San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers: 5 Steps the Offense Needs to Take in Week 4

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With a Week 4 showdown with the Dallas Cowboys fast approaching, the San Francisco 49ers offense needs to get on track. They need to take some major steps forward if they want to upset the ‘Boys in San Francisco.

August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (69, left) and outside linebacker Eli Harold (58) celebrate during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

In the words of the iconic Yogi Berra, “It’s getting late early.”

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The San Francisco 49ers are coming off back-to-back losses against the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks, respectively, after an opening-week win against the Los Angeles Rams.

While the team has averaged just over 24 points during this early season stretch, the numbers don’t tell the true story. The 49ers offense has struggled in nearly every major measurable category when the games are still in doubt.

And it isn’t going to get any easier with Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant and company paying a visit to Levi’s Stadium this week.

While the 49ers defense will undoubtedly have it’s hands full slowing down the Cowboys offense, the offense needs to step up, make plays, sustain drives, and find lanes for the running game.

Hera are the five steps the 49ers offense need to take to send Dallas away with a loos in Week 4.

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) runs with the ball after making a catch against the St. Louis Rams. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5: Find Ways to Generate Big Plays

The 49ers ninth-ranked scoring offense is basically a smoke-and-mirrors campaign. Large portions of the Niner yardage and points have come when the outcome was already decided.

The offense, aside from Vance McDonald’s 75-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown, have struggled to connect on big plays in the passing game. There were times against the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers wide receivers Quinton Patton and Torrey Smith were open for big plays. But quarterback Blaine Gabbert simply missed the throws.

While his completion percentage of 55 percent is the third worst in the NFL, the Niners simply lack a receiving threat who can consistently get open downfield.

When 49ers head coach Chip Kelly was with the Philadelphia Eagles, he had a big-play receiver in Desean Jackson, and a home-run hitter at running back in LeSean McCoy.

As good a guy as Smith is, he is not a true No. 1 receiver. And with the injury bug biting the Niner receiving corps (Eric Rogers and Bruce Ellington both out for the year), the team is lacking depth as well.

The signing of Jeremy Kerley has given them another receiving option. And continuing to get him involved will be paramount to creating opportunities for more plays being made against opposing defenses.

Perhaps the 49ers bring up Dres Anderson from the practice squad or get Rod Streater more involved, since they have shown some ability to get deeper downfield in their routes.

Earlier this week, they signed former New England Patriot receiver/return man Keshawn Martin to a two-year deal to help shore up the position.

Hopefully they can find some answers among this group, which could then open up the running game by stretching the defense and allowing running back Carlos Hyde to break off larger chunks of yardage.

Which brings up the next area of concern on offense.

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Getting More Consistency in the Running Game

Carlos Hyde needs to find lanes and gaps in the run game that allows him to get to the second level of defenses, where he can then be physical and break more tackles.

So far, the offensive line has been solid in pass protection but less than stellar in run blocking. In some instances against the Panthers and Seahawks, they seemed to get pushed back at the point of attack.

The fact the passing attack has been unable to get untracked and produce consistently has led to the defensive secondary pressing closer to the line of scrimmage without the fear of getting beat over-the-top.

Finding a way to push the ball down the field can lead to more lanes to run in and more big gains on the ground.

They also have been facing two of the top defenses in the NFL on the road these last two weeks. So that also has been a factor.

If the Niners are able to jump out in front of the Cowboys, make a few defensive stops and build a solid lead, they could then give Hyde, Shaun Draughn and company the ball and run some clock.

This would allow for more chances to break some big plays in the run game, give the defense some rest, and take the pressure off of Blaine Gabbert.

The fact San Francisco has been trailing through most of the second and third quarters these last two weeks has also cost the running backs some carries. The offensive line has not been able to get in a sustained groove because of the fact the are playing from behind.

Once they establish a lead, they would need to sustain their blocks on run plays and force the defense to overcommit.

Hyde could then make some nice reads and cutbacks and get to the second and third level of the defense. Breaking tackles against defensive backs instead of defensive linemen and linebackers could provide some runs of 20 or 30 yards rather than three or four yards.

The offense could then work in concert with the run game, as the play action passing would then become more effective.

Nov 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) breaks through Seattle Seahawks defenders for a touchdown during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Even More Plays for the Tight Ends

The effectiveness of the tight ends has been a nice surprise so far this season.

Chip Kelly has been able to get decent production from this group. Considering Vance McDonald was thought to have questionable hands, Blake Bell’s lack of experience and Garrett Celek had not really distinguished himself, the group has accounted for sixteen catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns through three weeks of the season.

With Blaine Gabbert averaging just 5.54 yards per completion, the 11.25 yards-per-catch average for the tight ends means they need to be again this week.

The only problem is, with McDonald nursing a hip injury, Celek may be called upon to step into a larger role in the 49er passing attack. That would mean Blake Bell would move up the depth chart and also could be seeing more snaps on Sunday against the Cowboys.

The importance of the tight ends could be greater than Kelly may have thought coming into this season, especially with the receivers struggling on the outside.

If the tight ends can soften the defense across the middle, it could open up the receivers outside the hash marks to make plays in the passing game and allow the running game to find lanes as well.

No. 2: Converting More Third Downs

By now, it’s no secret that the 49ers continue to struggle on third down. That cannot continue to happen or they will be lucky to win another game this season.

They converted just four of 15 third downs against the Seahawks. The Seahawks have an aggressive, pressing defense that will continue to squeeze an offense if they feel there is no fear of the QB beating them downfield.

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The lack of true playmakers and Blaine Gabbert’s inaccuracy has limited the play-calling to mostly short screens and five- or 10-yard patterns for the receivers. Even when the receivers are able to shake free, Gabbert is not able to complete passes beyond 10 yards.

With the run game struggling for consistency as well, the offense is being stuffed on third down. This leads to quite a few 3-and-outs, as witnessed in portions of the second and third quarters of the Rams, Panthers and Seahawks games.

In fact, the 49ers have had 41 drives, with 15 ending in a 3-and-out, ranking 31st in the NFL at a 35.71-percent clip. In comparison, the Redskins are first with just over six percent of drives ending in three and outs.

The Niners needs to continue to look for ways of getting first downs, whether that is running some crossing routes that Gabbert can complete to receivers in stride or looking to the middle of the field for the tight end in order to move the chains.

With receiver Jeremy Kerley showing quickness and reliability as a major target for Gabbert, the ball needs to touch his hands more often. If they can move the chains and have the availability to continue using the run game into the fourth quarter, it opens up play action and the threat of the zone read.

This can get defenses on their heels, force them to drop a little deeper against the receivers, allowing the Niner receivers more space off the line of scrimmage to provide safe passing lanes for Gabbert to throw into.

But Gabbert needs to be able to accurately deliver the ball. His inaccuracy this past Sunday caused major hits on McDonald, Celek and Kerley.

With the lack of depth at receiver, the team cannot afford to lose too many more players to injury.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly talks to quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) in the fourth quarter. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Blaine Gabbert Has to Play Better

There are no two ways about it. Blaine Gabbert has not been good, period.

Gabbert enters Week 4 against the Cowboys ranked in the bottom five of the NFL in yards per attempt, completions, passing yards and overall QB rating.

Chip Kelly has come out and stated Gabbert would still be the starter. But the rumblings are loud and will get even louder for a change at the QB position should he not play well versus Dallas.

The two biggest knocks on him thus far are that he is terribly inaccurate, and that he does not get the ball down the field. Coming into the season, his accuracy, especially in comparison to Colin Kaepernick, was one of the bigger reasons that he was considered the front-runner for the starting job.

Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) throws a pass during the first quarter in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

However, that just has not been the case early on in this season.

There were at least three or four plays in the Carolina game that Gabbert missed on. The incompletions came during a stretch where the Niners only trailed by four points. McDonald ran a pattern that took him just outside the numbers, while Celek took off up the middle of the field. With both players open, Gabbert overthrew Celek by five yards. And two plays later, the Niners had to punt.

In fact, at one point during the game, the Niners punted on five straight possessions in the third quarter against Carolina. Meanwhile, the Panthers were outscoring them 27-0 during the stretch.

With the toughest schedule in the NFL, the Niners cannot afford to have lapses in offensive efficiency or get bogged down on third down like they have in each of the first three games.

The key to beating the Cowboys on Sunday will be to run the ball and control the clock. Keeping Gabbert in a position similar to Cowboys’ rookie Dak Prescott would be the smart move.

Having Prescott throw when he is forced off of his spots in the pocket will be the key to a 49ers victory.

Gabbert will have to find the receivers running intermediate routes and use the running game in play-action pass scenarios to locate and deliver accurate passes to his receivers.

Without the accuracy, he stands to put his receiving corps in harm’s way. A receiving corps that cannot afford any more losses to injury.