49ers: 5 Players Who Stand to Benefit the Most in SF's Offense

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Aug 17, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers fans Janie Cardenas (left) and Rigo Cardenas hold a flag that reads “You’re in 49ers Country” during the inaugural game at Levi’s Stadium against the Denver Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2016 NFL season kicked off with the San Francisco 49ers hiring Chip Kelly after parting ways with Jim Tomsula. I’ve covered extensively certain players that should benefit over the last few months, but here is a rundown of five players that fit what Chip is trying to do offensively.

For those unfamiliar, Kelly is a spread offense guy. The pillar of Kelly’s offense is the zone run, specifically the inside zone. The inside-zone running game is as old as football itself and is a downhill, fast, physical attack that punishes a defense for over-pursuing. Indeed, Kelly says in a 2009 coach’s clinic, “the inside zone play is our ‘go-to-work’ play. It has become our signature play. We want to get off the ball and be a physical, downhill-running football team. This is not a finesse play.”

Everything he does on offense is meant to punish an opposing defense. Once the inside zone is taken away, Kelly will come back and punish them outside or hit them with a run-pass option play. This is meant to constrain the defense and make them wrong. Everything he does is to get the offense back to base play: the inside zone.

Here are five players that will benefit from this scheme and keep opposing defenses on their heels.

Next: Carlos Hyde

5 49ers Who Stand to Benefit the Most from the New Offensive Scheme

By Rich Madrid | Jul 3, 2016

Today we breakdown why these five San Francisco 49ers will find success in head coach Chip Kelly’s offensive scheme.