the third pick of the draft you expect a game changer.

Thomas has one QB sack so far. But he didn’t have a ton at Stanford either - 11.5 in 27 games. He is a great “effort” guy and personable, but so far we aren’t seeing that angry edge that makes a pass rusher.

Thomas is the classic Combine Creation. His numbers were excellent. He ran swiftly against the wind, hoisted barbells and shuttled well. But so far, he’s not a quarterback rusher.

The concern I have is that Lynch and Shanahan are so eager to make a splash they aren’t thinking about filling a roster. It leads to wild swings like 2017 fourth round pick Joe Williams.

Williams had some great runs as running back at Utah. I saw some on TV. But he also retired from football after a year. Quit the game.

He had second thoughts, came back and played well. But as far as commitment, this guy made it clear: Not that interested.

Williams didn’t do much with the 49ers, got hurt and was waived. No surprise.

Because, generally, people behave now as they have been behaving for most of their lives.

If I were the Wonder Boys, I’d draft with that in mind.

Contact C.W. Nevius at?cw.nevius@pressdemocrat.com. Twitter: @cwnevius