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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Steps the Offense Needs to Take in Week 4

By Robert Smith

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) runs with the ball after making a catch against the St. Louis Rams.Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) runs with the ball after making a catch against the St. Louis Rams.Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4: Getting More Consistency in the Running Game

Carlos Hyde needs to find lanes and gaps in the run game that allows him to get to the second level of defenses, where he can then be physical and break more tackles.

So far, the offensive line has been solid in pass protection but less than stellar in run blocking. In some instances against the Panthers and Seahawks, they seemed to get pushed back at the point of attack.

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    • The fact the passing attack has been unable to get untracked and produce consistently has led to the defensive secondary pressing closer to the line of scrimmage without the fear of getting beat over-the-top.

    Finding a way to push the ball down the field can lead to more lanes to run in and more big gains on the ground.

    They also have been facing two of the top defenses in the NFL on the road these last two weeks. So that also has been a factor.

    If the Niners are able to jump out in front of the Cowboys, make a few defensive stops and build a solid lead, they could then give Hyde, Shaun Draughn and company the ball and run some clock.

    This would allow for more chances to break some big plays in the run game, give the defense some rest, and take the pressure off of Blaine Gabbert.

    The fact San Francisco has been trailing through most of the second and third quarters these last two weeks has also cost the running backs some carries. The offensive line has not been able to get in a sustained groove because of the fact the are playing from behind.

    Once they establish a lead, they would need to sustain their blocks on run plays and force the defense to overcommit.

    Hyde could then make some nice reads and cutbacks and get to the second and third level of the defense. Breaking tackles against defensive backs instead of defensive linemen and linebackers could provide some runs of 20 or 30 yards rather than three or four yards.

    The offense could then work in concert with the run game, as the play action passing would then become more effective.