Jerry Rice, who won three Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, recently shared his thoughts on the team and didn’t hesitate to send a message to head coach Kyle Shanahan about the steps he should take to improve their future.
According to Rice, Shanahan needs to adjust the 49ers‘ playing style: “It’s exactly what Steve Young said, he has to reinvent himself.” Rice believes the team’s current approach is too conservative: “I just feel like everything is so condensed, and the lanes are very difficult because they are small.”
For Rice, the key to the 49ers’ improvement lies in adopting a more open strategy to give Brock Purdy better opportunities to pass the ball during the games: “When you spread everything out, there are bigger lanes a QB can deliver the ball.”
It’s worth noting that Jerry Rice speaks from experience. He was a wide receiver for the 49ers for 15 years, not only winning multiple Super Bowls but also scoring an impressive 176 touchdowns during his decade-and-a-half with the franchise.
The 49ers’ Offensive Production in 2024
This season, Kyle Shanahan has faced a recurring issue: the 49ers’ offense continues to struggle with productivity. They’re averaging just 22.4 points per game, ranking 15th in offensive output so far this season.
Through 15 weeks, the team has managed only 16 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns. The standout receiver has been George Kittle, who has recorded 861 yards and 8 touchdowns. Jauan Jennings has also contributed with 805 yards and 6 touchdowns.