Getting into the red zone hasn’t been an issue for the San Francisco 49ers early this season, as they have crossed the opponent’s 20-yard line more than all but one team in the NFL.
However, turning those drives into touchdowns has been a significant problem. This is a big change from last season when the 49ers were the most efficient team in the league at scoring touchdowns in the red zone.
The inability to score from close range was a key factor in San Francisco’s recent loss, as they managed only one touchdown on six trips inside the 20 in a 24-23 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
“We’ve had some opportunities,” quarterback Brock Purdy said Tuesday. “I think that’s an area for me to be better for sure. Trust the plays, trust the concepts, trust my guys, and being willing to go down there and rip it. …
The windows get tighter and the timing of it is quicker and faster. For me, it’s about getting back into a rhythm down there and giving my guys a chance.”
Purdy had a noticeable miss last week against Arizona when he threw late and slightly off-target to tight end George Kittle, turning what could have been an easy touchdown into a play that went out of bounds at the 2-yard line. An incomplete pass on the next play resulted in a short field goal.
But the issues run deeper than just that.
The 49ers (2-3) rank among the bottom four in the NFL, converting only 40.9% of red zone drives into touchdowns, down from an impressive 67.2% last year. A significant change this season has been the absence of Christian McCaffrey, the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year, who had tied for the league lead with 18 of San Francisco’s 45 red zone touchdowns last season.
Coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned that it’s difficult to pinpoint a single reason for the struggles.
“I think we need to be much more effective running it,” he said. “When you run the ball twice, you’d like to get in and not just put one pressure third down on the pass game.
And when you do throw it more, then you’ve got to make sure you come through with those, especially not having a negative play with those. Running the ball better takes a lot of pressure off, also gives some better passing looks. We’ve tried both and haven’t been good enough with both of those. So it’s all aspects of offense.”
