[81alum]

Agree...If I remember my 49er history during Bill Walsh's tenure correctly the Niners were unable to run the ball very well his first years there.  They threw the ball early in the game to be able to set up running the ball in the second half.

Walsh used, both at Stanford and then in the first years with the 49ers, lots of passes behind the line of scrimmage out on the flat to running backs like Phil Francis (and later Roger Craig.)  It was like a long handoff.  Francis was drafted by the 49ers and Walsh used him in the same capacity again as a pro, although not so successfully.   At the time it was thought to be highly innovative to be throwing so many passes to running backs, and commentators marveled that it was serving the same purpose as a ground-control run game. 

Nelson also got in on the pass receptions, but he was always a threat to sidestep a tackle or three.  Francis would catch the ball in stride five years behind the LOS, often would have contact at the LOS, but he had enough momentum and strength to always fall forward for about a five yard gain.  In those early years it was the signature play of the Walsh playbook and seemed to be used at least once on every set of downs.

[81alum]

Agree...If I remember my 49er history during Bill Walsh's tenure correctly the Niners were unable to run the ball very well his first years there.  They threw the ball early in the game to be able to set up running the ball in the second half.

Walsh used, both at Stanford and then in the first years with the 49ers, lots of passes behind the line of scrimmage out on the flat to running backs like Phil Francis (and later Roger Craig.)  It was like a long handoff.  Francis was drafted by the 49ers and Walsh used him in the same capacity again as a pro, although not so successfully.   At the time it was thought to be highly innovative to be throwing so many passes to running backs, and commentators marveled that it was serving the same purpose as a ground-control run game. 

Nelson also got in on the pass receptions, but he was always a threat to sidestep a tackle or three.  Francis would catch the ball in stride five years behind the LOS, often would have contact at the LOS, but he had enough momentum and strength to always fall forward for about a five yard gain.  In those early years it was the signature play of the Walsh playbook and seemed to be used at least once on every set of downs.