The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most inventive run games in the NFL today.
Their use of motions and jet sweeps constantly confuse opposing defenses and make huge gains.
More importantly, they have the personnel who help execute the plays to perfection.
San Francisco’s offensive is one of the league’s best, thanks to left guard Laken Tomlinson, right tackle Mike McGlinchey, and left tackle Trent Williams.
Fullback Kyle Juszcyzk and tight end George Kittle also serve as additional blockers.
Lastly, the 49ers’ running back depth chart featured Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, and Matt Brieda, to name a few.
Their running schemes enabled them to be the second-best running team in 2019 with 144.1 yards per game and go all the way to Super Bowl LIII.
Kyle Shanahan’s crew was still in the top 15 last season at 118.1.
In 2021, they are sitting at ninth with 124 rushing yards per contest.
Sticking to their strength enabled them to remain undefeated after two games.
The 49ers got 131 run yards in their 41-33 victory over the Detroit Lions.
A week later, their 117 yards on the ground helped them dominate the time of possession against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Unfortunately, the ghosts of the 2020 season are returning for the Niners.
They finished 6-10 last year due to a long list of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball.
That helpless situation is starting to unfold again early in the 2021 NFL season.
Therefore, the 49ers must come up with more wrinkles to their running game.
These changes are not just on formations, shifts, and blockings.
Instead, they must be creative about who they will bring in because injuries have decimated their backfield rotation.
Next Man Up In San Francisco
Mostert was the 49ers starting running back heading into the opening weekend of 2021.
Sadly, he abruptly exited the Detroit game with a knee injury.
Initial diagnosis revealed that he would not play for six to eight weeks.
However, the severity of the cartilage’s damage ended Mostert’s season after one game.
He finished the game with two carries for 20 yards, and Elijah Mitchell took over from him.
It could be the injury that will cost Mostert his job because Mitchell dazzled in his NFL debut.
The rookie from Louisiana introduced himself with 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown.
That performance made Mitchell San Francisco’s starting running back for Week 2 against Philadelphia.
As Mitchell moved up the depth chart, JaMycal Hasty and Trey Sermon became the first and second alternates.
Bad luck struck once more as Mitchell left the game early due to a shoulder injury.
Hasty went into the game but did not finish the game because of an ankle issue.
Sermon had one carry for eight yards but got pulled out due to concussion protocol.
The 49ers are fortunate to seal the victory despite the injuries to their running backs.
But they are facing uncertainty in their rotation because all three are questionable coming into Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers.
Trenton Cannon, a waiver claim by the 49ers last September, is the only running back in the active roster.
They also signed Jacques Patrick from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.
However, reports reveal that the team will be bringing in Duke Johnson and Lamar Miller.
Miller is an eight-year NFL veteran with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Meanwhile, Johnson also last played for Houston, wherein he rushed for 235 yards.
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