49ers film room: Offense’s opening drive vs. Vikings starting defense

The San Francisco 49ers’ first-team offense shined during their third preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. We break down the film of the 49ers’ first offensive drive of the game.

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers got their first taste of the offense they ordered when they signed head coach Kyle Shanahan earlier this year.

Shanahan had his offense — which Bleacher Report recently ranked as the best offensive scheme in the NFL — running on all cylinders with his starting squad. Since the third game of the preseason is generally used as a “dress rehearsal” for opening day, the 49ers’ offensive outbreak came at the perfect time.

Let’s take a look at how the 49ers’ starting offense drove down the field for the five-play score. After stopping the Minnesota Vikings on their opening drive, the Niners began their first offensive drive on their 21-yard line.

The 49ers line up with 21 personnel in I-Formation with Twins on the wide side of the field:

The key matchup on this play is between the two highlighted players; 49ers guard Zane Beadles and Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson:

As the 49ers’ line attempts to open a hole for running back Carlos Hyde, Johnson fights his way out of Beadles’ grasp:

Johnson pushes Beadles down as 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk nears the line of scrimmage:

Juszczyk is able to get to the second level, and pushes his man between Johnson and the hole:

Thanks to his fullback, Hyde is able to squeeze through the small crease to pick up five yards on first down: