49ers need to consider emulating the Rams after Kyle Shanahan's comments on intriguing rookie
After Ronnie Bell let a potentially decisive throw slip through his fingers during the San Francisco 49ers' dramatic 27-24 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, the immediate question asked by so many was why? Why was Bell on the field while fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing watched from the sideline? Cowing enjoyed an […]
After Ronnie Bell let a potentially decisive throw slip through his fingers during the San Francisco 49ers' dramatic 27-24 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, the immediate question asked by so many was why? Why was Bell on the field while fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing watched from the sideline?
Cowing enjoyed an extremely impressive preseason, shining with his explosive play ability against both the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders.
Yet the former Arizona speedster has yet to play a single offensive snap despite injuries to the likes of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. When asked about his lack of involvement, head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an answer that suggests Cowing won't be getting on the field on offense anytime soon.
“He’s still working to get out there," said Shanahan. "He is trying to get more comfortable with the offense and just earn a role with it, gets closer and closer each week. Still got a bit to go though.
“There’s lots of reasons that go into it, but he hasn’t been able to make his way into that group yet, and the more he gets comfortable with the offense and the more consistent he gets then he’ll earn those opportunities."
With Cowing unable to break into the wide receiver rotation and Bell struggling to make plays, the 49ers have a distinct lack of options at the position behind Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings with Samuel likely to miss one more game with a calf injury.
The good news is that Kittle looks primed to return from a hamstring injury against the New England Patriots, a development that gives the 49ers the chance to make a change to their offensive gameplan that could help them mitigate the impact of their disappointing depth at receiver.
Kittle's absence last week saw Eric Saubert promoted to the role of starting tight end, and the veteran journeyman impressed by recording two catches for 47 yards and excelling at opening holes for Jordan Mason in the run game.
As such, there is a strong argument for the 49ers to copy the Rams' formula from Week 3 and utilize more 12 personnel in their Week 4 matchup with the Patriots. The Rams, usually almost exclusively reliant on 11 personnel, spent most of the game in 12 to combat the loss of both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp to injury.
Per Sports Info Solutions, the 49ers have used 12 personnel on 17 rushing attempts this season but on just four dropbacks. It may behove them to increase the latter number with the current personnel they have at their disposal.
With Saubert proving effective as a pass-catcher, a switch to 12 would enable the 49ers to get at least four receiving options out on routes but from a heavy personnel package, potentially creating significant mismatch opportunities given the chances of Patriots matching 12 with their base defense.
The 49ers major in 21 personnel. Though 11 is still the one they use the most, the Niners are much less reliant on three receiver sets than most teams in the league.
San Francisco's reliance on 21 is in part tied to how much they value fullback Kyle Juszczyk and the versatility he provides them as both a blocker and a receiving threat.
But a move to using 12 more often does not necessarily need to take Juszczyk out of the equation. He can be the lone back in that personnel package, though that would likely telegraph a passing play, while he can also be used a de-facto tight end, his multi-faceted skill set in essence giving the Niners the ability to show both 21 and 12 to a defense before the snap.
An increased amount of 12 personnel plays would primarily, however, be linked to a desire to utilize Saubert's versatility more. He can line up as a fullback as well as tight end, and his comfort in performing several tasks from several different spots on the field provides the 49ers with an avenue through which to get Juszczyk some rest while still retaining four passing threats (not including the running back) for which the defense must account.
The simplest solution for the 49ers' depth issues at receiver would be to put some faith in Cowing and use him in 11 personnel, giving the 49ers a deep threat who can also be used out of the backfield as a runner and as a weapon on screen passes.
As that does not appear likely, the 49ers' best bet appears to be to shift away for 11 and go even heavier than usual by continuing to embrace 21 while emulating the Rams and mixing in more 12. With Samuel's return not too far away and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall theoretically in contention to make his debut in Week 5, it's a fix they won't need for long, but it's the course of action that likely gives them the best chance of success in Week 4.
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They have more options as they look to fill the void.
