Niner Noise
FanSided

Finding Hidden Gems on 49ers 2016 Roster

By Trevor Irvine

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with teammates during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with teammates during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Kelvin Taylor (21) runs with the ball as Florida State Seminoles linebacker Terrance Smith (24) defends during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Kelvin Taylor (21) runs with the ball as Florida State Seminoles linebacker Terrance Smith (24) defends during the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Kelvin Taylor – Running Back

The drafting of running back Kelvin Taylor kept up the Baalke tradition of adding a RB to add to the depth at the position. Baalke has had mixed success in recent times, with Carlos Hyde being a great pick (when he is healthy) compared to Marcus Lattimore who unfortunately never played a down.

The drafting of Taylor in the sixth round may prove to be a steal for the Niners. In his three years at Florida, Taylor rushed for 2,108 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 23 touchdowns, including 13 last season.

More importantly (and impressively), he touched the ball a total of 510 times and never fumbled it. It is pretty hard to have any better ball security than this number.

Taylor is similar in stature to former Niners back Frank Gore at 5-foot10 and 205 pounds. He is an excellent inside runner with terrific vision to find a small crease and attack it. Like Gore, he lacks the top gear to run away from the defense, but his ball security makes up for this trait.

Taylor should thrive in short yardage situations and should be the perfect man to spell Hyde when Hyde needs a rest.

He does need to improve his hands if he wants to have an impact on the passing game, but he is a hidden gem in-the-waiting for 2016.

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