Way Too Early 2016 Statistical Predictions for San Francisco 49ers
By Peter Panacy
Best Offensive Players: RB Carlos Hyde & WR Torrey Smith
Predicting the best offensive performers from head coach Chip Kelly’s game plan is a bit of a head-scratcher given how many weapons he utilized during his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles over the last three seasons.
True, it’s reasonable to assume Kelly turns the career of quarterback Colin Kaepernick around. Or may be fellow signal-caller Blaine Gabbert continues to trend upward.
Maybe San Francisco’s crop of tight ends will be primary beneficiaries and will be utilized in ways Kelly handled Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.
Who knows, but one likely offensive MVP could be running back Carlos Hyde.
Hyde’s Week 1 performance against the Minnesota Vikings last year exceeded the expectation and met the hype of fans. But a foot injury hampered Hyde for most of the season before he was eventually shut down in advance of 2016.
Yet Hyde’s promising career should see a boost thanks to Kelly’s scheme. And the focus will be on the inside zone approach. Niner Noise’s Rich Madrid put together an excellent piece detailing all this, so we won’t get into too much of the specifics. You’ll want to read it though.
With Hyde receiving some help from the receiving game and a (hopefully) healthy crop of backups, it’s plausible to assume a 1,100-yard, six-touchdown year from the third-year pro back.
Through the air, let’s hope Kelly properly utilizes wide receiver Torrey Smith.
It’s unclear whether or not 35-year-old wideout Anquan Boldin will return given his free-agent status. But Smith should be an active part of a Kelly-ran offense.
Last year, Smith posted 33 catches for 663 yards and four touchdowns — all career lows. But as NFL analyst Nate Burleson said, via the team’s website, Smith and Hyde are perfect for what Kelly wants to do on offense:
“Those are both speed guys, very explosive individuals,” Burleson said of Smith and Hyde. “When you’re looking at an offense that’s so intricate in the way it needs to be defended, that gives receivers like Smith and playmakers like Hyde the ability to run routes against coverages that are beneficial to route runners.
“Whether that’s open zones where you can get the ball in space or even facing Cover 3’s and 1-on-1 coverage because you’ve got linebackers or safeties worrying about something else.”
Smith may reach the 1,000-yard plateau. He’ll be close to it at least. And it wouldn’t be a bad assumption to see him haul in five or six touchdown grabs either.
Next: Offensive Stat Lines