Niners Nation
There might be a need for an even better version of Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd unless the 49ers add help at the trade deadline
At the midway point of the season, it’s still tough to know how the rest of the season will turn out with how volatile the San Francisco 49ers have been. We’ve seen them play well, like against New England and Dallas, but poor performances against Kansas City and the Rams have put a damper on the season.
Now the 49ers will turn the page on the 4-4 start and look to put together another trademark second half of the season under Kyle Shanahan. But just what have we learned about the 49ers in the first half of the season?
These are the three biggest lessons the Niners taught us in the first eight games:
The 49ers offense misses McCaffrey – at least in the red zone
With all of the talent on the 49ers offense, this shouldn’t be the case, but here we are. And it’s only one spot where the offense is struggling without McCaffrey, which has made things feel off this season.
From a numbers standpoint, the dropoff from last season isn’t too bad, as the 2024 49ers are only averaging 2.6 points per game fewer than last season while averaging 14 more yards per game. Where the loss of McCaffrey has hurt the 49ers offense is inside the red zone.
The 49ers’ red zone woes have been chronicled extensively, sitting at the halfway point of the season, scoring a touchdown on 48.6 percent of red zone trips. That’s a stark difference from the league-leading 67.2 percent red zone possessions that ended in a touchdown for the 49ers in 2023.
McCaffrey nearly set a 49ers franchise record with 21 total touchdowns in 2023. Of those 21 scores, 18 came from inside the final fifth of the field, a whopping 40 percent of all 49ers red zone touchdowns last season. Without McCaffrey in the lineup, the 49ers have been a bottom-five red-zone team this season.
McCaffrey’s practice window was opened on Monday, and he’s on track to play Sunday in Tampa Bay. The 49ers offense has been one of the better in the league this season, but if McCaffrey’s return can solve the red zone struggles, the Niners offense will hit another level.
The 49ers nailed the 2024 draft
The 49ers’ front office has a reputation for nailing the draft in the mid-rounds, and the 2024 draft was no exception.
With many screaming for the Niners to use a top pick on an offensive lineman, John Lynch and company held until the third round to take Dominick Puni. A training camp injury to Spencer Burford gave Puni an opportunity for training camp and preseason snaps, and it’s an opportunity Puni has yet to relinquish. The guard has only allowed 14 pressures in the first eight games of his career and has yet to allow a sack this season.
Unlike Puni, second-round pick Renardo Green...
