49ers Offensive Line

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
While I wish we drafted some OL guys earlier the past 3 drafts, I think in Kyle's view the lack of speed and inability to separate was the biggest disruption to the flow of offense and possibly also affected the running game. I think he is right and I think we'll be near 30 ppg, but my problem is when its a big moment, will that O-line hold up? Same old story.

I agree but still think it's going to bite us in the ass at the end.

Originally posted by Cisco0623:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
While I wish we drafted some OL guys earlier the past 3 drafts, I think in Kyle's view the lack of speed and inability to separate was the biggest disruption to the flow of offense and possibly also affected the running game. I think he is right and I think we'll be near 30 ppg, but my problem is when its a big moment, will that O-line hold up? Same old story.

I agree but still think it's going to bite us in the ass at the end.

Yeah- we have seen it happen too much. All we can do at this point is hope for a different result.

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

Originally posted by Cisco0623:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
While I wish we drafted some OL guys earlier the past 3 drafts, I think in Kyle's view the lack of speed and inability to separate was the biggest disruption to the flow of offense and possibly also affected the running game. I think he is right and I think we'll be near 30 ppg, but my problem is when its a big moment, will that O-line hold up? Same old story.

I agree but still think it's going to bite us in the ass at the end.

Yeah- we have seen it happen too much. All we can do at this point is hope for a different result.

This!

49ers' Run Game Struggles Show in Shanahan's Dead-Run Rate
Story by Oliver G.
USA TODAY Touchdown Wire

The San Francisco 49ers' ground game had trouble getting out of its own way in 2025, and Kyle Shanahan's career numbers back it up.

The 49ers head coach ranks 20th among current NFL play-callers in avoiding "dead runs" since time leading the team, according to a new chart from NFL analyst Ryan Paganetti. Nearly 20% of Shanahan's designed runs (19.8%) have gone for zero yards or worse across 295 games he called offensive plays for San Francisco. That rate of 5.06 such plays per game is the highest per-game mark of any coach inside the top 20.

San Francisco's 2025 numbers reflected the struggle. The 49ers finished 24th in the league in rushing yards with 1,817 and tied for 18th in rushing touchdowns with 15. San Francisco ranked 14th in rushing first downs with 119 and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, 30th in the NFL.

Shanahan's offense has built its identity around the run setting up play-action and explosive passing, but last season's ground game didn't hold up its end. The 49ers' per-carry average ranked third-worst in the league, and Shanahan's dead-run rate suggests more designed carries stalled behind the line than for most of his peers.

With 295 games of history, Shanahan's sample size is one of the largest on Paganetti's list, giving the number added weight. It's a data point that helps explain why San Francisco's ground game lagged behind the rest of the league's top offenses in 2025.

Hopefully, the 49ers will turn around the run game in 2026 with a lot of returning stars in Christian McCaffrey in the backfield and Trent Williams up front.

Originally posted by Paul_Hofer:

49ers' Run Game Struggles Show in Shanahan's Dead-Run Rate

The San Francisco 49ers' ground game had trouble getting out of its own way in 2025, and Kyle Shanahan's career numbers back it up. The 49ers finished 24th in the league in rushing yards with 1,817 and tied for 18th in rushing touchdowns with 15. San Francisco ranked 14th in rushing first downs with 119 and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, 30th in the NFL.

#1. Bad run play calling: Shanny runs too much into the "teeth" of the D when the D is stacking the box with 9 man fronts

#2. When the D is stacking the box, Shanny needs to throw over the top over the LB's to loosen up the D to get them off of the LOS

#3. Undervalued and neglected the OL: Between 2017 and 2025 they drafted only 8 OL, but 13 WR, 11 DL, 7 LB, 6 RB
5 of the 8 OL were drafted in rds 5-7

#4. Neglected the blocking TE position, got lucky with Kittle and haven't found anyone else

#5. Bad OL Drafting Grade
2025: Conner Colby 7th rd .... C
2024: Dominick Puni Rd 3 .... A
2024: Jarrett Kingston Rd 6 .. D
2023: No OL drafted ............. F
2022: Spencer Burford Rd 4 .. C
2021: Aaron Banks Rd 2 ...... C
2021: Jaylon Moore Rd 5 .... B+
2020: Colton McKivitz Rd 5 .. A
2019: Justin Skule Rd 6 ....... C-
2018: Mike McGlinchey Rd 1 .. D (9th overall)