Niner Noise
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49ers’ 2018 ‘Who Is?’ series: Running back Jerick McKinnon

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle by Kendrick Bourne #6 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle by Kendrick Bourne #6 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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49ers Jerick McKinnon
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 14: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball and stiff arms defender P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game on January 14, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Why Jerick McKinnon Improves in 2018

Niner Noise has already looked at a lot of Jerick McKinnon’s film this offseason. Before we get to the fun stuff, one of the other important factors to consider is his pass-blocking abilities, which Niner Noise’s Chris Wilson discussed a short while ago.

Wilson wrote:

"Is the undersized McKinnon great in pass protection? Both his numbers and his game film tell us that he is. Pro Football Focus graded McKinnon as the NFL’s eighth best running back in pass protection last season, and his film backs up the ranking. McKinnon may be small, but he’s freakishly strong — his 32 bench-press reps are an NFL Scouting Combine record for all running backs. He shows good footwork in order to square up and then explode toward blitzing defenders, often standing them up, or knocking them to the ground."

That should help immensely, especially if the 49ers have question marks along the offensive line. But McKinnon’s ability to thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone blocking is even more crucial.

You can get a better idea here, but check out the sequence below on how McKinnon bumps to the outside, reads a pending block and uses it to create a rushing seam:

Run 2
Run 2 /
Run 3
Run 3 /

McKinnon’s cutback abilities, combined with solid vision, make this a perfect marriage between runner and offensive system.

Plus, McKinnon has yet another strength outside of being a possible featured ball carrier — his pass-catching abilities, especially last year even though he has never been a featured back before:

Jerick McKinnon Receiving Table
Game Game Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch%
2014 22 MIN rb 31 11 6 41 27 135 5.0 0 17 2.5 12.3 65.9%
2015 23 MIN 31 16 0 29 21 173 8.2 1 30 1.3 10.8 72.4%
2016 24 MIN rb 21 15 7 53 43 255 5.9 2 41 2.9 17.0 81.1%
2017 25 MIN rb 21 16 1 68 51 421 8.3 2 41 3.2 26.3 75.0%
Care Care 58 14 191 142 984 6.9 5 41 2.4 17.0

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/15/2018.

These traits should bode well for McKinnon, particularly as a receiving safety valve for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

As such, there are few reasons to assume McKinnon doesn’t live up to expectations this upcoming season.

But why wouldn’t he?