Texas Football: Analaytical deep dive of former Longhorns in Super Bowl
1. Kyle Shanahan
Current Position: Head coach, San Francisco 49ers
Texas Career: 2000-2002 (Wide Receiver)
Some of the numbers that Shanahan posted as either an offensive coordinator or head coach at the NFL level in the last decade or so are very impressive. His schemes evolved as time moved along behind physical offensive lines and versatile wide receivers that make the best use of their size and speed on the outside. The trend of the 49ers wide receivers carrying enough versatility to win games was evident when the 49ers rushed the ball more than 40 times, compared to just eight passing attempts for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, in the NFC Championship Game win over the Green Bay Packers.
The rushing offenses for Shanahan have ranked in the top five in the NFL in total yardage on four different occasions. He’s ranked in the top 10 in rushing touchdowns for his teams on five different occasions.
Nabbing the No. 1 rushing offense in the NFL at any point in the last decade with the Washington Redskins is a solid feat. Shanahan was able to do that back in 2012.
The schemes of Shanahan evolved over time, but he still seems to stick to running the ball first. That was true with the Redskins and Atlanta Falcons in recent years, and remains true with the 49ers now. He’s started to use the fullback more, mostly Kyle Juszczyk this year, more often than ever this year.
According to Sharp Football, Shanahan uses more two running back/fullback personnel in his offensive looks than all but one other team in the NFL this season. Only the Minnesota Vikings utilized a two-running back/fullback set more so this season than the 49ers (on 34 percent of plays compared to 32).
What changed this season, though, is the fortunes for Shanahan’s teams on the defensive side of the ball. For the first time in his coaching career, Shanahan is on a staff that has a top 10 ranked defense in the NFL. That is a trend that is largely thanks to the 49ers bolstering their defensive line with the likes of former Oregon Ducks defensive end DeForest Buckner and former Ohio State Buckeyes stout pass rusher Nick Bosa.