Key to 49ers’ offense? Holding onto the ball

Associated Press

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Despite San Francisco’s impressive 12-3 record, the 49ers’ offense leads the league in only one category — protecting the football.

San Francisco hasn’t committed a turnover in its last four games and leads the league in fewest giveaways with 10. If the 49ers don’t commit a turnover in Sunday’s season finale at St. Louis, they will tie the NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season set last year by New England.

The 49ers also lead the league with 36 takeaways, making their plus-26 turnover differential the NFL’s best. San Francisco ranks just 26th in the league in total offense, but that unit has contributed to the team’s successful formula by limiting mistakes and holding onto the ball.

The 49ers had a minus-1 turnover differential last season, when they committed 23 turnovers. The team’s skill players on offense are essentially the same as last year, but the big change has come in the methodology of first-year coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff that has transformed San Francisco into a contender after eight seasons without a winning record or playoff berth.

“There are other things that go into it other than, ‘Hey guys, let’s just take care of the ball today,”’ Harbaugh said. “There is scheme, there’s philosophy that goes in there. It’s the pride that the players have in protecting the football, understanding situational football.”

Harbaugh said the 49ers have emphasized that scheme since the team’s first practice in July, and it certainly has showed in the results. San Francisco has not committed a turnover in its last 18 quarters since quarterback Alex Smith threw an end-zone interception in the final seconds before halftime of a Thanksgiving Day loss at Baltimore.

Smith has been the catalyst behind San Francisco’s low turnover rate. The seventh-year pro has thrown 415 passes this season but only five have been intercepted, the fewest of any starting quarterback in the league.

Some may call him a game manager, but Smith’s improved decision making and ball protection have been major factors in the turnaround season for Smith and his team. Smith was 19-31 as a NFL starter entering this year and had thrown more interceptions (53) than touchdown passes (51) in his first six seasons.

“You’ve got to do the little things to help give your team a chance to win,” Smith said. “Guys do it a lot of different ways, and sometimes they’re not the real noticeable thing. You talk about that winning edge, whatever it is with the quarterback, those are the things I look to.”