Matt Breida more important for 49ers than Jimmy Garoppolo

Matt Breida’s health is more important to the San Francisco 49ers than who plays quarterback after Jimmy Garoppolo was lost for the season.

Facing the Los Angeles Chargers on the road without the quarterback who signed a $137.5 million deal this offseason resembles a nightmare for the San Francisco 49ers.

There is a silver lining, though, even after Jimmy Garoppolo was lost for the season after injuring his ACL. Garoppolo’s done, but running back Matt Breida may be good to go for Week 4.

It’s great news for Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan. The health of his leading rusher is more important than who replaces Garoppolo under center.

Breida took limited part in Wednesday’s practice following the knee injury he suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs. His participation is interpreted as a “good sign” by Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle:

"It also bodes well that Breida returned after he was injured in the second quarter against the Chiefs. He had five carries for 61 yards in the second half."

Branch is right because everything the 49ers do offensively comes off the ground game. It’s a ground attack built around Breida.

The second-year pro has surprised many by running to the top of the NFL’s rushing charts. He’s delighted bold fantasy owners everywhere and become the focal point of Shanahan’s system.

It’s a blueprint designed to make the run the catalyst for big plays through the air. The Shanahan offense starts with the outside zone-stretch runs.

These plays wear out a defense and create opportunities for a passing game built on play action and moving pockets. Deception is the key to the Shanahan air attack.

Forcing defenses into overplaying the run one way, while the quarterback rolls the other is a recipe for long gains. It can only work if the run is effective to begin with.

Fortunately, the 49ers have few equals when it comes to toting the rock:

Breida’s ability to make hay on early runs is also crucial to the Shanahan plan:

Gains like these create the 2nd-and-short situations offensive-minded coaches love and defenses dread. There’s no better down for a play-action pass aimed deep.

Breida’s flair for the big play on early downs underlines his importance.

The Shanahan offense has turned a host of runners into 1,000-yard backs at the pro level. It’s created an illusory assumption any rusher can be plugged into the system.

This view overlooks the talents of some of the best zone runners. Terrell Davis is in the Hall of Fame because of his vision and the decisive way he attacked holes. His core talents made the system better.

Breida is doing the same. It’s why the Niners won’t be as effective if Alfred Morris has to handle the bulk of the rushing chores in L.A.

Morris topped 1,000 yards twice for Shanahan the younger in Washington. No. 46 is more of a grinder, though, and not a back who will turn solid gains into big ones.

C.J. Beathard is going to need those big running plays when he steps in for Garoppolo in Week 4. The designed rollouts and wide-open receivers Garoppolo was often able to target won’t be there without Breida doing his bit.

The most obvious example of what the run means to the Shanahan offense comes from Super Bowl 51. Shanahan’s high-powered Atlanta Falcons became grounded once the often erratic play-caller abandoned the run in the second half.

The New England Patriots playing the stretch tougher also left quarterback Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and the rest of his receivers struggling for answers.

If a passer as accomplished as Ryan floundered without the run, what chance would Beathard have without Breida against the Chargers?

A healthy Breida can keep the Niners in it against a Chargers run defense ranked 24th and giving up 4.3 yard per carry.

Things might appear bleak without Garoppolo, but they would be a lot worse for the 49ers without Breida.