Vernon Davis blames poor 2014 season on 49ers' game planning

Vernon Davis underwent a precipitous descent in form in 2014, posting the worst totals of his nine-year career.

The San Francisco 49ers tight end recorded a mere 26 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns, but chalked up his struggles to the team's play-calling.

"Whenever I'd run, like, my deep over routes there was a safety sitting over there already," Davis said to The Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows. "It was just game planning. And nothing really ever opened up. But I wasn't really ever a factor in the offense last year. ... The first game, yeah. But the second game, the tight ends (weren't) really involved as a whole."

Although Davis didn't single out former 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman by name, the two-time Pro Bowler was quick to heap praise on the team's current tight ends coach, Tony Sparano. Roman accepted the same role with the Buffalo Bills as the 49ers' completely revamped their coaching staff over the offseason.

"He's a stickler with blocking, with running routes, with releases, with everything," Davis said of Sparano. "He's a stickler with everything."

With the 49ers battling a host of retirements, and implementing an entirely new coaching regime, Davis' veteran presence will be counted upon. If Davis' game doesn't return to form, it'll be difficult to blame the game planning in consecutive years.