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The San Francisco 49ers offense ranked No. 32 in the NFL last year in red-zone efficiency. The unit converted a league-low 41.18 percent of its drives into touchdowns. By comparison, the top team in the category, the Pittsburgh Steelers, converted 73.47 percent of their drives.
So, the 49ers were bad last year in the red zone. Really bad.
Improving red-zone play has been emphasized during training camp. Of course, red-zone drills are always part of training-camp practices, but the 49ers know that to turn a corner, to reach their potential, they need to figure out ways to punch the football into the end zone more consistently than last year.
Jimmy Garoppolo was recently asked what the key might be to improved play in the red zone.
"I wouldn't say there's one specific key,"
the quarterback responded, "but I think just honing in on the details and making those important to us. Everything's so tight down there; coverage is tight, tight windows to throw, it's just you've got to be on your p's and q's."
The 49ers offense has tight end
George Kittle at its disposal. Sorry, I mean NFL record-breaking Pro Bowl tight end, George Kittle. The team also added two receivers,
Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd, via the draft. Let's not forget second-year wideout Dante Pettis and veteran speedster Marquise Goodwin.
Kittle recently sat down with
Lindsay Jones of The Athletic and discussed the receivers' chemistry with Garoppolo.
"One thing I love about Jimmy is he just gives guys a chance to make plays," Kittle said, "whether that's me, Dante, Deebo, Marquis, he's giving us the opportunity, and if you take advantage of that opportunity, he keeps feeding you and keeps feeding you. That's all you can ask for."
There is, however, one teammate Kittle hopes sees less of a role in 2019. That is kicker Robbie Gould, who
recently re-signed with San Francisco. It's nothing personal.
"Our biggest thing is we have to score when we're in the red zone," Kittle told Jones. "That's something we struggled with the last two years. I love Robbie Gould, but I'd rather him kick less field goals and more extra points. So that's one thing we've really got to focus on, staying on the field, finishing when we get down to the red zone."
Click here to read the entire interview with Kittle over at The Athletic.
George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
