SB Nation’s Niners Nation Says Mix Up the Running Game

SB Nation blog Niners Nation weighs in on the team’s offensive play-calling, specifically the vanilla rushing attack. From Niners Nation:

The biggest issue remains the way the offense utilizes running plays. That halfback dive up the middle or off guard is fine, but as many have said, why not mix things up with more stretch and sweep type plays? Given some of the offensive line struggles and the fact that Frank Gore is likely out at least a week, if not more, maybe it’s time to mix up the running plays.

This is by far the most frustrating aspect of the offense. It honestly seems like they run one play with some slight variations. Basically, the team lines up in an I-formation and sends Josh Morgan in motion. Morgan stops and faces perpendicular to either the left or right tackle. Have the 49ers ever passed after that kind of motion? I’d be happy to double-check, but I’d bet good money they haven’t.

It’s perfectly fine to want to force the rushing game and build around that. Even if they know you’re going to rush against you, I can see why you want to build that attack. At the same time, wouldn’t it be perfectly logical to actually try different rushing plays? At least keep the defense off guard in that sense.

The Niners have certainly struggled to run the ball aside from the two 75-plus yard runs Frank Gore ripped off against the Seahawks’ backups linebackers (starters Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill were out with injuries). Granted, we’re dealing with a small sample size, but there is certainly reason for worry. Backup Glen Coffee will get a chance against some weaker run defenses over the next two weeks in the Rams and the Falcons, so we will see if the Niners can get their rushing game on track, and if that silences the calls for more imaginative play-calling.