Tag: 49ers stats

Return of injured All-Pro would major lift to another 49ers WR

Nobody may benefit more from Brandon Aiyuk’s return than Deebo Samuel.

There’s no question that missing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for most of the 2024 campaign contributed to the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive issues.

Aiyuk individually is an excellent player whose contributions when he’s at his best make him one of the 10 best receivers in the sport. It’s why he earned a Second-Team All-Pro nod for his breakout 2023 campaign.

His early-season struggles followed by his absence because of a knee injury he suffered in Week 7 were a significant blow to the 49ers’ passing game. His absence may have also been a factor in wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s struggles in the passing game last season.

Pro Football Network noted Samuel’s receiving production plummeted without Aiyuk on the field:

Deebo Samuel had 19 receptions on 30 targets for 310 yards across 231 snaps when playing alongside Brandon Aiyuk. Without Aiyuk, he recorded 32 receptions on 51 targets for 360 yards over 422 snaps.

Without Aiyuk the 49ers never had a receiving threat like him. Jauan Jennings put together an outstanding year in an expanded role, but he didn’t force teams to alter their coverages against him the way Aiyuk did.

That undoubtedly had an impact on Samuel whose skill set as a pure receiver has never been the special part of his game. Without a No. 1 across from him it makes sense if he struggled to get open and produce as a pass catcher.

On the other hand, there were some other clear issues for Samuel last season that went beyond Aiyuk’s absence. He had a difficult time breaking tackles and generating yards after the catch when he did snag a reception, and his production as a runner cratered.

Perhaps there were injury issues for Samuel that slowed him down some in 2024, but it’s clear he’ll benefit at least a little from Aiyuk’s eventual return in 2025.

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How 49ers can help D-line issues without free agency or NFL draft

A Nick Bosa bounce-back year would be really great for the 49ers in 2025.

There are obvious needs for the San Francisco 49ers on the defensive line that will need to be addressed via free agency and the NFL draft this offseason.

However, that’s not the only way they can see an improvement from that group.

Star defensive end Nick Bosa, who was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the NFL with 18.5 sacks, hasn’t quite been himself the last couple of years.

Bosa tore his ACL in 2020, but bounced back in 2021 with 15.5 sacks before earning the DPOY nod the following year.

The offseason after his DPOY campaign was also the offseason he was due for a contract extension. Negotiations on his deal lingered until the week the regular season started, and there was a clear impact on the star DE as he worked his way back into football shape. Eventually he started looking more like himself, but he had a hard time turning his pressures into sacks.

According to Pro Football Focus, Bosa actually posted more total pressures in 2023 than he did in 2022, but his number of sacks and quarterback hits both dipped significantly. So did his pass rush win rate, which went from 21.0 in 2022, to 22.3 in 2023, down to 20.0 in 2024.

In all, Bosa has just 19.5 sacks over the last two seasons — a number that will have to improve if the 49ers defense is going to return to peak form.

Injuries certainly played a role in Bosa’s lack of production in 2024 as he missed three games and dealt with hip/oblique injuries through most of the second half of the season. The lack of quality talent around him might’ve also had an impact as offenses were able to focus more on ensuring Bosa’s path to their quarterback was more difficult.

Next season has to be a bounce-back year from Bosa where he starts turning his pass rush wins into sacks the way he did in 2021 and 2022. If he does that, it will be a significant lift for a pass rush that had a difficult time affecting quarterbacks last season.

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49ers legend thinks Brock Purdy should become a running QB

49ers legend Steve Young shared how he thinks San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy can enhance the Niners’ offensive attack.

San Francisco legend Steve Young joined “Willard & Dibs” on 95.7 The Game and shared some insight on how the 49ers’ offense could improve in 2025.

Young wants to see quarterback Brock Purdy utilized in more run-pass options, likening his vision for the 49ers’ offense moving forward into some of what the Washington Commanders have been this season.

“I think Kyle (Shanahan) should call run-pass options for Brock. We should put him on the run out of the huddle where he’s going to carry it. He needs to bring that threat… He can do 80% of what Jayden (Daniels) is doing,” Young told hosts Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

Utilizing Purdy as a designed runner more often would certainly give defenses another wrinkle to think about. More run-pass options for Purdy could help create explosive plays as opposing defenses would be forced to account for his legs more often while also keeping downfield options in play.

It’s definitely an interesting idea and Purdy has shown himself to be a capable runner. Purdy tallied a career-high 323 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns this past season.

In the process, Purdy became the first 49ers quarterback since Colin Kaepernick to record five rushing scores in a season.

Of course, the 49ers have to balance the rewards of putting more run-pass options on Purdy’s plate against the risk of opening him up to more hits. Purdy’s availability is his best ability for the franchise and NFL seasons are longer than ever before now.

Plus, Purdy ended his 2024 season on the sidelines after suffering a right elbow contusion with nerve inflammation.

Statistically, the 49ers wound up as one of the league’s better offenses in 2024 in several key categories. San Francisco ranked fourth in total offense (376.3 yards per game), fourth in passing offense (249.1 yards per game) and 12th in rushing offense (127.2 yards per game).

The 49ers accrued those rushing marks minus star running back Christian McCaffery for all but four games.

But, San Francisco ranked just 14th in scoring offense (22.9 points per game). That was in large part due to turnover woes. The 49ers had the sixth-worst turnover differential in the NFL (-10) thanks to their 27 giveaways, which ranked as the sixth-most in the league.

As the 49ers look to improve upon those figures, maybe an uptick in Purdy’s ground game can help unlock more for San Francisco in 2025.

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49ers will try to reward breakout offensive star in Week 18 vs. Cardinals

1k-and-Jauan?

The San Francisco 49ers may not be aiming to rest players in Week 18 even with the postseason out of the picture, but they may not have a choice given some of their injury issues.

One player who should be healthy after not showing up on the practice participation report is wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Jennings has been the breakout star of the 2024 season for the 49ers, and now with one week to go he’s just 77 yards shy of his first-career 1,000-yard season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday said he tries to keep milestones like that in mind for players, and will for Jennings on Sunday.

“Yeah, 77. I’ll keep that down. I’m sure Jauan will tell me too,” said Shanahan. “But yeah, you always want to do that stuff for guys, especially in a situation where you can think about it. It’s insulting to think about it just to the situation everyone, if you’re competing for a playoff spot or something like that, but always. I would love to help that out for guys. You’ve got to be somewhat careful of it.

“I remember last year watching the Rams trying to get (Los Angeles Rams WR) Puka (Nacua) the record, which I know they wanted to get him in and out. So we were doing everything we could to deny him the ball. I remember he came to the sidelines on like a one-yard gain and I told him, I was like, ‘yeah, (Los Angeles Rams head coach) Sean’s (McVay) going to have to play you to the end of this game because we’re not giving you your record. And he just laughed and I laughed at it. We’re not playing the next week, so I’d love to help guys do that out.”

Jennings is at 923 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 70 receptions.

To put his season and the potential for 1,000 yards into context, he entered the year with 78 receptions for 963 yards and seven touchdowns in 45 career games.

The 49ers badly needed a WR to step up this season with some of their injury issues, and Jennings delivered with a career year that proves he’s capable of being a go-to No. 1 or 2 receiver. Getting him to 1,000 yards would put a perfect exclamation point on his breakout campaign.

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49ers 1st-round pick did something no 49ers rookie has done since Jerry Rice

Ricky Pearsall has arrived.

San Francisco 49ers 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall couldn’t have gotten off to a much rougher start to his NFL career.

The No. 31 overall pick suffered a hamstring injury that cost him the early part of training camp. Then once he returned he sustained a shoulder injury that cost him the entire preseason. When he finally got healthy with a week to go until the regular season, he was shot through the chest in an attempted robbery. The gunshot wound cost him the first six weeks of the regular season.

Pearsall had some good moments after returning in Week 7, but it took until Week 17 for the wide receiver out of Florida to break out and he did so in a big way.

On Monday Night Football against the Detroit Lions, Pearsall hauled in eight of his 10 targets for 141 yards and one touchdown. The eight catches and 10 targets both tied for team highs.

The 141 yards were the third-most ever in a game for a 49ers rookie, and the most since Jerry Rice had 241 yards in a Week 14 game back in 1985. The only other 49ers rookie with more receiving yards in a single game was Dave Parks, who had 146 in a game in 1964.

While the numbers are good, Pearsall’s versatility shined through Monday night. He showed off the ability to generate yards after the catch, won on a go route for a 40-yard catch, made a tough contested grab for a touchdown, and made a slick grab on third down where he used one hand to tip the ball to himself before tapping his toes on the sideline.

Pearsall’s first nine games had enough flashes that there was reason for optimism about his future in San Francisco. Monday night was the kind of performance that helps stamp him as a key cog in the 49ers’ receiving corps as they try and re-open their Super Bowl window.

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Brock Purdy matches Colin Kaepernick feat vs. Detroit Lions

San Francisco’s Brock Purdy matched a feat that no 49ers quarterback has registered since Colin Kaepernick.

In the 49ers’ Monday Night Football battle against the Detroit Lions, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy notched a statistical milestone that no 49ers signal-caller has tracked down since Colin Kaepernick.

Facing a second-and-goal snap from the Detroit 9-yard line, Purdy scrambled and then pump faked his way into the end zone for a 9-yard rushing score.

The rushing touchdown extended the 49ers’ lead over the Detroit Lions to 21-13. It also represented Purdy’s fifth rushing touchdown of the season, which matches Kaepernick for the most rushing touchdowns by a 49er quarterback in a season since Kaepernick also had five rushing scores during the 2012 San Francisco season.

Before Monday, Purdy had a pair of 1-yard rushing touchdowns against Kansas City on Oct. 20, a 2-yard rushing score against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 27 and a pair of and a 10-yard touchdown run against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 17.

Purdy opened San Francisco’s Monday night battle against Detroit 14-of-16 passing in the first half for 200 yards with touchdown strikes of 3 and 9 yards to 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

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49ers superstar hits rare statistical milestone

One of San Francisco’s stars hit a rare statistical milestone early during the 49ers’ Monday Night Football matchup vs. the Detroit Lions.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has long since been established as one of the NFL’s top players at his position.

With his second grab of the night early in the 49ers‘ Monday Night Football date versus the Detroit Lions, Kittle joined an exclusive club among NFL tight ends.

On San Francisco’s second possession of the night, Kittle reeled in a Brock Purdy pass over the middle and took it 18 yards on the reception. Combined with his 20-yard grab to begin the evening on San Francisco’s first offensive series, Kittle eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving plateau for the 2024 NFL season.

It’s the fourth time in Kittle’s career that he has surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

In the process, Kittle joined Travis Kelce (7), Tony Gonzalez (4), Rob Gronkowski (4) and Jason Witten (4) as one of only five tight ends that have recorded four 1,000-yard receiving seasons in their respective careers.

Kittle caught 88 passes for 1,377 yards in 2018, hauled in 85 grabs for 1,053 yards in 2019 and he snatched 65 receptions for 1,020 yards during the 2023 NFL season.

The eighth-year pro entered Monday night with 68 receptions, 967 receiving yards and eight touchdowns during the 2024 NFL season.

What to expect from ‘likely’ new 49ers starting RB

It’ll be a 4th different starting RB for the 49ers on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers will roll out a fourth different starting running back Sunday when they visit the Miami Dolphins.

Rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo had been pushed into the starting role when RBs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason both suffered injuries in a Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Now Guerendo is dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him out of the 49ers’ Week 16 game in Miami.

With the rookie also on the sideline, the 49ers are ‘most likely’ turning to fourth-year veteran Patrick Taylor according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan on Friday told reporters Taylor’s experience with the club and his performance as a special teams contributor earned him the starting job.

“Yeah. He’s been here since training camp,” Shanahan said. “He’s done a real good job for us, played in this league before, has experience there at Green Bay and when he’s gotten his opportunities with us he’s ran the ball well. And when he hasn’t run the ball, he’s really helped us on special teams. So, big opportunity for him and glad we’ve got him.”

Taylor was on the active roster to begin the year while McCaffrey worked through an Achilles injury. He became expendable once McCaffrey returned and the 49ers released him before re-signing him to their practice squad.

This season Taylor has played in 10 games and notched 50 rushing yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. He might eclipse those season totals Sunday with unreliable depth behind him.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn will likely be up from the practice squad, but he’s primarily been a special teams contributor and has two separate practice squad stints after spending part of the preseason with San Francisco.

Israel Abanikanda is also on the roster after the 49ers claimed him off waivers from the Jets. He’s only been with the team three weeks and hasn’t been able to get on the field.

While the 49ers may rotate in other RBs more than they would have with a player higher on the depth chart starting, chances are Taylor will see a lion’s share of the rushing and receiving workload with a chance to eclipse his season totals in one game.

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Kyle Shanahan explains how he’ll reinvent 49ers offense in offseason

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan won’t make major changes to his offense, but their will be some.

The San Francisco 49ers need to do something different offensively.

Last season they were one of the best outfits in the NFL. This season they’ve sputtered on that side of the ball. Injuries certainly played a role, but it doesn’t appear that whatever the 49ers have been doing offensively can work without players like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk available and playing at a high level.

Those struggles, including 10 points in each of Week 12 and 13, followed by a six-point performance in Week 15, have led to questions about the viability of Shanahan’s offense as presently constructed. Shanahan said any adaptations to his offense will be based on what’s best for the team’s personnel.

“That’s what you try to do every single week,” Shanahan said. “That’s what you try to always do. But it’s kind of like the other question when talking about schemes, you don’t just say, ‘Hey, today I’m going to try to run the wishbone offense and stuff.’ It’s what are the players that you have, what do you believe in and what gives those guys the best chance to succeed? For a little bit here, we almost went with the running quarterback, possibly with [Dallas Cowboys QB] Trey [Lance]. You saw a different offense when he got out there.

“You see different things. You’ve got to adjust your players. I know what I want to do. I think we’ve got the players here to do that stuff. But reinventing yourself as you ask, I did that having a mustache this offseason for a little bit. That’s how I would look at that. And I’m totally joking, but it’s when it comes to football, football’s, that’s why I think coaches get a little too much credit too when a really good scheme is putting the players that you have in the best chance they have to max out and do their best. That’s what we’re gonna always try to do. The scheme will change with that.”

It stands to reason in 2025 we’ll see less reliance on McCaffrey given the team’s issues scoring in the red zone without him this season. There’s also likely to be an adjustment to a version of Samuel that hasn’t been able to take over games via screen passes and designed runs.

Whatever changes need to be made on offense for the 49ers, adapting isn’t something new to Shanahan.

“When I got in the league, you see certain things and I ran a certain offense at Houston when I was there, went to Washington, tried to do a real similar offense and it was totally different personnel and I realized I couldn’t run that same thing and I had to adjust and each year was different,” Shanahan said. “Then we got [Washington Commanders former QB] Robert [Griffin III] in there, which was a quarterback who had a running element, then I had to do stuff that I’d never done before. Not because you’re just reinventing yourself or trying to change the league because you’re trying to figure out what can help the guys that you have be successful. And that can change all the time depending on the player’s skillset.

“But, I’d say as a coach that if you want to make it in this league and you want to have some success in this league you better be able to adjust to anything or you’re only going to be successful when you have the perfect situations.”

How Shanahan tweaks his offense to whatever his personnel is after the offseason will be the greatest factor in determining whether the 49ers are able to open another Super Bowl window.

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1 big offensive adjustment 49ers must make in final 3 games of 2024 season

It’s Ricky Pearsall time.

With the postseason all but out of their grasp, the San Francisco 49ers can now start operating with the 2025 season in mind.

That doesn’t mean the dreaded ‘tank’ where the team tries losing games to improve its draft position. It does mean they should be looking to see exactly what they have with some of the players on their roster in the final three games.

One key adjustment they need to make while turning their sights toward 2025 and beyond is getting first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall more involved in the offense.

Pearsall this season has 24 targets in eight games, but after earning six targets in Week 10, he has only nine targets in the five games since. Overall he’s turned his opportunities into 13 catches for 153 yards and one touchdown.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday told reporters he’s happy with the rookie now that he’s getting a regular chance to play and practice.

“I think Ricky’s doing a hell of a job,” Shanahan said. “I know everyone talks about the gunshot wound, but what people don’t realize is, I think I said a couple weeks ago, but he only had three practices before that gunshot wound. He missed all OTAs and all of training camp and then to get that gunshot basically went from Florida to us halfway through the season. So, I thought he did a hell of a job coming back from that, trying to learn and practice as he goes. He’s been banged up a little bit, started in Green Bay. I think he’s fought through that here the last couple weeks. I thought he did some real good stuff on tape last week. He had a couple big catches. I think he’s going the right direction and hope it keeps improving here these next three games.”

One way to ensure he’s improving is trying to get him the ball more often. In that Week 10 game where he had six targets, Pearsall hauled in four of them for 73 yards and a touchdown. His absence from the offense may just be a result of the injury issues Shanahan mentioned, but that’s something they need to resolve before the season ends.

Pearsall is a key piece of their receiving corps in the future and ironing out a more accurate trajectory for his immediate future will play a significant role in how the 49ers should operate in the offseason.

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