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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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December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) catches the football against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Bengals 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) catches the football against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Bengals 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 10: Third-Down Conversions on Offense

2015 Conversion Percentage: 30.5 

Not surprisingly, the 2015 49ers were towards the very bottom of NFL rankings in terms of third-down efficiency.

According to ESPN, San Francisco finished last year with a 30.5 third-down conversion percentage, which ranked No. 31 in the league just ahead of the St. Louis Rams. The 49ers converted just 65 of 213 third downs on the season. Out of those 213 conversion attempts, the Niners faced 116 plays with more than seven-plus yards to go.

That’s quite a lot of 3rd-and-longs to cover. And the 49ers’ unimaginative play-calling last season could be a reason why the numbers were so bad.

Head coach Chip Kelly will be tasked with trying to get into manageable third-down situations. By comparison, Kelly’s 2013 Philadelphia Eagles faced 119 third downs of seven, or more, yards and converted a total of 39 percent of attempts — good for 12th in the league that year.

Just less than nine points difference may not seem like a lot, but considering anything above a 40-plus conversion-rate percentage is usually in the top half of standings here, anything close to Kelly’s previous 39 percent rate would be a vast improvement.

Next: No. 9: Passing With 7-9 Yards to Go