49ers OC Chryst learning to play 'the hand that you're dealt'

August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback coach Geep Chryst during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers offensive coordinator Geep Chryst pointed to the offensive line as a source of the team's struggles. Kyle Terada USA TODAY Sports

As the man in charge of the stagnant San Francisco 49ers offense, Geep Chryst feels enormous pressure to turn things around. The first-year offensive coordinator also is realistic enough to see the limitations of his unit.

"You feel like you bear it every call that you make. You feel you bear it every practice that you do," Chryst told reporters Thursday. "You try to get under the hood and say, 'OK, what is it we're failing on?'

"At the same time, as a coach, you know that the hand that you're dealt."

The latter comment was a bit surprising to hear from any coach, even if Chryst was stating the obvious. San Francisco has the league's least productive offense, leading to this week's benching of quarterback Colin Kaepernick in favor of Blaine Gabbert.

Following the lead of coach Jim Tomsula one day earlier, Chryst said the switch to Gabbert, who has not started a game since October 2013, is not necessarily a permanent move.

"We have to let it play out," Chryst said. "By no means, are we saying at this point moving forward, this is anything of a permanent or etched into granite nature. But where we are as an offense, we've got to do something, and we'll leave no stone unturned trying to come up with a plan to win on Sunday."

Chryst said many of Kaepernick's issues stemmed from the ineffectiveness of the offensive line. He cited that unit's inability to handle St. Louis' defensive front on Sunday, which limited his choices in play-calling.

"I don't think whether you call a run or a pass, if you're getting penetration up the middle, it really matters, because we're getting whipped at the point of the attack," Chryst said. "Whether you call something like a bomb to throw it down field or a quarterback sneak, if you're blown up and you're backed up, it's not going to turn out alright. It just won't."

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