SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As the San Francisco 49ers' offense looked to find its footing early in Monday's season-opening win against the Los Angeles Rams, the spark it needed came from quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

To have Gabbert ignite the offense was a welcome sight, but he didn't do it in the way you might have guessed. After missing some early throws, Gabbert spotted openings in the Rams' defense and began to do his damage with his legs rather than his right arm. An 11-yard run up the middle followed by 5 more and another 11-yard scramble off the left side.

By the time the 49ers finished off their 28-0 demolition of the Rams, Gabbert had nine carries for 43 yards, the second-highest rushing total of his career. In the eyes of running back Carlos Hyde, Gabbert's success on the ground was a beautiful thing.

"I tell him all the time, 'Blaine this is me and you,'" Hyde said. "We have to work together. And, if we are on the same page, we will kill teams with this read-option. I’m like, 'You can run it just as good as I can run it. So, don’t be afraid to pull it and go make a play.' Before the game I told him, 'If you feel like you can go beat the defensive end to the sideline, then go make a play. Don’t just rely on me all the time.' It’s a two-man game with us, when we run the read-option. I was happy though. He was pulling it in, he was getting yards. It just put more pressure on the defense."

It also opened up things for Hyde, who for the second year in a row looked like the best running back on the field -- or at least the most productive -- in a Monday Night Football matchup against another top running back. Hyde outdueled the Rams' Todd Gurley with 88 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries to Gurley's 17 carries for 47 yards.

With Gabbert repeatedly showing he wasn't afraid to pull the ball down and make a play, sometimes taking a big hit in the process, the Rams suddenly found themselves unable to concentrate their efforts on slowing Hyde. After gaining just 5 yards on his first two carries, Hyde offered a master class in how to remain patient when running in the confines of inside zone concepts.

After taking a handoff from Gabbert, Hyde dashed to his left but stopped while keeping his feet moving as two blockers pulled from the other side. After letting the play develop, Hyde burst through the hole and into the end zone for the 49ers' first touchdown of the season.

"All week in practice, the big emphasis on that play was to be patient," Hyde said. "And, you also have to be patient because you have two blockers, you have two pullers coming around. So, you have to wait for your second puller to come around to figure out what he’s going to do, if he’s going to go up inside or outside. So, just being patient. I actually thought the run was going to go outside and I just saw it split apart like the Red Sea, and my eyes got big and I got rolling."

Successful running backs in zone schemes often talk of the need to be slow to the hole but fast through it. It's an innate ability Hyde seems to possess. Coach Chip Kelly's offense has long leaned on a preference for inside zone runs and, based on Monday's success, it seems his players are already taking to it well.

Overall, the 49ers rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns on 42 attempts, but 144 of those yards and two scores came between the tackles. All but one of Hyde's carries came inside behind what looks like an improved offensive line paving the way.

"We came into the game saying take what the defense gives you," Gabbert said. "They were kind of dropping their zones, playing some tight man-to-man coverage and there were some running lanes up in the middle of the field. Anytime you can convert third downs, get yourself into second-and-short, third-and-manageable with your feet, that’s something that you have to do and I have to capitalize on."

Kelly has repeatedly made it clear that the running game will be the focal point of his offense, despite outside perceptions to the contrary. In Kelly's three seasons in Philadelphia, the Eagles were 24-8 when rushing for 100 yards or more as a team. As of Tuesday morning, Kelly's 49ers are 1-0 in such scenarios.

To be sure, the competition will get tougher and the challenge to build on what happened Monday will only grow. Gabbert will have to figure out how to take advantage through the air as teams continue to load up to stop the run.

But if Gabbert can continue to keep defenses honest with his legs, the burden on his right arm will remain limited. Just how the 49ers want it.