49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan Outlines Plan for Christian McCaffrey
By Arabia Tillery
July 1, 2024 | 4:21 PM ET
(Santa Clara, CA) - Kyle Shanahan stated he needs to “protect Christian McCaffrey from himself”. This highlights the challenges the San Francisco 49ers face in managing the workload of their star running back. After a standout season where McCaffrey played a pivotal role in the team’s success and earned the Offensive Player of the Year title, the coaching staff is tasked with ensuring he can maintain his performance level without risking injury.
With McCaffrey's recent contract extension making him the highest-paid running back in the league, the urgency to safeguard his health and longevity is amplified. Shanahan’s strategy may involve limiting McCaffrey's touches in certain situations or employing a more balanced run game to distribute the workload among other backs.
This approach not only aims to protect McCaffrey, whose play dynamic is crucial to the 49ers' offensive strategy, but it also allows the coaching staff to explore more diverse play-calling options, keeping defenses on their toes and enhancing the effectiveness of the entire offense. Balancing workloads while capitalizing on McCaffrey’s unique skill set will be key to the team's success as they navigate the upcoming season.
San Francisco 49ers Running Back Christian McCaffrey
It sounds like Kyle Shanahan is taking a proactive approach to keep Christian McCaffrey healthy throughout the season. Managing CMC's workload could be crucial, especially given his injury history. By distributing carries more evenly among the running backs, the team aims to not only preserve McCaffrey's durability but also ensure that the offensive production remains strong. Fans can look forward to a more balanced running game as they adapt to this strategy in the upcoming season. If you see CMC's carry count dip, it’ll be a strategic move rather than a diminishment of his impact on the field.
