49ers 2017 Season: San Francisco’s new running game

The stable of 49ers’ backs

The singular bright spot from the otherwise abysmal 2-14 team Kyle Shanahan is taking over from a year ago was the running game.

Although the 49ers placed fourth in the league in rushing, over 32 percent if it was produced from the quarterbacks.

With neither QB, that put up the rushing yardage last year, on the roster anymore and a completely different scheme being implemented, this is not to be considered an incumbent strength.

The one decent holdover from last year’s running game is current 49er halfback, Carlos Hyde. With Hyde’s annual injury concerns, and the large influx of new runners brought in, his status as a bell cow is most certainly diminished.

The three things we do know about Shanahan’s system is, first, he likes to run a two-back system featuring a pair of runners who are mostly interchangeable.

Next, he prefers the outside-zone running scheme, in which both runners bring a lot of speed and maneuverability to get around the edge with mobile blockers and play-action.

Finally, his entire offense runs through the threat of everyone on the field being receiving threats. Power backs with bad hands need not apply.

Hyde can perform in this regard and has in the past. The three backs that were brought in over draft weekend speak to these traits as well — Utah RB Joe Williams, Denver Broncos RB Kapri Bibbs and Georgia Southern RB Matt Breida.

All four of these backs have their best college years and traits that are very similar with a few distinguishing characteristics:

Carlos Hyde

Hyde spent his college years at Ohio State and ran in a zone-blocking scheme. He was successful with it there and has shown spurts of success in the NFL when not injured. When you watch his tape, Hyde proves to be dangerous behind the line of scrimmage with fantastic cuts and counter ability behind the line of scrimmage, finding holes that might not otherwise be there.

He runs physical and punishes defenders with an aggressive style on the second level and has speed and vision rounding the outside. He shows above average hands and patience and could prove to be a nice fit in Shanahan’s system.

Hyde is a larger back than the others but still runs under his weight, playing last year at 235 pounds and as high as 242 in college. He is playing in a prove-it year and, if the 49ers elect not to re-sign him, I could see him being snatched away by division rival next year, like the Seahawks, if they have cap room.

Joe Williams

Williams was selected with a bit of cajoling from Shanahan considering his brief retirement from football last year. The new general manager was convinced after researching the reasons and speaking to the prospect in-depth.

His skills were never in question as you can see with his 2016 stats and highlights. Even with a month away from the game during the season, he still finished with over 1,400 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

Williams set an all-time Rose Bowl record against UCLA with 322 yards rushing and four touchdowns. As an alternative to Hyde, Williams hits the hole fast. He proves to be extremely dangerous on the second level with breakaway speed that can put him in the end zone from anywhere on the field.

When watching his game tape, you see that he has above average hands and kills defenses around the outside. All of this paired with an aggressive running style that fights for every yard and a motor that seems to get better as the game goes on and the yards add up, making Williams a potential star for the 49ers.

Kapri Bibbs

Bibbs was acquired in a trade with Denver in Round 4 of the draft. The Niners thought highly enough of Bibbs to make the deal. And when you see what he did in his single season at Colorado State, you can see why.

In 2013, Bibbs rushed for over 1,700 yards and was one of only three players in NCAA history to tally more than 30 touchdowns in a single season, putting him in the company of NFL legend Barry Sanders.

Bibbs, like Hyde, is another back who shows great patience and cuts behind the line of scrimmage to find opportune holes. When watching his highlights he tends to turn into more of a downhill power back on the second level with an aggressive style that still shows decent hands and speed around the outside. Much like Hyde.

Matt Breida

Breida went undrafted this year after a poor 2016 showing but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers with a contract that put him in the top of the UDFA class.

Although his 2016 season at Georgia Southern was a disappointment, the previous two years were exceptional. In 2014, he finished with 1,485 yards rushing, 8.7 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns.

In 2015, Breida was contending with Travis Henry of Alabama for the Doak Walker Award and placed second behind Florida State RB Dalvin Cook for yard after contact totals.

When looking at his highlights, you see incredible breakaway speed and like previously mentioned Joe Williams, he can take it to the house on any play from anywhere on the field:

Another back with above average hands and the ability to stretch the outside effectively, his fit in Shanahan’s system is obvious.

After analyzing all four of these backs you see an overall similarity with a couple of distinguishing features between them. Hyde and Williams should serve as the starting one-two punch with Bibbs backing up Hyde with the most similar style and Breida backing up Williams for the same reason.

At the same time, you can’t count out free-agent acquisition Tim Hightower. He will fit in better than any of the young backs on third down this next year until all the young additions get their receiving chops established. He can fill in adequately anywhere in the scheme.

The most fascinating thing about this stable is who will be regulated to the practice squad. Whoever it might be could easily be grabbed up by another team. It will be fun to watch how this unfolds through camp.

When you look at this stable in conjunction with the fullbacks and tight ends acquired with the new regime, you start to see the picture that is being painted by Shanahan.