John Lynch downplays 49ers' run-game concerns

While Christian McCaffrey continues to deliver a remarkable season for the San Francisco 49ers—totaling 1,655 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns—questions remain about the team's overall rushing efficiency. McCaffrey is on pace for his second career season surpassing both 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards, yet the ground game has fallen short of what most expect from a Kyle Shanahan-run offense.

San Francisco is averaging just 98.5 rushing yards per game, ranking No. 26 in the NFL. Only the Las Vegas Raiders average fewer yards per carry than the 49ers' 3.5 per attempt.

The team doesn't seem too concerned with those underwhelming numbers, as the 49ers' 9-4 record keeps them firmly in the playoff hunt.

"It's crazy," general manager John Lynch told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area this week. "You see these numbers, but you'll come out of games, and I'll feel like our O-line's blocked really well, our receivers have been part of that blocking game. Christian has made a bunch of people miss, and then our average just isn't [where we want it to be]."

Lynch believes the issue stems from the lack of explosive runs. The 49ers have just one rush of 20-plus yards this season, tied with the New Orleans Saints for the fewest in the league. The Detroit Lions lead the NFL with 14 such runs.

"The explosives, for whatever reason, haven't come," Lynch continued. "I think a lot of it is how people are playing us. They know they don't have a chance if the 49ers get the run game going. And so, I think they dedicate a lot of resources to that."

He remains confident the offense will break through as long as the team stays committed on the ground.

"I think, if we just stay patient ... we've just got to keep pounding the rock," Lynch said. "And I think, when we do, with the players we have, great things will happen. And if not, we'll make them pay with explosives in the pass game. So, we're going to be fine.

"We've been efficient. I feel like we're playing well despite those numbers, and we'd like those numbers to be different, but the bottom line is, are you winning ball games? We've won nine of them. [We'd like] to have a couple more, but we're in a good position right now."