49ers mailbag: Where have all the screen passes gone? Options on special teams
Deep breaths, everyone. Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was rough on the San Francisco 49ers, but it appears to have been even rougher on the fans. (See the last few questions below). Considering all the injuries the 49ers have sustained, including the big one to Brandon Aiyuk on Sunday, the season is taking on the snake-bit feel the 2020 season had. Ah, but there are key differences, which we get into in this mailbag. 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk out for year with torn ACL, MCL
Thanks for all your thoughtful questions, which as usual have been lightly modified for content.
The 49ers are attempting 1.6 screens per game after attempting 3.1 a game last season. One reason may be different personnel — their reluctance to throw to Jordan Mason the way they threw to Christian McCaffrey last year, for example.
Alternatively, defenses might be prepared for screens. Deebo Samuel’s 11-yarder against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 was the 49ers’ longest of the season. For little or no benefit, the majority of the others have been extinguished. According to TruMedia, San Francisco has the third-lowest passing yards in the league when aiming for screen routes at 40 yards.
Speaking of Samuel, a team source reports that he has been released from the hospital. He was admitted after Sunday’s game with fluid in his lungs and did not play at all in the second half against the Chiefs.
The 49ers’ lone screen on Sunday went to rookie Jacob Cowing, who gained nine yards. It’s something he did well in college. It’s logical that if the 49ers lean more heavily on Cowing — likely given all the team’s injury issues at wideout — it will result in more screens.
