San Francisco 49ers: 5 Burning Questions Entering Week 3

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers center Daniel Kilgore (67) prepares to hike the ball in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers center Daniel Kilgore (67) prepares to hike the ball in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) talks to head coach Chip Kelly in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) talks to head coach Chip Kelly in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: How Much Longer Do the Niners Go with Blaine Gabbert?

There is nothing wrong with completing short passes and matriculating the ball down the field. The 49ers used to make a living using the short passing game to set up their run game.

But that was a different area, with different players, and a different system.

QB Blaine Gabbert is stifling this offense right now.

His yards per attempt is a paltry 5.8. This lands him 29th in the NFL. He has not only struggled with inaccuracy on short, intermediate and deep routes, he seldom takes shots down the field to open up the underneath routes.

Even a failed deep throw, on occasion, will keep defenses honest.

They will be less inclined to press the outside receivers and choke off routes. And although Gabbert may not have the kind of weapons teams like Dallas, Arizona or the Steelers have, he did have open receivers. And there were plays to be made at times and he just flat out misfired on some throws.

Next: No. 1: Can The 49ers Convert On Third Down?