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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Key Stats to Watch for the Upcoming 2016 Season

By Peter Panacy

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) runs the ball against the St. Louis Rams in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) runs the ball against the St. Louis Rams in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Shaun Draughn (24) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Shaun Draughn (24) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Red-Zone Efficiency

2015 Red-Zone Efficiency: 43.59 percent

The red zone — a place where, too often, teams’ fortunes are decided and games are won or lost.

Last year, the 49ers finished with a red-zone efficiency rating of just 43.59 percent, according to TeamRankings.com, which was second to last in the league.

Inside opponents’ 20-yard lines is where all the positive factors of an offense need to come into play. Proper and creative play-calling, creating mismatches, proper execution and the ability to work in tighter spaces will make the difference between six points or settling for three.

Personnel goes a long way too. And the 49ers aren’t too far removed from having the guys capable of making solid red-zone attempts.

Just take a look at this red-zone touchdown to then-fullback Bruce Miller against the Oakland Raiders back in 2014:

Last year, San Francisco did manage a total of 17 red-zone touchdowns, and quarterbacks posted a 100.1 passer rating inside opponents’ 20-yard lines. But the comparison to the rest of the league speaks a lot to where a major deficiency resides.

We can’t quite assess how either quarterback Colin Kaepernick or Blaine Gabbert will do in the red zone under head coach Chip Kelly. But we can draw some other personnel conclusions.

San Francisco needs red-zone targets. Out of No. 1 wide receiver Torrey Smith’s 43 career touchdowns, 17 have come within the red zone. So that’s an option.

But the 49ers may be inclined to use other options. Tight ends are favorite targets in the red zone and, as shown in the above graphic, Miller might be an intriguing matchup.

Another intriguing possibility is rookie wide receiver/tight end Devon Cajuste. All 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds of him. The undrafted free agent has tremendous hands and already made a note of himself in the red zone while back at Stanford.

Cajuste is a strong candidate to make the roster despite being a UDFA. His size and hands alone give Kelly a viable option when the 49ers offense is trying to avoid settling for field goals.

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What’s so intriguing about all these stats is they are intertwined with each other in a number of ways.

Red-zone efficiency will often be defined by passing efficiency, run-blocking abilities and so on. And the better San Francisco’s turnover differential gets, the more chances the offense may have to wind up in the end zone to cap off drives.

In turn, this helps out the scoring differential and makes any simple-rating system more acceptable.

See why these stats are going to be so important for the 49ers in 2016?

Next: Third Down, Red-Zone Efficiency Will Define Chip Kelly's First Year in SF

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.