San Francisco 49ers: 10 Key Stats to Watch for the Upcoming 2016 Season
By Peter Panacy
No. 9: Intermediate-to-Long Passing Game
2015 Passer Rating with 7-9 Yards to Go: 49.6
The 2015 49ers were known for short dump-off passes, which rarely gained more than just a handful of yards at a time.
See the play illustrated on the previous slide as a perfect example.
Play-calling has a lot to do with this and, while it’s certainly true — offenses have to take what the defense gives them — the 49ers have to show major improvement in passing situations where the first-down marker is between seven and nine yards away.
Last year, San Francisco faced a total of 110 plays when a first-down conversion was between these distances, and the 49ers passed on 65 of them.
Here are the pitiful numbers:
- Attempts: 65
- Completions: 33
- Completion Percentage: 50.8
- Touchdowns: 1
- Interceptions: 2
- Sacks: 8
- First Downs: 14
- Passer Rating: 49.6
The two numbers to watch here are quarterbacks’ combined passer rating and the completion percentage.
Both figures are the lowest out of both categories, and the numbers may have a bit of influence on why San Francisco was so inefficient on third downs.
There are a number of ways to tackle this problem. Obviously, getting into more manageable first-down-attempt situations is one of them — eliminating the need for mid-to-long passing plays. But the other will fall on creative play-calling and, more importantly, execution.
This goes from the offensive line, through the running game, permeating within the 49ers receivers and not forgetting the quarterback.
Next: No. 8: Defending Second-Half Passing Games