San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was supposed to have more weapons at his disposal this season. He envisioned quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo methodically picking apart defenses as he did during the final five games of last season. He envisioned running back Jerick McKinnon giving defenses fits as a versatile weapon both running and catching the football.
Very few teams would be able to overcome the loss of their starting quarterback and featured running back. The 49ers, who enter their bye week with a 2-8 record, are no different.
While the team tries to finish out the season with Nick Mullens under center, Matt Breida, when healthy, has been quietly providing Shanahan with an efficient rushing attack. He is on pace for a 1,000-yard season and would become the team's first running back to do so since Frank Gore in 2014.
Anyone who wants to give more credit to the offensive line for Breida's performance this season probably hasn't watched veteran running back Alfred Morris running the football behind the same group. Morris has averaged three-or-fewer yards per carry during three of the last four games. He averaged two yards on 16 carries during Weeks 9 and 10.
Breida was among one of the bright spots during Monday night's 27-23 loss to the New York Giants. He gained 101 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. While Breida may not be the receiving threat Shanahan envisioned with McKinnon (124 yards receiving this season compared to 632 rushing yards), that area of his game has improved, and he has proven to be an essential piece of the offense moving forward.
McKinnon's injury thrust Breida into the role of the 49ers' featured back. Breida was always meant to complement McKinnon this season. He has been so productive this year that Shanahan was asked on Tuesday if he envisions Breida and McKinnon being on the field at the same time next season.
"I envisioned it this year," Shanahan responded, "so that won't change next year."
Breida worked hard to become more of a receiving threat in his second NFL season.
"He's worked on it a lot (this offseason)," Shanahan said. "Breida's worked on everything. [...] With Jet going down this year, it's given Breida more opportunities. He worked a lot in this offseason so he could be ready for those opportunities."
With Breida being so productive and with another opportunity this offseason to improve as a receiver, could he see more playing time after McKinnon returns? Our own Zain Naqvi of the "No Huddle Podcast" believes the 49ers should even consider starting Breida next season.
"I find it really hard for the 49ers to say, 'Ok, you just had 1,000 yards this season. You were one of our lone bright spots on offense, and you were consistent, and you played banged up, but now you're going to sit on the bench because McKinnon's going to play because we paid him more,'" explained Naqvi. "I don't know if that sends the right message to the locker room. I don't even think it's going to be 50/50. I think Matt Breida is going to get the bulk of the carries and McKinnon will come in as the third-down back. I really do."
Naqvi believes Breida, who was signed as an undrafted free agent last year, has improved as a receiving threat this season.
"He's becoming an all-around back," Naqvi added. "They're using him to catch the ball. They're using him in short-yardage situations. There was a third-and-one that they needed to complete near the end of the game (against the Giants) and he got it.
"He's really just kind of coming into his own. I'd find it really hard for them to sit him next year and put him behind McKinnon."
You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from our dedicated podcast page, on iTunes, Google Play, or SoundCloud.