49ers were offensive in 2007

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Sunday, June 01, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

San Francisco 49ers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Most of the offseason talk surrounding the San Francisco 49ers has centered on the offensive side of the football. The discussion has mainly been about about new offensive coordinator Mike Martz and whether he can bring his magic to the Bay.

There has also been talk of quarterback Alex Smith and whether it’s time to move him to the bench and see what backup Shaun Hill can do. In addition, fans have wondered how much newly signed wide receiver Isaac Bruce has something left in his 16-year NFL tank.

What hasn’t really been in the news is the 49ers’ Patrick Willis-led defense. The question is: Why? Well, because the 49ers' offense was downright awful last year, and it has overshadowed the 'D'.

San Francisco averaged 13.7 points per game during the course of the ’07 season, good for dead last in the league. The 49ers also finished last in yards per game (237.3) and passing yards per contest (145.0).

What were the reasons for San Francisco’s offensive woes last season? Was it Smith? Was it a lack of quality wide receivers? Was it a poor running game? Was it an inferior offensive line? Was it poor play-calling? Truth be told, it was probably a combination of all of those things, but the O-line has to take a large chunk of the blame.

Although the 49ers had one of the top running backs in the league in Frank Gore, they only finished 27th in the league in rushing yards per game (92.3). Gore finished the season with 1,102 rushing yards, picking up 4.2 yards per carry, but the team’s on-the-ground average was less than stellar.

Meanwhile, the receivers couldn't catch the ball unless it was thrown perfectly at them. The 49ers need some big improvements in their receiving stats in ’08 if they are going to improve upon their 5-11 record. Arnaz Battle led the team last season with 600 receiving yards. Bruce, who was signed as a free agent from St. Louis, had 733 yards in a diminished role with the Rams. Bryant Johnson, an ex-Cardinal, was also signed. While Johnson -- who accrued 528 receiving yards last year -- may not be as hot of a commodity as his former receiving partners Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, he’s still an upgrade for the 49ers.

What is it going to take for the 49ers to improve upon their woeful offensive numbers from 2007, then? To name a few:

• Their starting quarterback is going to have to throw for more than seven touchdown passes (Trent Dilfer).
• Their starting running back is going to have to rush for more than five touchdowns (Gore).
• The player who leads the team in receptions is going to have to be a wideout or a tight end, not a running back (Gore was No. 1 last year 53 catches).
• Their leading receiver is going to have catch more than five TDs (Battle).
• Finally, their offensive line is going to have to allow fewer than the 55 sacks it did in ’07.

Sounds simple enough, right? The 49ers had better hope so, or it'll be another long year.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (1)

About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report