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You've heard stories about San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan installing a play and breaking down exactly how he expects the defense to react. Then, when the players execute the play, everything occurs as the coach explained, as if he had a crystal ball to predict the outcome.
Shanahan is a confident play-caller, emphasizing execution by his players to ensure everything goes as planned. The 49ers acquired a big-time playmaker last season, trading for star running back Christian McCaffrey, who had already established himself as one of the most versatile players in the league.
Even McCaffrey marvels at the things his play-caller comes up with.
"I think one of the best things as a player is when you know that your coach has confidence," McCaffrey recently said on the Rich Eisen Show. "And I think when you sit in those meetings, and you really understand the scheme, not just your job, but you start to find out that there's a purpose behind every play.
"And when you know that purpose, and you're able to understand what the scheme is trying to do and how it's supposed to set up other things, it makes it so much fun playing football because you know what Kyle's thinking."
McCaffrey suited up for a game against the Kansas City Chiefs about 48 hours after arriving in Santa Clara last season. Without a full understanding of the playbook, the running back produced 1,210 all-purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns (plus a passing touchdown) through 11 games with San Francisco, amassing 1,880 total yards and 13 total touchdowns throughout the entire season.
Imagine what McCaffrey can do with a full offseason to absorb the playbook and the nuances of Shanahan's scheme.
"And Kyle is trying to get us to know what he's thinking because the scheme's worked," McCaffrey continued. "It's worked for a really long time. I think it's the most sustainable scheme that there is, and it's up to the players to execute it because, in my opinion, when he does say, 'Yeah, this is going to be a big play,' I think everybody perks up because they know that it could be real."
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey once again nominated for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week
By David Bonilla
Sep 18
Running back Christian McCaffrey has once again been nominated for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week, an award he won after Week 1. The latest nomination comes after the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
McCaffrey rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries (5.8-yard average) and a rushing touchdown in the win over the Rams. His 268 rushing yards through the first two weeks of the season leads the NFL by an 88-yard margin.
Other nominees for this week's award are Miami running back Raheem Mostert, who rushed for 121 yards on 18 carries (6.7 average) and two touchdowns in Week 2, and Philadelphia running back D'Andre Swift, who rushed for 175 yards on 28 attempts (6.3 average) and a touchdown.
FedEx gives fans the opportunity
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey wins second consecutive FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week award
By David Bonilla
Sep 20
Christian McCaffrey is on a roll. In addition to racking up yards and San Francisco 49ers wins on the football field, the running back has been named the FedEx Ground Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.
With his victory, McCaffrey joins Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Dalvin Cook, and Rashaad Penny as the only active players with back-to-back FedEx Ground Player of the Week victories in their careers.
McCaffrey rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries (5.8-yard average) and a rushing touchdown in Week 2's win over the Los Angeles Rams, and his 268 rushing yards through the first two weeks of the season
49ers starting to figure out running back rotation behind Christian McCaffrey
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Sep 24
Through the first two games of the season, San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey dominated the team's touches, recording 27 in Week 1, when he rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown, and 23 in Week 2, when he gained 116 yards on the ground and another touchdown.
When on the field, McCaffrey was dominant, but he was earning a lion's share of the reps at running back, including a 100% snap share in Week 2 during the 49ers' 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
That led to head coach Kyle Shanahan taking some accountability after the Week 2 win, understanding the need to balance the running back rotation to preserve McCaffrey for the full season.
"Yeah, we definitely got to get Elijah in there more and do better with our rotation than
49ers mailbag: Is Christian McCaffrey being overused? Should Spencer Burford be benched? Is Steve Wilkes who the defense needs? When is Nick Bosa going to show up?
By Marc Adams
Sep 19
The San Francisco 49ers are 2-0 to start off the 2023 season. In 2021, the 49ers won their first two games but then lost their next four. A win Thursday night, in the home opener against the New York Giants, would be the 49ers' first 3-0 start since 2019. That season, the team started out 8-0 before going on to win the NFC West and cruise through the NFC playoffs on their way to a birth in Super Bowl LIV.
I can't seem to remember how that game turned out, though. It's like it's been blocked from my memory.
It doesn't matter, because we've moved on to the current season. And to celebrate the 2-0 start, we've opened up the mailbag to answer those questions burning a hole in your mind. So let's get to it.
Marc, what did ya think of CMC channelling
