Through three weeks, the San Francisco 49ers' offensive line has yet to allow a sack. No other team in the NFL is able to say the same thing, and the Trent Williams-led unit is clicking on all cylinders.
While the feat is impressive, it's not the only thing they have been able to do thus far. The unit's run blocking has arguably been just as good as their pass protection, as the team is rushing for 5.1 yards per carry.
Both Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz have better run-block than pass-block grades by PFF's standards, and it has shown all season long, as the Niners are currently sixth in the NFL in yards on the ground.
49ers' O-line has taken large strides in the run game
Last season, the 49ers rushed for a meager 3.8 yards a clip. Their 106.9 yards per game was good for 24th in the league. Running back Christian McCaffrey had the least efficient season of his career (minus his rookie campaign), averaging just 3.9 yards on a voluminous 311 carries.
This season, McCaffrey has traded volume for efficiency. He is only averaging 11.7 carries per contest, but he has accrued 166 yards as a result. In other words he is on a 17-game pace for 940.7 rushing yards on just 198 carries. His current 4.7 yards per rush is his best since 2023.
Rookie Kaelon Black has enjoyed a promising start on the ground as well. He has rushed for 4.3 yards on 25 carries, all while dealing with a groin injury.
49ers linemen are doing a lot with a little
As it stands, the 49ers' offensive line ranks fifth in the league in pass block win rate and 12th in the league in run block win rate. The metrics slightly favor their pass protection, but pundits must remember who they are blocking for.
CMC is 30 years old. While he is still one of the best receiving backs in the league, many have begun to question his explosiveness and rushing effectiveness. Some have gone so far as to attribute his rushing decline to age rather than O-line troubles.
Kaelon Black, while spry, was considered a massive reach in the third round of this year's draft. He wasn't invited to the NFL combine, and few other teams foresaw him playing an immediate role in the NFL. With that being said, the fact that the team is rushing so efficiently says a lot about how well these linemen are working as a unit.
Stuffing pass rushers is great, but it's not the only thing separating San Francisco's trenches from the rest of the pack. The offensive line has helped Kyle Shanahan establish a well-balanced offensive attack, which has been the main reason why the red and gold have solidified themselves as a legitimate contender early in the year.
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