SANTA CLARA — The 49ers have the perfect storm on the the offensive side of the ball — a schematic master mind, players who have the ability to implement the plan and the will to win.
Over the past three seasons there has been an evolution in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme but it’s hasn’t just been about him coming up with new ideas. Three seasons after its initial introduction to the 49ers, players are able to execute Shanahan’s scheme more precisely, knowing the “why” of each role.
The 49ers offensive line is where it all starts with different stunts and moves to confuse opposing defenses. While there were glimpses of Shanahan’s savant-like ability to create numeric imbalances on the field in previous seasons, the intricacies have been much more evident in the head coach’s third season.
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Offensive linemen Mike Person told NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday that it was just a matter of time before all of the pieces came together for Shanahan and the offense.
“It takes time for things to gel in this offense,” Person said. “It’s been huge for our young guys to be able to step up like that and understand how everything works for us. I think it’s always been pretty exotic in what he does. Obviously he’s added a few wrinkles here and there but it always puts a lot of stress on the blockers and mentally about targeting where to go
“At first on Wednesdays he puts some crazy things in there you’re just trying to process it all. It’s kind of a flurry before we go out to practice but then once you do it, execute it and clean everything up, everything hits.”
Laken Tomlinson is a student of the game and appreciates when Shanahan shows exactly how and why each play works. The offensive lineman told NBC Sports Bay Area that having players like George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk make everything possible.
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“The interesting part is when he explains it and how everything ties together within the system,” Tomlinson said. “That’s the most interesting part of the whole scheme. When you have guys that can block on the edge like George and when you got guys like Juice there’s so much you can dob within the system. I feel like we have the right guys to execute this system.”
Kittle has noticed the development and growth of the offense over his three seasons. His role in the run blocking, which he loves, has been able to transform what Shanahan can do schematically.
“[It has] definitely evolved,’ Kittle said. “Our offense from my rookie year against Carolina opening game is much different than what it is now. Just being part of the evolution, how it's grown and how it's changed is really fun because you can look back, ‘Wow, man,’ that's what we were doing and now we're doing this stuff.
“It is so much more fun. Just the fact we basically install new plays every single week, we have a whole new playbook every single week, it makes football really fun. You get to learn every single week techniques, how to block guys. The similarities always carry over, but the difference is what makes it exciting.”
Several of the 49ers offensive lineman shared that what they are doing this season is not much different than what they have done in the past. Ultimately the entire offense working together makes makes what they are able to do in Shanahan’s scheme successful.
“The more you see how people try to defend you and how people stop you, the more things you try to put in to counteract that,” Shanahan said on Friday. “Playing with a group of guys, especially on the O-Line for going into our third year, I think helps guys execute all the stuff.
“You can put in some new stuff and it doesn't overwhelm the guys, and then just add in some of the speed element with all of our backs, a number of our receivers who have helped in the run game, not just blocking, but also that they're a threat to get the ball out a lot of times. I think all that ties together.”