The 49ers’ decision not to make a swing for a pass rusher on trade deadline day last week raised some eyebrows, with San Francisco unwilling to pay a premium to boost a defensive line clearly in desperate need of help.
Last Sunday’s 42-26 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams served as an illustration of why, even with the 49ers having already made an offseason trade for Bryce Huff and acquired Keion White before the deadline, many believed they needed additional help.
On the other side of the ball, the same game provided more evidence that an offseason trade made to boost offensive depth was an increasingly astute move, one that could pay significant dividends down the stretch.
After scoring his first touchdown as a 49er in the Week 9 win over the New York Giants against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, Brian Robinson Jr. backed that effort up by finding the endzone again versus Los Angeles.
With Christian McCaffrey largely bottled up on the ground, Robinson led the 49ers in rushing, averaging 5.1 yards per carry as he put up 41 yards on just eight rush attempts.
It was a small sample size for Robinson, but in his limited role, he once again displayed the decisiveness and burst required to succeed as a running back for Kyle Shanahan and the ability to stay on his feet through contact.
As the 49ers approach the stretch run, it is the latter trait that is perhaps most appealing.
Robinson’s edge over CMC
While McCaffrey doesn’t lack physicality, it is obvious that is one area in which Robinson has the edge over the 49ers’ starter, and the numbers bear that out.
This season, Robinson is averaging 3.55 yards after contact per attempt, ninth in the NFL among running backs with at least 40 rushes, per Pro Football Focus. That average is over a yard higher than that of McCaffrey (2.39).
McCaffrey does rank in the top 10 for missed tackles forced, with 28 on 180 rush attempts. However, Robinson already has 13 to his name despite receiving significantly fewer opportunities.
That is not to say Robinson should eat more into McCaffrey’s workload. Taking McCaffrey off the field is a risky proposition because of what he gives the 49ers in the passing game.
But Robinson offers the 49ers a level of thump that can be extremely valuable at this time of year. He is a back who can wear down defenses and have success, not just against struggling teams like the Giants, but also when facing formidable opponents like the Rams.
For a team that needs to play ball control to protect its own injury-riddled defense, that makes Robinson a substantial asset, one who could play a key role in helping the 49ers close out games in the coming weeks as they aim to secure a playoff berth.
A good problem to have
Robinson also has importance as a player who can help keep McCaffrey fresh, and there is a strong argument that the workload should be more evenly distributed in light of the former’s success in recent weeks.
Yet given McCaffrey’s status as the focal point of the offense, the 49ers may have to get creative to give Robinson more snaps, and could perhaps look to use pony personnel with both players on the field at the same time, which would double San Francisco’s running threat while maintaining McCaffrey’s presence as a passing game weapon.
Shanahan has gone to such looks in the past and, given the 49ers’ issues at wide receiver, there’s a case to be made that 21 and 22 personnel packages featuring both McCaffrey and Robinson have increased appeal.
Figuring out how to get Robinson on the field more often is a good problem for Shanahan to have, and though there are areas of the team that are severely lacking because of injuries, the backfield is in strong shape, thanks in part to the decision to send a sixth-round pick to the Washington Commanders for his services.
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