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The San Francisco 49ers have tweaked their lineup on both sides of the ball through 10 games, in an attempt to find the combinations that mesh the best. We’ve seen different safeties, linebackers, wide receivers, and guards. And that’s before you get into how injuries have forced other players into action.
On Wednesday, Kyle Shanahan was asked whether Brian Robinson had earned more carries: “Yeah, I would. I think four weeks in a row, he has had his best game. So, each week it keeps getting better.”
The “Should you take the ball out of Christian McCaffrey’s hands” questions, as they pertain to volume, have quieted. After all, McCaffrey has a chance to join only three other running backs in NFL history if he has six receptions this week. He can also join Marshall Faulk and Larry Centers as the third running back to have 50 career games with 50 or more receiving yards.
Does that mean we will see Robinson and McCaffrey on the field at the same time? Not according to Shanahan:
“It depends how the defense plays it. I mean, just them being on to same field, I’m thinking of the advantage of when you have two running backs and they go nickel all the time, that to me doesn’t mean you necessarily have two running backs. That means you have three receivers because now they’re going against all corners instead of linebackers and safeties. Which can give you advantage to run if one of your running backs wants to play fullback. So, we could do that, but just putting two runners out there because one’s good in the pass game, if they want to stay base and stuff and play us like we have a fullback in there, then that could be an advantage because now he’s out there having the advantage of a fullback being in the game, which means you’re going against the linebacker or safety. So, it really depends on how the defense would play it and they don’t tend to play us that way.”
Robinson has yet to receive double-digit carries in a game, but he’s rushed for 36, 53, and 41 yards in each of the previous games. The question about McCaffrey losing a step came up again. Shanahan said he doesn’t believe CMC has lost a step. It’s worth noting that McCaffrey has had eight 15+ miles per hour rushes in the previous two games. The most he had in a two-game sample this year prior to Week 9 was five.
As both backs have more space and a runway to gain speed, we’re seeing them reach their fastest times of the season — quite the concept.
On Wednesday, we discussed the possibility of a change at linebacker. Nick Martin has been on the field during the past month, but only on special teams. Judging by Shanahan’s comments about the rookie, we’re not going to see him on the field anytime soon.
Speaking of rookies, Marques Sigle went from a starter to a healthy scratch. The missed tackles are piling up for Ji’Ayir Brown. Sigle can help with his speed, but too many big plays happened under his watch, making it difficult for Robert Saleh to trust the first-year safety.
Then again, with the offenses the 49ers face over the next month, should Sigle get another crack at it? It’s not as if Brown, or Malik Mustapha for that matter, has been consistent or reliable.
There aren’t many, if any, changes needed on the offensive side of the ball. Health is what they need. Getting Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall back should inject life into an offense that was already above average. Purdy’s mobility and knack for hunting the big play should raise the ceiling of Shanahan’s offense.
Shanahan hasn’t shied away from rotating linemen in the past, and that continued against the Rams last week, where Spencer Burford outsnapped Ben Bartch, but it was close to an even split. Bartch needs to prove he can stay healthy for multiple games to win that job.
When he was on the field at any point in the past year, he was good. In fairness to Burford, he hasn’t been a liability, either.
Do you think the 49ers need to make any changes for the stretch run?
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