Opponents have now caught up. Shanahan has demonstrated every possible use for McCaffrey, and teams are making it their mission to shut him down. As a result, he hasn’t gained more over 54 yards in a game since Week 4. Is this because he’s getting older or because the offensive line isn’t very good? Sure, that’s a factor.
But Shanahan is the biggest reason the 49ers’ run game is in a slump. He’s supposed to be the most creative offensive coach in the league, and yet his offense ranks just 10th in yards per carry despite having McCaffrey, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk.
The Miami Dolphins don’t have that kind of rushing or blocking talent, and yet they rank No. 1 in the NFL in yards per carry. That’s because their head coach, Mike McDaniel, who was the 49ers’ offensive coordinator until last season, is a true creative genius.
The 49ers’ offensive innovation has suffered since McDaniel’s departure. Deebo Samuel is no longer as effective, and McCaffrey is struggling to find space. Can you imagine how scary they’d be if they were on the Dolphins? How easy could they take over games?
Shanahan appears to be a coach who is only as good as his assistants, and all of them have left to become head coaches. He’s all alone. Let’s see how smart he really is.