49ers’ improved special teams unit is helping win games

Santa Clara, California – Upon joining the San Francisco 49ers via trade on August 21, returner Sky Moore had no idea about the team’s past special teams struggles.

Although Moore had no reason to know that the Niners finished last in the NFL in 2024 in expected points added on special teams (minus-47.67) or that a series of mistakes made by that unit played a significant role in their loss in Super Bowl LVIII, it didn’t take long for him to realize how much the improvement in the third phase of the game meant to those who were around.

“I didn’t realize I was coming in so late into the offseason,” Moore said. “I’ve definitely seen guys like George (Kittle) and (Kyle Juszczyk) say, ‘You’re doing a great job, it’s fun to watch.’ “I certainly commend him for that.”

That appreciation is rooted in a special teams variation that has been crucial to the team’s 8-4 start.

Through the first 12 games, the 49ers are second in the NFL in special teams EPA at 39.73. Over the same period last season, the 49ers ranked last in the league in that category at minus-35.49. That’s a difference of 75.22 expected points, or roughly one touchdown per game.

For a team that has won half of its eight games by less than six points, a strong argument can be made that special teams is becoming something the Niners can win with rather than wishing and hoping they won’t lose games.

Linebacker and special teams veteran Luke Gifford said, “We feel like we’re getting to the point where special teams are now a weapon and it’s not just about offense and defense.” “We feel like our team identity is starting to be reflected on special teams as well. … I think it’s definitely changed and definitely for the better.”

Most of the fluctuations in EPA can be attributed to the simplest of terms: They are making most of their field goal attempts and their opponents are missing more often.

After another poor performance in the opener against the Seattle Seahawks, in which kicker Jake Moody missed a 27-yard attempt and had a 36-yarder blocked, the Niners waived Moody and signed veteran Eddie Piñeiro.

Before suffering a right hamstring injury that would keep him out until the bye week, Piñeiro was a revelation. He set a franchise record by converting his first 22 field goal attempts as a Niner and although there have been some hiccups on extra points, Piñeiro has been perfect on six attempts of 50-plus yards.

Even with Piñeiro out, replacement Matt Gay made his first pair of field goals and two extra point attempts without missing against the Carolina Panthers.

That success will be tested on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS), which will feature cold and potentially rainy and/or snowy conditions. Gay never kicked in Cleveland, but Moody missed a potential 41-yard attempt with six seconds remaining in 2023, a play that hasn’t been forgotten in San Francisco’s locker room.

For his part, Gay said he doesn’t spend too much time focusing on what the season might be like and will figure it out when the game comes. In the meantime, he is focused on improving his performance against Carolina after some disappointing stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders, who released him last week.

“When you get bitten and brought in, it humbles you,” Gay said. “I was able to just let it all go and just be free out there and just swing the legs and see what happens.”

Most good things have happened when the 49ers kicker moved his foot this season. San Francisco has made 25 field goals (tied for second in the league) and made 92.6% of its field goal attempts (tied for third). Those attempts have been boosted by a little luck as opponents have made only 66.7% of their attempts against the Niners, the second-worst rate in the NFL, with a total of eight misses, the most against any team in the league.

“Any time (you’re) missing a kick, it brings attention to everything,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “When you miss a bunch of kicks, it’s tough on the whole special teams team. So, it’s been good to make them this year and have a higher percentage of us in that, but also knock down the blocks.”

Although the kicking game has been central to San Francisco’s special teams improvement, the 49ers have also enjoyed increased productivity in the return game. Moore, who was a late addition to training camp due to Jacob Cowing’s recurring injury, has settled into the role and has improved each week.

Among qualified players, Moore ranks fourth in the NFL in kick return average (28.3 yards per attempt) and third among players with at least 15 return attempts. Fellow returner Brian Robinson Jr. has also performed when given the opportunity, posting a 33.4-yard per return mark on his seven attempts, despite never playing the position.

Led by that duo, the 49ers lead the league in average starting field position after a kick return (34.5-yard line) and are one of two teams that have not started a single drive inside their own 20 after a kickoff.

And though Moore has yet to get loose on long punt returns, his 10.3-yard average ranks 11th in the league. With nearly 75% of the season gone, Moore says he believes the combined time on assignment for the returning units has opened things up and allowed him to feel like he can score every time he touches the ball.

“Once you get a feel for the field, I feel like you get into a groove and you start seeing the field a little bit differently,” Moore said. “For the past few weeks, I feel like I’m getting closer to her.”

Of course, the 49ers still have a lot of room for improvement, especially on coverage units. The Niners rank 28th in the NFL in opponent average field position after kickoff (31.2-yard line) and are giving up 14.6 yards per punt return, fourth worst.

But there have been signs of progress on coverage units. Over the past two weeks, the average starting field positions after kickoffs for the Panthers and Cardinals were the 28- and 28.3-yard lines, respectively. These are two best marks of the season for the 49ers’ kick coverage.

Gifford said it has helped to have kickoffs between the goal line and the 5 because it gives coverage units a chance to make multiple moves to get to the ball instead of being wiped out after a block on a short kick.

Perhaps most importantly, even when a special teams play has gone wrong this season, the 49ers haven’t let those mistakes escalate the way they did a season ago.

“You can have one bad game and it sours all 15 players,” Shanahan said. “I think it’s giving those guys more confidence every week.”