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San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 Positions Needing Improvement in 2016

By Jerod Brown

Sep 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers fans cheer for their team prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers fans cheer for their team prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Shaun Draughn (24) warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi
December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Shaun Draughn (24) warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi /

Backup Running Back

The 49ers have a wonderful starting running back option in Carlos Hyde. Unfortunately, Hyde hasn’t been fully healthy in either of his two seasons in the league. As impressive as Hyde’s performance was in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, his bruising and aggressive running style may not ever last for a full 16-game season.

The 49ers will need to have a solid backup option as the team moves into 2016.

Reggie Bush was meant to be that option. Bush, one of the most exciting college football players of all time, has largely failed as an every-down running back in the NFL.

Bush has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season twice in his 10 year career and has only rushed for over 600 yards three times total. Those numbers aren’t anywhere near what a team would expect from a starting tailback.

Fortunately, the 49ers signed Bush to be a backup to Hyde and a change-of-pace back from the downhill runner that Hyde is. After a stress fracture in his foot, Hyde was forced to sit out of the 49ers contest against the St. Louis Rams on November 1, 2015.

Bush, in one of the first plays from scrimmage, managed to trip on the concrete surface surrounding the field in the Edward Jones Dome and tore his ACL in the accident. He was placed on injured reserve and the 49ers running back shuffle began.

Since the Bush injury, the 49ers have signed running backs Travaris Cadet, Shaun Draughn, Pierre Thomas, and DuJuan Harris to fill the roster spot. Cadet and Thomas were both released relatively quickly but Draughn and Harris received solid playing time as 49ers.

Draughn managed over 400 total yards in six games before an injury forced him out for the season as well. Harris, in the final two games of the season, gained over 230 total yards of offense and showed an impressive ability as both a runner and receiver in the 49ers offense.

The 49ers will likely have one of these men return for 2016. While Carlos Hyde has the starting running back spot secured, the immediate backup should be the better performer between Harris and Draughn.

Training camp in 2016 will likely feature a solid battle for the backup running back position and 49ers fans should expect Harris and Draughn to both enter training camp as a possibility for the position.

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