Has the NFL Figured Out the 49ers' Offensive Scheme?

Something is wrong with the 49ers run game, and Kyle Shanahan can't fix it. Or hasn't fixed it.

The run game was struggling last season, too. Then Shanahan traded for Christian McCaffrey, gave him the ball as much as possible and the run game took off. Teams didn't know how the 49ers would use McCaffrey or how to stop him in Shanahan's offense. He was a cheat code.

Now opponents have caught up. Shanahan has shown every way he can use McCaffrey, and teams are making it their business to shut him down. And so he hasn't rushed for more than 54 yards in a game since Week 4. Is that because he's wearing down, or because the offensive line isn't great? Sure, that's part of it.

But Shanahan is the biggest reason the 49ers' run game is in a slump. He's supposed to be the most creative offensive coach in the league, and yet his offense ranks just 10th in yards per carry despite having McCaffrey, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk.

The Miami Dolphins don't have that kind of rushing or blocking talent, and yet they rank No. 1 in the NFL in yards per carry. That's because their head coach, Mike McDaniel, who was the 49ers' offensive coordinator until last season, is a true creative genius.

Since the 49ers lost McDaniel, they've lost their offensive creativity as well. Suddenly Deebo Samuel isn't nearly as effective, and McCaffrey is having trouble finding space. Can you imagine how dangerous they would be on the Dolphins? How easily they would take over games?

Suddenly, Shanahan looks like a coach who's only as good as his assistants, and all of his best ones have left to become head coaches. He's on his own. Let's see how clever he truly is.