Why the red zone is of utmost importance to the 49ers in 2017
By Peter Panacy
Breaking Down the 49ers Red-Zone Scheme
While complex, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense is particularly efficient at getting his receivers open, thus not having to rely much on sheer strength and size to effectively move the chains.
Anyone who watched Shanahan’s Atlanta Falcons offense dismantle the Seattle Seahawks in the postseason last year can attest to that notion. It’s what good coordinators do.
The scenario will be vastly different for Shanahan in San Francisco though.
But it’s possible to gauge what Shanahan likes to do in various red-zone situations based off what we’ve seen previously.
As Niner Noise’s Chris Wilson dutifully pointed out, Shanahan’s use of play action often gets his blocking tight end wide open in these situations.
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Assuming Vance McDonald remains the No. 1 tight end for now, this approach would incorporate more usage for San Francisco’s newest blocking TE, Logan Paulsen.
Paulsen’s six touchdown receptions all came within the red zone. And interestingly enough, five of those six where under Shanahan’s guidance with the Redskins.
The point of all this? Look for Paulsen to be a red-zone threat.