Report: 49ers plan on running more read option next season
Colin Kaepernick has to be smiling upon news that the San Francisco 49ers will implement more read option plays for him next season.
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Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, so expect to see the San Francisco 49ers offense to resemble the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks next season.
At no point will that mirror image show than at quarterback, where both new coach Jim Tomsula and CEO Jed York both plan on using Colin Kaepernick more as a runner, a facet that disappeared last season. Kaepernick rushed for 639 yards — second only to Russell Wilson among quarterbacks — although most of them came as a result of broken plays.
That will change, as the team intends on running far more read option plays compared to last season, where then-coach Jim Harbaugh all but junked a play that was a staple to Kaepernick’s success in his first two years, where he led San Francisco to a pair of NFC title games and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Niners beat writer Matt Barrows states that the offense will be “more streamlined,” with the purpose of having playmakers like running back Carlos Hyde and tight end Vernon Davis becoming more involved. San Francisco’s offense sputtered for much of 2014, averaging just 19.1 points per game, ranking them 25th in the NFL.
While the thought of more read option plays may whet the appetite of Niners fans, the fact is that defenses were better able to limit the play throughout 2014. Many of Kaepernick’s 52 sacks came as a result of holes becoming clogged, which left him little room to move around once the play was diagnosed.
Another concern that Barrows points out is how it can impact the progress of Kaepernick becoming more of a pocket passer. He had a middling 55.6 QBR last season, as the 49ers finished 30th in passing yardage. Kaepernick threw just 10 interceptions, yet managed only 19 touchdown passes.
The Niners will also have to find playmakers, as veteran running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Michael Crabtree are both unrestricted free agents. Hyde is ready for the starting job, yet the team is thin at wideout beyond the still effective yet aging Anquan Boldin. Davis all but disappeared last season, leaving huge questions about his future with the team.
Imitating the Seahawks isn’t a bad move, yet the 49ers will have to use both free agency and the draft in order to improve their chances of returning among the NFC elite after an 8-8 season. No one in San Francisco is interested in watching a cheap facsimile.
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