San Francisco 49ers: The good, bad, and ugly in preseason loss to Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Ugly: Red Zone Offense

Last season, the 49ers were tied with the Colts, Steelers, and Ravens in terms of red zone efficiency. Unfortunately, for the 49ers, that tie was for twenty-eighth place in the league – obviously, that’s not too good in a league of 32 teams.

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San Francisco scored a touchdown on just 14.1 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line. This, despite the fact that they ran the ninth-most plays in the entire league, from inside the 20.

Though they moved the ball fairly well last season – at least, outside the 20 – once they got into the red zone, they struggled to do much of anything with it. They scored four times through the air, and punched another eight in on the ground.

Over the first two games of this preseason, the 49ers were actually fairly efficient inside the 20, going three-for-five against the Cowboys in week one, and one-for-two against the Texans in week two.

Against the Colts though, the offense fell apart inside the red zone, going just one-for-five against a unit that’s not exactly a group of world beaters.

With two chances after long drives that got them inside the 20 – inside the ten, if you want to be specific – Garoppolo and the offense turned the ball over on downs once, and had to settle for a field goal the second time. Ditto that for a long drive led by Beathard that resulted in a field goal.

The 49ers can’t afford to leave points on the field this season, and desperately need to improve upon that 14 percent figure inside the red zone they had last season.