San Francisco 49ers: 5 Steps the Offense Needs to Take in Week 4
By Robert Smith
No. 5: Find Ways to Generate Big Plays
The 49ers ninth-ranked scoring offense is basically a smoke-and-mirrors campaign. Large portions of the Niner yardage and points have come when the outcome was already decided.
The offense, aside from Vance McDonald’s 75-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown, have struggled to connect on big plays in the passing game. There were times against the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers wide receivers Quinton Patton and Torrey Smith were open for big plays. But quarterback Blaine Gabbert simply missed the throws.
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While his completion percentage of 55 percent is the third worst in the NFL, the Niners simply lack a receiving threat who can consistently get open downfield.
When 49ers head coach Chip Kelly was with the Philadelphia Eagles, he had a big-play receiver in Desean Jackson, and a home-run hitter at running back in LeSean McCoy.
As good a guy as Smith is, he is not a true No. 1 receiver. And with the injury bug biting the Niner receiving corps (Eric Rogers and Bruce Ellington both out for the year), the team is lacking depth as well.
The signing of Jeremy Kerley has given them another receiving option. And continuing to get him involved will be paramount to creating opportunities for more plays being made against opposing defenses.
Perhaps the 49ers bring up Dres Anderson from the practice squad or get Rod Streater more involved, since they have shown some ability to get deeper downfield in their routes.
Earlier this week, they signed former New England Patriot receiver/return man Keshawn Martin to a two-year deal to help shore up the position.
Hopefully they can find some answers among this group, which could then open up the running game by stretching the defense and allowing running back Carlos Hyde to break off larger chunks of yardage.
Which brings up the next area of concern on offense.