How Trey Lance Can Expand the 49ers Offense
Kyle Shanahan’s rushing attack is one of the most versatile in the NFL. He mixes in every type of running scheme, uses motion and misdirection frequently, and incorporates wide receivers as ball carriers regularly. The only thing that’s been missing in San Francisco is a quarterback who can be a factor with his legs. Shanahan finally has that in Trey Lance.
Impact on the Running Game
Just by being on the field, Lance can influence defenders and create larger running lanes for other 49er ball carriers. On the below play, you can see how the mesh point and the threat of Lance keeping the ball held the end man on the line of scrimmage (EMOL) and linebacker to the same side, giving his running back leverage to the perimeter:
On this next example, the threat of Lance keeping the ball again influenced the EMOL and a linebacker. This time, it created a running lane inside:
When opponents scout offenses, they’re looking for tendencies: How often does the running back’s first step go to the play-side? How often do the left and right guard’s first steps dictate the direction of the play? Adding a quarterback with a read-option element (where the direction of the run can be based on the reaction of the defense) helps make an already complex running game even more difficult to predict.
The designed runs with Lance as the ball carrier will add another element to this rushing attack as well. Shanahan will be able to dial up QB powers, counters, sweeps, and draws, all of which can be especially helpful in short-yardage and red-zone situations:
Empty Formations
Empty formations are where Lance can potentially have his biggest impact. With Jimmy Garoppolo as the quarterback, the defense could be certain they would see a pass if the 49ers ever aligned in empty. With Lance, however, the defense has to honor the run. If they don’t, the 49ers will still have options to run like they didn’t before, only against much lighter boxes.
You’re likely to see Shanahan utilize empty and motion-to empty formations like this to remove defenders inside: