Niner Noise
FanSided

5 Players Who Will Benefit in Chip Kelly’s Offense

By Jerod Brown

January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly poses for a photo after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly poses for a photo after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
Oct 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) runs with the ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Duke won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver DeAndre Smelter (15) runs with the ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Duke won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

DeAndre Smelter-Wide Receiver

The San Francisco 49ers are likely placing a whole lot of hopes on the performance of wide receiver DeAndre Smelter in 2016. After drafting the Georgia Tech receiver in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the 49ers gave Smelter a redshirt year to recover from a torn ACL late in the year.

Plenty of time has passed since the injury and Smelter will enter training camp as one of the top options to start at receiver opposite Torrey Smith. At 6’2″ and 226 pounds, Smelter has the size that Chip Kelly loves in his receivers.

Smelter put his size to good use in Georgia Tech’s offense and his blocking ability makes him an immediate favorite to produce in Kelly’s scheme.

Cracking back on interior defenders like that puts wide receivers at an advantage but Smelter’s willingness to keep driving the defender down is impressive. He doesn’t seem to mind contact.

As a receiver in Kelly’s offense, you have to be able and willing to block on the edge. As much as Kelly might like to throw the ball, he’s routinely said that they would prefer to be a powerful and punishing offense. The way to do that is with big men like Smelter beating up defensive backs on the edge.

Not only does Smelter have the weight that Kelly prefers at receiver, but he also has massive hands. At 11″, there isn’t much concern for Smelter’s ability to control the football.

Smelter will likely fill the same role that Eagles receiver Riley Cooper held in Chip Kelly’s offense during his time as head coach. Smelter isn’t as fast as Philly’s leading receiver Jordan Matthews and is also slightly bigger. His build is more similar to Cooper, although Smelter is a better athlete overall.

In 2013, Cooper caught 47 passes for 835 yards. More importantly, he scored eight touchdowns for the Philadelphia offense. Smelter, if healthy like most assume he is, should see similar numbers operating under Kelly in San Francisco.

He may have more receptions, as the 49ers don’t have a receiver like former-Eagle DeSean Jackson or current-Eagle Jordan Matthews to feature, but Smelter’s size makes him a good candidate for the types of routes that were designed for Cooper.

Many fans are projecting hopes onto a player that hasn’t proven anything in the NFL but with highlights like the ones below, it’s hard not to expect big things for Smelter in 2016. Be sure to watch closely at about 2:30 when Smelter abuses a defensive back.

Next: The Next Shady