George Kittle has emerged as a bright spot during the 49ers’ 1-4 start. The second-year pro ranks third among NFL tight ends with 399 receiving yards, behind Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce, and has easily been San Francisco’s most potent threat in the passing game.
But Kittle has also been vital in the running game as a blocker, which has become the underappreciated part of his skill set. He was a problem for Arizona’s defense in Sunday’s game, routinely taking Cardinals defenders out of the play by clearing space for his running backs.
“I was told the first time I was on campus at Iowa, you can’t play tight end at Iowa if you can’t run block,” Kittle said.