The 49ers offense could have a much different look in 2019, and it’s not just because they’re getting injured players back. It appears head coach Kyle Shanahan is constructing an offense that pushes the typical boundaries of the way teams think about that side of the ball.
49ers running back Tevin Coleman, who spent his first two NFL seasons in Atlanta where Shanahan was the offensive coordinator, told reporters that he’s noticed a difference in the coach’s scheme since he last played in the offense in 2016.
“He’s definitely more creative than he was in Atlanta, everything he’s doing with the backs, tight ends and receivers,” Coleman said according to Cam Inman of the Mercury News.
The running back went on to say he’s lining up more as a receiver than he ever did during Shanahan’s tenure with the Falcons. That’s an interesting note when considering the type of players the 49ers have been stockpiling over the last two seasons.
Let’s consider the 2018 49ers for a moment. The fully healthy version of that offense featured versatile running backs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida. In the backfield with them was Swiss Army Knife fullback Kyle Juszczyk who can line up anywhere on the field. It also had an extremely athletic tight end in George Kittle. Those four alone all had the ability to stretch their on-field responsibilities outside of those typical for their positions.
The receiving corps lacked in that area, and Shanahan made it a point this offseason to change that. He even told reporters at the owners meetings that versatility from his receivers would be something he wanted to fix over the offseason. He wanted more pass catchers who could line up in different areas and take on different responsibilities in the offense.
That trend toward more interchangeable pieces started in free agency when the team added Coleman to their already crowded backfield. Then they inked wide receiver Jordan Matthews to a one-year deal. Matthews is the kind of pass catcher who can play any of the receiver spots in the 49ers’ offense.
Shanahan’s mission of offensive versatility continued in the draft when their second and third-round picks went to wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd. Samuel is capable of the same versatility as Matthews, while Samuel is a converted running back who played a do-everything role at Baylor during his final year in college.
Prioritizing a receiver in the second round wasn’t a huge surprise, but the Hurd selection in the third is a massive indicator of what San Francisco’s head coach has planned for his offensive attack.
“Positionless” is the phrase du jour for describing what the 49ers are building on offense. They’re stocking up on players who allow them to vary their play calls and formations without ever changing the personnel.
The layer of unpredictability that adds is potentially deadly in a league where opposing coaches feast on tendencies.
Shanahan was already on the forefront of this concept last season. San Francisco ran 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) with three receivers only 39 percent of the time last season according to Sharp Football Stats. The next lowest in the league was New Orleans at 53 percent. The NFL as a whole used 11 personnel a whopping 66 percent of the time, and passed out of that formation at the same rate. San Francisco passed out of 11 personnel 83 percent of the time. It’s the most predictable of the common personnel groupings, and the 49ers utilized it far less than the rest of the league.
21 personnel (two running backs, one tight end) with two receivers is where Shanahan varies greatly from the rest of the league. NFL teams on average use 21 personnel just eight percent of the time. San Francisco utilized 42 percent of their offensive snaps. New England runs it 28 percent of the time, no other team eclipses 15 percent, and the Rams didn’t use it once all of 2018. While the league had a 40-60 pass-to-run ratio out of 21, the 49ers were at 46-54.
Keeping defenses off balance through personnel groupings will be a hallmark of the 2019 iteration of the 49ers offense.
One example that comes to mind is in 11 personnel. The 49ers will be able to deploy an 11 personnel package where Jalen Hurd is one of the three receivers, but he lines up as a tight end and gives it more of a 12 (one running back, two tight end) look with two receivers.
The next play could feature the same group with Hurd lining up as a running back and the running back splitting out wide to give a more traditional 11 look with a wide receiver in the backfield.
They could even empty the backfield and essentially turn that package into a five wide receiver set.
It’s a fascinating concept that could turn the 49ers’ offense into a tornado of varying personnel packages that tears up every offensive norm or tendency defensive coaches rely on.
A few obstacles stand in the way of this offensive revolution. Health is an obvious one with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and McKinnon both missing last season with torn ACLs. Several members of the receiving corps dealt with injuries last season too, including Dante Pettis who’s expected to be a key part of the team’s passing attack. Any limitations from a roster standpoint could handcuff the coaching staff in terms of utilizing the various skill sets of their offensive weapons.
Another big one is the development of the rookies Samuel and Hurd. Their quick learning would be immensely helpful for San Francisco as they try and expand the playbook for players at different spots. It’d be a significant blow to the advancement of Shanahan’s offense if Samuel can only handle one receiver job, or Hurd doesn’t catch on quick enough to play a couple different positions.
Shanahan’s innovative thinking on offense helped spawn head coaches like the Rams’ Sean McVay and the Packers’ Matt LaFleur. It doesn’t look like the coach is settling with a very good scheme. The 49ers are continuing to adapt to the ever-changing NFL, and if things go right, San Francisco will be several steps ahead of everyone.
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