How Kyle Shanahan's Use of Motion and Misdirection Kept the Bears Defense Off Balance

The 49ers offense has been firing on all cylinders lately. They’ve scored 37, 41, and 42 points in their last 3 games. They’ve also gone over 400 yards in each of those games after doing so just once in their first 13.

At the center of their offensive success is, of course, Kyle Shanahan. The way he combines motion, misdirection, and tendency-breakers strains opponents like few other can. He stretches defenses from sideline to sideline, allowing his quarterback and play-makers to take advantage.

This approach was in full effect on Sunday night during San Francisco’s 42-38 win over the Bears.

This first example was a wide zone to the left with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne releasing underneath the line of scrimmage in the opposite direction of the run (something you’ll see Shanahan do on play-action boot at times):

That removed or held two defenders to the back side:

With those defenders unable to factor into the play, Christian McCaffrey was able to scamper through the second level untouched and then find daylight for a 41-yard run:

Of course, it didn’t stop there.

This next play was a wide zone to the right. This time, however, Shanahan used escort motion to the left with fullback Kyle Juszczyk. This type of motion is where the motion man moves just before the snap but doesn’t cross the center until right after, giving the offense a late numbers advantage to the side of the motion. The run will often follow the motion, but on this play, it went in the opposite direction.

Shanahan also used split-flow action from right to left with tight end Jake Tonges:

The movement away from the run removed multiple Bears linebackers from the play side (T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds), resulting in a 15-yard gain for Brian Robinson: