Niners Nation
The 49ers’ difficulties against man coverage in 2024 were a key part of a drop-off on offense, but they have the weapons to excel in that area this season.
The 49ers’ offense was still one of the more efficient in football last season, finishing 11th in EPA per play, 12th in success rate, and ninth in DVOA. Yet San Francisco’s attack undoubtedly took a substantial statistical step back from their juggernaut season of 2023, when the 49ers finished first in each of those categories.
Injuries played a significant role in that drop-off, but there was also a clear issue for the 49er passing game that contributed to the less impressive production, one that reared its head in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2023 season as San Francisco consistently struggled to beat the Kansas City Chiefs’ man coverage.
That problem carried into 2024, as the numbers from a frustrating 6-11 campaign illustrate.
Having led the NFL in EPA per play versus man in 2023, quarterback Brock Purdy dropped to 13th by the same measure among quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 plays against that coverage, per Sumer Sports.
Purdy’s eight interceptions against man were fewer than only Baker Mayfield (10) and Geno Smith (9), while his completion percentage versus that coverage dropped from a league-leading 63.4 in 2023 to 51.4 in 2024, putting him 26th.
That is partially explained by the increased willingness of defenses to play man against the 49ers. In 2023, Purdy had 186 plays against man in 16 games, however, that number jumped to 249 in just 15 games in 2024.
With a greater number of plays against a certain type of coverage, there is a much greater chance for inefficiency in attacking it, yet defenses only had the confidence to play man at an increased rate because of the success they found in restricting the 49er receivers.
Only three 49ers pass-catchers – not counting running backs – averaged 2 or more yards per route run against man coverage in 2025.
One was Geroge Kittle (2.36), who remains a mismatch nightmare at tight end. The others were Jauan Jennings (2.47) and Jacob Cowing (2.37).
Cowing’s average came in a very small sample size of just 27 routes run against man.
Jennings’ success, meanwhile, was in part a product of his ability to succeed without separation by consistently winning at the catch point. His contested catch rate of 62.5% ranked tied fifth among wide receivers with at least 100 targets, per Pro Football Focus.
While Jennings’ talents in that regard were a significant asset, Deebo Samuel’s issues getting off physical man coverage that were apparent in the Super Bowl persisted, and Brandon Aiyuk’s devastating knee injury robbed the 49ers of their best route runner, one who averaged 3.25 yards per route run versus man in 2023 and had the highest passer rating when targeted in the NFL on targets of 20 yards or more that season.
But with Aiyuk set to...
