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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 /
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Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) runs after the catch during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) runs after the catch during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Torrey Smith-Wide Receiver

Wide receiver Torrey Smith should benefit in Chip Kelly’s offense for a totally different reason than the rest of the players mentioned. Smith may not post similar numbers to DeAndre Smelter in 2016, but he also won’t be expected to.

When the 49ers signed wide receiver Torrey Smith to a five-year deal, it was believed that they were paying for a number one receiver. 49ers general manager Trent Baalke doesn’t typically spend in free agency so to hand a receiver the contract they gave Smith certainly bucked the trend.

After a disappointing 2015 season, Smith will look to make good on his contract and post similar numbers to his success in the Baltimore Ravens offense. However, in Chip Kelly’s offense, Smith won’t have to be the go-to guy.

Smith will see targets in 2016 but, at six feet tall and just over 200 pounds, he doesn’t possess the build that Kelly typically prefers in a receiver. That is not to say that Smith won’t be successful. Or that he can’t compete as a high-level number two receiver. But that his body type and skills make it so he won’t have to be the featured receiver in Kelly’s offense.

If anything, that helps Smith. He’ll enter 2016 with less pressure to be the absolute dominant receiver and instead he can use his skills to compliment what the other starting receivers will offer. Smith’s speed makes him useful in threatening a defense vertically while opening the field up underneath for bigger players like previously-mentioned Celek and Smelter.

Although Smith may not see the statistical output that his contract warrants, he will remain productive and valuable in other ways. Pair that with the fact that the 49ers will trot out young, inexpensive receivers and it is easy to understand how the receiver position finds value in the dollars spent for the group.

Smith should increase both his receptions and yardage totals from 2015 when he caught just 33 passes for 663 yards. Those numbers were good for a yards per reception rate of 20.1, emphasizing what Smith does well as a down-field receiver. In Kelly’s offense, he’ll specialize in vertical routes.

Expect Smith to have somewhere between 50-60 catches for around 800 yards and a handful of touchdowns. If so, he’ll benefit from Kelly’s offense and the 49ers will benefit from what he brings to the field as well.

Next: Final Thoughts