There can be no doubt that the San Francisco 49ers feature the NFL’s worst offense after another stinker of a performance by Colin Kaepernick and Co. in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers.
At no point did the 49ers feature anything resembling a competent NFL offense against the Packers. The team’s defense was stellar, holding Aaron Rodgers and Co. to just 17 points. If the offense was even just slightly effective, the Packers could have been beaten.
Whether it was calling a run up the middle in the first half on 3rd-and-11, Kaepernick finding it impossible to hit the broad side of a barn with a handful of rice or the offensive line allowing defenders to approach the quarterback without any kind of challenge, the 49ers couldn’t do anything right in Week 4.
Kaepernick ended up with just 160 yards passing on 25 attempts, completing just over half his passes. He failed to throw a touchdown for the third time in four games this year and ended up with another interception — his fifth in the last two weeks. On that note, Kaepernick and his counterpart Aaron Rodgers could not be further apart when it comes to giving the ball away.
Colin Kaepernick has thrown 5 INT's in his last 67 attempts. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 5 INT's in his last 670 attempts
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 4, 2015
Both primary receivers for the 49ers — Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin — were visibly upset at various times on Sunday as Kaepernick missed them badly or didn’t notice them altogether.
To be fair, the failing offense isn’t totally the fault of the team’s quarterback. Offensive coordinator Geep Chryst appears to be well out of his league, calling games that are way too predictable for opposing defenses, as Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu was happy to point out last weekend.
The offensive line is downright offensive. Even All-Pro left tackle Joe Staley has been bad this year, and the entire right side of the line, starting with center Marcus Martin, is as effective as a broken-down turnstile at stopping defenders from attacking the quarterback.
To date, Kaepernick has endured 14 sacks in four games, and that number would be much, much higher if not for his otherworldly athleticism, speed and strength.
The line hasn’t done the running game any favors, either. Since breaking out with 168 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, starting running back Carlos Hyde has been almost invisible, rushing for 114 yards on 36 attempts with no touchdowns.
All defenses have to do right now to stymie this atrocious offense is crowd the line, blitz like crazy and watch Kaepernick unravel. He’s as discombobulated as we’ve ever seen and has that dreaded deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes.
Through four games, the 49ers have managed to gain just 1,156 total yards and score 48 points, which averages out to 289 yards and 12 points per game. The past two games, it’s been even worse, as the offense has managed just 10 points.
The 49ers have regressed badly on offense. Kaepernick has never been worse than he is right now, the talent just isn’t there on the offensive line to succeed and teams have figured out what the offense is attempting to accomplish, thanks to a coaching staff that is in well over its head.
It doesn’t get much lower than this, but if things don’t change soon for Kaepernick and the 49ers, they’ll hit rock bottom.