Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers film room: Why Carlos Hyde will start at running back

By Chris Wilson

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes towards Rodney McLeod #23 of the St. Louis Rams during the second half at Levis Stadium on November 2, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes towards Rodney McLeod #23 of the St. Louis Rams during the second half at Levis Stadium on November 2, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
49ers Hyde
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 11: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes with the ball against the New York Jets during their NFL game at Levis Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Speed Around the Edge

You don’t need home-run-hitter speed to play running back in an outside-zone scheme. Instead of blazing speed, you need acceleration and enough speed to get around the edge — which is why so many successful outside-zone running backs are late-round draft picks with lackluster combine measurables.

Running back Terrell Davis averaged over 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns per year over three straight All-Pro seasons after running a 4.72 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Running back Alfred Morris used his 4.67 40-yard speed to rush for 1,600 yards and 13 touchdowns during his rookie year with Shanahan.

Hyde is bigger, stronger and faster than Davis and Morris, and has enough speed to take outside-zone runs around the edge: