Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Chip Kelly’s Offense Stinks, but It’s Not the Head Coach’s Fault

By Peter Panacy

Chip Kelly before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Chip Kelly before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next

The San Francisco 49ers have a putrid offense in 2016, which might prompt questions whether or not head coach Chip Kelly was the right hire. But the film and context points the blame elsewhere.

Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly speaks with defensive players on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated San Francisco, 37-18. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly speaks with defensive players on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated San Francisco, 37-18. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Chip Kelly is the head coach of a very, very bad San Francisco 49ers team.

Currently, the 1-4 Niners are the third-worst offense, in terms of all-purpose yards (1,457) and also rank dead last in yards per play (4.5). While San Francisco ranks No. 15 in points scored (111), most of these can be attributed to an OK running game and the defense forcing turnovers — eight through five weeks.

Still, this isn’t a good look for an offensive-minded head coach.

One might ask how much blame Kelly should bear for all of this. He was supposed to come in and kick-start an offense, which looked completely clueless a year ago under former head coach Jim Tomsula and former offensive coordinator Geep Chryst.

But the tape and context shows why all of the Niners’ offensive woes aren’t Kelly’s fault entirely.

Kelly isn’t blameless in all of this. And the Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s Grant Cohn did point out plenty of shortcomings in Kelly’s play-calling.

It’s worth a read. Yet it doesn’t tell the entire story.

Fans may recall how Kelly turned around a 4-12 Philadelphia Eagles team into a 10-win franchise back in 2013. But those Eagles had substantial talent when Kelly took over.

The 49ers do not. That’s a major problem. Even the late great Bill Walsh couldn’t coach a talentless Niners team back in 1979 (Walsh’s first year as head coach). That San Francisco squad went 2-14.

Not saying Kelly is the next Walsh, but it’s worth pointing out.

A talented team can make most head coaches look brilliant. And a team devoid of talent can make even the best head coaches look clueless.

It’s what we’re seeing with the 49ers.