SANTA CLARA — Klay Kubiak says “not much” has changed with his promotion to 49ers offensive coordinator from pass-game specialist this season.
However, by taking on that title, he’ll speak weekly this season about an offense that remains under coach Kyle Shanahan’s control. just as he did Thursday on the eve of the 49ers’ rookie camp.
“Some things naturally change when you get a new title,” Kubiak said. “But for the most part I’ll be doing the same work: putting game plans together and getting our guys ready to play.”
He’s done “coordinator-esque” work the past couple years, and that included play-calling duties in the preseason and regular-season finale, the first two times Shanahan delegated that job in his eight years leading the 49ers.
Three weeks into the voluntary offseason program, Kubiak shared insights Thursday on three key aspects of the offense:
San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) leaves the field following their 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group
McCAFFREY’S IMPORTANCE
Running back Christian McCaffrey is looking spry after injuries kept him out of all but four games last season.
“You guys saw in 2023 how important he is to what we want to be as an offense. He’s an elite player and we’re going to do everything we can to get him the ball as much as we can,” Kubiak said. “… We’re going to hand him the ball, we’re going to throw him the ball. How he changes defenses when he’s on the field, for how they have to play us in certain coverages, in putting more guys in the box to stop the run, it has an effect on the opponent.”
After playing 81 percent of the snaps en route to 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, McCaffrey missed the first two months last season with Achilles tendinitis, then a knee injury sidelined him the final five games.
Added Kubiak: “Christian is a guy who’s really hard to take off the field for a lot of reasons: One, because he’s a great player, but, two, because he does not want to come out. Sometimes it’s a battle. You have to be aware of it. Sometimes you have to pull him off the field every now and then. But that’s what makes him a great player: He’s so competitive and he wants to be out there. It’s on us as coaches to do our best to balance that out.”
San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) looks to throw against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group
QUARTERBACK OUTLOOK
Brock Purdy continues to take ownership of the offense, albeit he’s now having to block out ongoing contract negotiations.
“Brock’s had almost 2 ½ seasons of tape where he can look at his cutups and look at his games over that time to study himself, to see where he’s gotten better, where he needs to continue to get better,” Kubiak said. “He’s a great student of himself. He wants to study himself. He wants to see where he can improve. He wants to be told the truth about what we think about how he can improve. He’s had a great offseason so far. It’s kind of what we expect from Brock.”
Kubiak joined the 49ers’ staff in 2021 as a defensive quality control coach, and he recalls how the organization looked favorably back then on Mac Jones, who was passed over with the No. 3 overall pick in favor of Trey Lance but now joins the team as Purdy’s backup.
“Mac’s a really good thrower, he stands in the pocket, he’s a strong guy, he’s really smart. He has a lot of traits we like for a starting quarterback,” Kubiak said. “His career has kind of gone up and down the past couple of years, but we saw the same things in Jacksonville that we loved about him as a college prospect and that really excites us.”
Although Tanner Mordecai is in line to move from the practice squad to the QB3 role, this offseason’s other quarterback addition is seventh-round pick Kurtis Rourke, of whom Kubiak said: “The physical tools, the toughness, the leadership – he’s a winner, and we think we got a really good player.”
San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (14) is congratulated on a catch by San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
WIDE RECEIVER ROOM
While veteran Demarcus Robinson and fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins join the wide receiver mix, Kubiak doled out compliments for the leading incumbents.
Kubiak offered no timeline on Aiyuk’s return from knee reconstruction but did say: “He’s doing everything he can do to give himself a chance to get back on the field. I know when we get back for (training) camp, he’s going to be working every day and busting his butt to get ready to go.”
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On Jauan Jennings, last year’s leading wide receiver: “You ask Jauan and he says, ‘I’m No. 1.’ That’s his mindset and why we love Jauan. That’s how he sees himself. He sees himself as a dominant player. You all saw last year that when he got more chances, he played really well. I’m really fired up about Jauan.”
On Ricky Pearsall, whose rookie season was delayed by a gunshot wound through his chest: “I think Ricky sees himself as a starter. He wants to be a starting receiver. Whether B.A. is out there or not, Ricky has that same expectation of himself. We wouldn’t want it any other way. That’s how he saw himself last year and that’s just how he is naturally.”
On Jacob Cowing, whose rookie season was mostly confined to punt return duties: “We’ll get Jake as much involved as he shows his growth and development, what kind of camp he’s had. Jake has done an outstanding job showing up to our offseason in great shape and getting better. … He’s given himself a chance to get to camp and compete and to really contribute on offense.”
