How the 49ers Can Improve Their Offensive Red Zone Efficiency

Getting into the red zone is fairly easy for the San Francisco 49ers. Their offense has the talent and the amazing play calling from head coach Kyle Shanahan to get them there at will. However, the 49ers’ offense hasn’t capitalized on their red zone opportunities. They are scoring touchdowns at a 50 percent rate, a far cry from their 68 percent rate last season. Too many field goals are being settled by the 49ers’ offense.

Not having star running back Christian McCaffrey surely plays a significant role. But that isn’t a valid enough excuse. Backup running back Jordan Mason has looked incredible in McCaffrey’s stead. The 49ers’ offense has enough talent to put up more touchdowns in the red zone. Their 50 percent touchdown rate will hurt them against stronger teams. It has to improve quickly or else they will struggle to reel in victories.

One way the 49ers’ offense can improve their red zone efficiency is by utilizing play-action more. Running the football is the main identity of their offense. That is why the 49ers face stacked boxes of eight defenders or more the majority of the time. Utilizing play-action will create a window of opportunity. It will get the defenders to bite onto the fake and allow quarterback Brock Purdy to hit the open man.

The 49ers have called play-action close to 25 percent of the time in their first three games in the red zone, per Next Gen Stats. Against the New England Patriots, they only called it five percent of the time. They have to dial up more than that. Getting the defense confused and using their leverage against them is efficient. It’s why Shanahan loves to motion his players so much. Defenses start to flow one way due to the fake, then get caught in no man’s land once the play is run.

Scoring more touchdowns in the red zone starts with Shanahan. He has to identify better plays that will generate six points. They cannot keep settling for field goals. Playoff-contending teams don’t waste red zone opportunities the way the 49ers are. It certainly has to be a point of emphasis entering Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. The last thing the 49ers want to do is keep quarterback Kyler Murray and the Cardinals alive throughout the game. It’ll only increase the difficulty for their defense.

“I think just the simple executing your job, you know, and everybody doing their part,” said Purdy. “Everybody’s sort of had their moments in the red zone, including myself with reads, protection, guys picking up certain guys. And that’s what it comes down to, man.”

Accountability is the kickstarter for the 49ers, improving their red zone efficiency. It doesn’t matter how many ways there are for them to improve if they don’t recognize the issue themselves. The offensive line needs to block better, the receivers need to separate better, and the running backs have to be stronger. Everyone needs to take ownership. Purdy has that self-awareness, and it is why the 49ers will increase their touchdown rate in the red zone as the season progresses.