On December 4, as the San Francisco 49ers were about to win their fifth game in a row, run game coordinator Chris Foerster went up to running back Christian McCaffrey and gave him some praise and a little dap.
But before Foerster could say anything, McCaffrey stood up, looked him in the eyes, and in a tone Foerster called “serious as a heart attack,” said what was basically an apology.
Foerster said, “He says, ‘I promise I’ll get better. I missed some holes and left too much out there.'” “”I won’t disappoint you guys again. Just give me time. Please bear with me.”
McCaffrey’s apology would have been more effective if he hadn’t just torched the Miami Dolphins for 146 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown. This is the latest in a long line of all-around performances that have made McCaffrey the NFL’s most important midseason addition.
“I’m like, ‘Christian, relax man,'” Foerster said. “He wants everything he does to be absolutely perfect. Since he’s been here, he’s always been like that, which I really like about him.”
Since he was traded to San Francisco on October 20, McCaffrey hasn’t been perfect, but the 49ers’ record has been since he was put in the starting lineup. Even though they started the season 3-4, the Niners are now 7-0 with him as their starting quarterback. It has also worked out well for McCaffrey. He left the Carolina Panthers when they were 1-5, and now he is the main player on the NFC West champions.
McCaffrey said, “It’s hard to explain.” “It’s been a wild roller coaster ride, and there’s still a long way to go. I can’t believe how lucky I am to be on this team.”
After his first game with the 49ers was cut short against the Kansas City Chiefs, McCaffrey started against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. He let the NFC West know he was there by becoming the fourth player since the 1970 merger to throw for a touchdown, run for a touchdown, and catch a touchdown in the same game.
Since McCaffrey became a starter, San Francisco’s offence has added about 8 points, 15 total yards, and 25 rushing yards per game. In its first seven games, a team that relied on its defence more than almost any other NFL team was suddenly able to play complementary football. McCaffrey’s versatility was added to an offence that already had George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk, among others, on it.
McCaffrey has started seven games as the 49ers’ starting running back. He has 818 yards from scrimmage, which is fourth in the NFL. He also has seven touchdowns, which is tied for fifth. He also has 257 yards after a catch, which is fourth in the NFL (second among non-quarterbacks). McCaffrey has 1,550 yards from scrimmage (tied for third), 10 touchdowns (tied for 10th), 647 yards after a catch (tied for third), and 78 first downs (tied for third) (second).
McCaffrey has had more than 100 yards from scrimmage in 10 games this season, which is the most in the NFL. He has done this in five of the games he has started for the 49ers. Since he joined the NFL in 2017, he has done that 42 times, which is more than anyone else in the league.
Shanahan said, “To have a back who is such a threat coming out of the backfield on pass plays is as good as anyone in the league.” “Plus, he is a good runner, so we put him with some of our other guys. We haven’t had to push him very much. When he can run the ball, catch checkdowns, and be the main guy on some routes, he’s a great weapon to have.”
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