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After the San Francisco 49ers traded for operating again Christian McCaffrey, there was a query over how rapidly Kyle Shanahan might get his new offensive weapon included within the 49ers’ offense. McCaffery performed simply 23 snaps in his debut with San Francisco in a loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs final week, catching a pair of passes and operating 8 instances for 38 yards.
What a distinction per week makes.
In San Francisco’s win over the Los Angeles Rams, McCaffrey turned simply the fourth participant within the fashionable period — and simply the eleventh in skilled soccer historical past — to run for a landing, throw for a landing and catch a landing in a single sport. LaDainain Tomlinson, David Patten and Walter Payton had been the opposite three gamers who achieved that feat, and seven extra skilled gamers pulled off that trifecta earlier than the AFL/NFL merger in 1970.
Tomlinson was the newest participant to perform this, again in 2005 in opposition to the then-Oakland Raiders.
Apparently sufficient, McCaffrey’s first of the three scoring performs got here with him as a passer. Early within the second quarter, with San Francisco dealing with a 2nd and eight in Rams’ territory, McCaffrey went in movement in direction of the proper after which pulled in a backwards go from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. After taking just a few steps ahead to promote the protection, he pulled up and hit Brandon Aiyuk, huge open and streaking in direction of the top zone:
The landing tied the sport at seven, however McCaffrey was simply getting began.
McCaffrey’s second scoring play got here as a receiver, and required a little bit of improvisation from the brand new member of the 49ers. With San Francisco dealing with a third and a couple of on the Rams’ 9-yard line late within the third quarter, McCaffrey once more went in movement in direction of the proper aspect earlier than the snap. This time, he lingered close to the road of scrimmage as an outlet choice for Garoppolo, however when the quarterback was pressured within the pocket, McCaffrey launched upfield, and into the top zone. Garoppolo noticed him and let it fly:
Fly is what McCaffrey did on the opposite finish, going as much as snare this throw with two Rams defenders closing in on him. As you may see from the top zone angle, that is a powerful show of athleticism from McCaffrey:
McCaffrey would full his landing triple crown early within the fourth quarter, plunging into the top zone from just a few yards out to increase San Francisco’s lead:
McCaffrey’s stats from the win over the Rams seem like one thing you’ll see from a five-star recruit in highschool. He completed the day with 18 carries for 94 yards and a landing, 8 receptions for 55 yards and a landing, and 1 completion on his 1 try for 34 yards and a landing, together with an ideal NFL Passer Ranking of 158.3.
After the sport, 49ers gamers and coaches had excessive reward for his or her latest teammate:
“The throw was alright. The catch was lots higher.”
— Jimmy Garoppolo on his nine-yard TD to Christian McCaffrey. He mentioned McCaffrey wasn’t actually a part of the learn, however used his instincts to make a play.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 31, 2022
The concept to make use of McCaffrey as a passer was traced again to San Francisco tight ends coach David Fleury, who despatched a clip of McCaffrey throwing a landing to Shanahan earlier within the week:
Early this week, 49ers TE coach Brian Fleury emailed Kyle Shanahan a video clip of Christian McCaffrey throwing a 53-yard bomb just a few years in the past.
An concept was born
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 30, 2022
With San Francisco’s win, the 49ers improved to 4-4 on the 12 months as they head into their bye week. It additionally introduced into focus simply how a lot McCaffrey can be part of this offense going ahead. Not solely did he lead the 49ers with these 18 dashing makes an attempt, however he was the receiving choice focused most by Garoppolo, as McCaffrey’s 9 targets led all San Francisco receivers.
Right here’s one other method to take a look at McCaffrey’s utilization in opposition to the Rams:
Christian McCaffrey was again to a bell-cow function after per week to organize for a sport with the 49ers.
81% Snaps
79% Makes an attempt
72% Route participation
35% Goal share (first)
✅ 86% Lengthy-down-distance
✅ 100% Brief yardage
✅ 100% Contained in the 10-yard line— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) October 31, 2022
If that is what Shanahan was in a position to design for him in simply McCaffrey’s first full week with the staff, think about what we will count on to see after the 49ers bye week.
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