Colin Kaepernick, 49ers Crumbling Under Broken System and Lost Identity

Using the term “identity” to describe an NFL offense is often an overused buzzword, as the majority of teams in this league are multiple in their personnel, alignment and game plan. But I still believe every team has a “core identity” when you break down the tape and push through the window dressing that offensive coordinators love to throw out on the field.

The Philadelphia Eagles are a spread “read” team. The Kansas City Chiefs run the West Coast offense. The Dallas Cowboys are a zone-running team. The New England Patriots, though multiple, are more of a pro-style system.

The San Francisco 49ers? I really don’t know the answer. Power? Spread? Zone Read? Pro Style?

This system under head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman looks broken, and the impact has filtered down to Colin Kaepernick at the quarterback position. Does Kaepernick need to play better? There is no question about that. In this league, it starts and ends with the production under center.

That’s a must to win games and move the ball consistently in critical situations. From ball placement to route progressions, Kaepernick has struggled. But I can’t ignore the lack of flow (or structure) that exists in the play-calling out in San Francisco.During the Week 14 loss to the Oakland Raiders, the 49ers ran two straight power plays in the first quarter (Counter OF, Power O) out of 21 (2WR-1TE-2RB) and 22 (1WR-2TE-2RB) personnel for gains of five and 11 yards with Frank Gore.

That’s good production. Establish the front. Line up and run the ball downhill. The next play? The 49ers spread the field and ran an inside handoff with wide receiver Anquan Boldin aligned in the backfield.

Why?

Throughout the season, the 49ers have often abandoned the physical style of football that has led to winning seasons and playoff runs over the last two years under Harbaugh.

Remember those teams? They were built for December because of the ability to line up, point to the hole and still hit opposing defenses right in the mouth. They wore down defenses with two (or three) tight ends on the field before they broke them in half to close out the game.

Off-tackle, power runs with the wham (trap), Iso, the crack toss, etc., that led to play-action opportunities and quick, two-level reads for Kaepernick to move the sticks or expose secondaries down the field. Add in the zone read, and this team was dynamic enough to move the ball while giving defenses a variety of formation looks off misdirection reads in both the run and the pass game.

Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2296948-colin-kaepernick-49ers-crumbling-under-broken-system-and-lost-identity