The 49ers plan a major offensive overhaul for the 2025 season to fix red zone issues and maximize Christian McCaffrey. Rookie Alfred Collins earns high praise.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
While the NFL world marks its calendar for training camp, with 49ers rookies reporting July 15, the biggest buzz in the Bay Area isn't about who's arriving, but what they'll be running. Whispers from Santa Clara suggest significant changes are coming to the 49ers' offensive scheme, a direct response to the red zone frustrations that plagued an otherwise potent attack last season.
Rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins... is being compared to Hall of Famer Bryant Young.
After a season where the 49ers moved the ball with ease between the 20s but often sputtered inside the opponent's territory, reports indicate the coaching staff is engineering a revamp. While specifics remain under wraps, the goal is clear: maximize the generational talent of Christian McCaffrey and eliminate the predictability that led to critical stalls. For fans, this means the potential for new formations, more creative play-calling, and a renewed emphasis on finishing drives with seven points instead of three. It's a bold move aimed at ensuring this high-powered offense has no exploitable weakness.
While the offense retools, the defense is reloading with a potential superstar. Second-round pick Alfred Collins is already drawing the loftiest of comparisons: 49ers legend and Hall of Famer Bryant Young. Analysts are drooling over Collins' combination of size, raw power, and athleticism, seeing him as a disruptive force who can make an immediate impact. For a defensive line looking to maintain its elite status, the emergence of a Young-esque talent could be a game-changer, creating nightmares for opposing offensive lines for years to come.
The defensive excitement doesn't stop with the rookie. Bleacher Report recently ranked the cornerback tandem of Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green as one of the NFL's best entering 2025, validating the team's investment in the secondary. Their lockdown potential will be crucial. Adding another layer of intrigue, a trade rumor involving the 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles is making the rounds, with speculation that former Niners DC and current Jets head coach Robert Saleh may have played a role in connecting the two parties. Details are scarce, but it's a reminder that John Lynch is always working the phones.
Amidst the on-field speculation, the organization took a moment to reflect, marking Juneteenth with a powerful message of freedom, resilience, and unity. It was a poignant reminder of the team's community values as they prepare for the grind ahead. The official start of that grind is now set, with rookies scheduled to report on July 15 and veterans joining them on July 22, officially kicking off the 2025 campaign.
With training camp dates now officially on the calendar, the countdown has begun. All eyes will be on Santa Clara in mid-July to see the first glimpses of this rumored new offense and to find out if the hype surrounding Alfred Collins is real. The pieces are being moved, the expectations are set, and the road to redemption starts now.
