5 stats the San Francisco 49ers need to improve in 2018
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: Third-Down Stoppage
One could make the argument NFL games are won, or lost, by two key factors — red-zone efficiency and on third down.
San Francisco 49ers
Offensively, the 49ers finished in the middle of the pack on this key down. Thanks to Jimmy Garoppolo’s 100.7 passer rating on third downs, this wasn’t a major issue for San Francisco late last year.
Defense was another question, though.
According to TeamRankings.com, the Niners defense finished 2017 allowing opponents to convert 43 percent of third-down opportunities — third worst in the NFL.
Interestingly enough, defending the pass wasn’t the key issue here. Opposing quarterbacks posted a passer rating of just 81.9 on third downs, which was the worst split out of the first three downs. The key problem? Stopping the run.
Opponents averaged 4.4 yards per attempt on the ground during third downs, which was the highest between downs one and four.
With leagues frequently operating in three-wide passing formations on third downs, running the ball in these sets can often remove defenses’ best run stoppers, which appears to have happened in San Francisco.
So, the Niners’ front six in nickel formations will have plenty of pressure on them in this crucial spot this season.