|
The 49ers' commitment to running the football has allowed opponents to gang up against Frank Gore and Glen Coffee.
I think that helps explain why Gore and Coffee have combined for 25 plays that gained no yards or lost yardage. The totals reflect rushes and receptions.
A few notes on those plays, based on information in my play-by-play spreadsheet:
- All 25 of the 49ers' plays were running plays.
- The plays were distributed fairly evenly across quarters, not just when the 49ers were trying to run time off the clock late in games.
- The plays transcended typical early-down personnel groups.
- Ten were on first down, 11 on second down and four on third down.
- The 49ers needed an average of 7.88 yards for a first down on these plays.
- Nine of these plays were against the Cardinals, six against the Seahawks and 10 against the Vikings.
There wasn't any obvious mitigating factor, in other words.
Related: This chart's original advocate, Paul Kuharsky, advances the subject on his AFC South blog. Thanks to ESPN Stats & Information for providing the data.
Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
