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Conflict.<\/p>\n
It’s the principle at the heart of Kyle Shanahan’s offense.<\/p>\n
The 49ers’ head coach and offensive play-caller isn’t simply calling plays at random \u2014 he’s isolating certain players on the opposing defense and calling plays that put them in unwinnable positions.<\/p>\n
To be great on defense, you have to be incisive. Save for generational players, there’s not enough time to think and attack. So Shanahan flusters defenses by forcing defensive players to make choices in the open field.<\/p>\n
And as Shanahan’s style of offense spreads around the NFL via his coaching tree and copycats, we’re seeing more offensive play callers build offenses behind the principle of conflict.<\/p>\n
Against the 49ers’ defense, there’s one player, as of late, that’s being pushed into the fray again and again.<\/p>\n
Niners safety Talanoa Hufanga is a critical reason why San Francisco’s defense was the best in the NFL this season. He’s incredible near the line of scrimmage \u2014 his run-stopping ability is perhaps unparalleled at his position. Without him, it’s hard to imagine the Niners’ being the best run defense in the NFL.<\/p>\n
Early in the Niners’ campaign, Hufanga’s hard hits in the run game and opportunism in the passing game set a tone for the defense. He was everywhere on the field in the fall, and where he went, he made his presence known.<\/p>\n
But Hufanga’s presence has been felt in a different way in recent weeks.<\/p>\n