Eric Eager of Pro Football Focus identified five NFL coaches who he considers to be the game's best offensive play-callers. It's no surprise that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is on the list. He is widely considered to be one of the best football minds among the coaching ranks.
What is Eager's reasoning for including Shanahan on his list? The analyst notes the confusion he creates among opposing defenses with his mastery of motion as one reason.
"That equates to hell for opposing defenses, which use a league-high average of 7.5 men in the box against the 49ers on early downs," explained Eager.
While Shanahan is admired for his exceptional use of fullbacks and tight ends, Eager does point out one flaw — overpaying for free agent running backs.
In 2018, the coach's admiration for the versatile Jerick McKinnon resulted in the 49ers playing a hefty price for the then-free agent running back. Last offseason, San Francisco acquired Tevin Coleman. The two leading rushers in each of those ensuing seasons — Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert — were undrafted free agents.
Eager isn't overly optimistic about the 49ers in 2020, though. While he clearly admires Shanahan's play-calling, he feels two areas are likely to see a regression this season.
"They were a more explosive run offense than an efficient one (they were out of the top 10 in success rate on the ground last year)," wrote Eager, "a feature that generally regresses from one year to the next (big plays are less sticky than successful ones). San Francisco's defense is less likely to be a top unit in what is now a tough NFC West."
The 49ers defense ranked No. 2 overall last season, and No. 1 against the pass, but only No. 17 against the run.
It also doesn't sound like Eager thinks too highly of Shanahan's quarterback, saying that a repeat of 2019's impressive run will further validate the coach's place among the elite player-callers despite the "limitations" of having Jimmy Garoppolo lead the offense.
Others on Eager's list include Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals, and offensive coordinators Kellen Moore of the Dallas Cowboys and Greg Roman of the Baltimore Ravens.
