Another Offense For The Ages?

Shanahan system breaking new ground with Niners

- Craig Massei

Since the embryonic stages of their dynasty back in the early 1980s, the 49ers always have been known for offense. Explosive offense. Innovative offense. Record-setting offense. Championship offense.

It all started with Bill Walsh, of course, who eventually handed off the play-calling reins to Mike Holmgren, who then handed them to Mike Shanahan. Quite a lineage there. From Marc Trestman to Steve Mariucci to the slew of offensive honchos that followed them, the 49ers ever since have been trying to find their way back to the days when San Francisco was synonymous with tantalizingly dynamic offense.

Before the 49ers even take their first snap in the 2017 season, it wouldn’t be outrageous to say they already are on the way there under a new regime — as laughable as that might sound to most outsiders.

Of course, it’s very early. But an offense that finished 31st among 32 teams in the NFL rankings last season has a completely new look now with Kyle Shanahan running it.

And while nobody sensible is even close yet to comparing Shanahan’s model to the San Francisco attacks produced by his father and the other great San Francisco offensive masterminds of yore, there is little question that the potential is there for him to follow in their footsteps — and for the 49ers to become a legitimate force on offense once again.

Will that happen sooner rather than later for a team coming off back-to-back losing seasons? That is the question facing the 49ers this season as an overhauled roster attempts to soak it all in and learn the intricacies and finer details of Shanahan’s system.