MIAMI — In Robert Turner Jr.’s first NFL coaching job, his primary duty was grooming an anonymous running back to fit a certain scheme.
His name was Terrell Davis.
Davis is now in the Hall of Fame, and Turner is in his 25th year coaching in the NFL. Everywhere he’s gone, rushing success has followed.
That scheme was the zone-blocking run game the 49ers utilize today.
Of course, it has morphed and transformed in the 25 years since Turner first coached it under Mike Shanahan in Denver. In Turner’s words, “Kyle’s his own person.”
But the philosophy is the same.