49ers Film Room: How Kyle Shanahan creates space in the passing game with Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel

The 49ers offense is starting to take shape with a glimpse into how Shanahan moves all his chess pieces around.

Source: 49ers.com

The 49ers dominated the Cardinals on Monday Night Football by a final score of 38-10. At halftime, they led 17-10 and the game seemed within reach for Arizona as they cut the lead to 14-10 before heading into halftime. The 49ers offense exploded for three second half touchdowns while holding the Cardinals to a second half shutout on defense.

The offense is finding its identity and is averaging 30.3 points per game in the last three games, ranked fourth in the NFL over that timeframe. They are currently ranked 11th in points per game overall. If Monday is any indication, 30-plus points per game, or something close to it, is not out of the question throughout the final stretch of games here.

With the offense starting to click and come together, how is head coach Kyle Shanahan able to generate even more explosiveness than in years past? Obviously the primary reason is because of Christian McCaffrey. But he is finding ways to create space for both McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, as well as others with the mere presence of them on the field at the same time.

First play, 1st quarter, 1st and 10 @ SF 49, 00:12 remaining

The 49ers are aligned in a 2x2 shotgun formation with a double tight end YY formation to the right and two receivers, Deebo and Brandon Aiyuk split out to the left. The Cardinals would match the 49ers 12 personnel with their base 4-3 cover-2.

The 49ers play call has Deebo running a “lookie” slant route from the slot while the two tight end side consists of a flat route by Ross Dwelley, a dig route by George Kittle, and a choice route out of the backfield by McCaffrey under Kittle’s dig route, a common route combination.

The Cardinals look to be playing some form of cover-2 shell post-snap with a bracket over Kittle and rotated pass coverage toward McCaffrey underneath.

The presence of Kittle and McCaffrey on the offense’s right draws their attention post snap. Linebacker Zaven Collins (No. 25) aligns away from the running back but when McCaffrey comes out of the backfield, Collins moves to “wall” him (prevent from running across the field) while Kittle draws double coverage from the linebacker and safety Jalen Thompson (No. 34). 

This leaves no one in the middle of the field as Deebo runs his lookie slant. With a quick flick of the wrist, Jimmy Garoppolo gets the ball out over the middle of the field to Deebo and Deebo races to a 19 yard gain.