49ers preseason: 5 players to watch in Week 3
By Robert Smith
Joe Williams, Running Back
Has coach Kyle Shanahan decided on his running back rotation, or are a few roster spots still up for dibbs?
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In their preseason game against the Broncos, the 49ers ran the ball predominately with Carlos Hyde, Tim Hightower, Kapri Bibbs and Raheem Mostert. Rookie tailback Joe Williams had one carry and one yard, and fellow rookie Matt Breida did not see a touch.
Hyde ended up with 26 yards on eight carries, while Hightower had three carries for minus-1 yard and a fumble. Under any circumstances, those are some pretty underwhelming numbers.
Shanahan may simply be saving the more complicated formations and offensive running plays for the regular season. Or perhaps he wanted to see who would step up among the players who touched the ball versus Denver.
Either way, the 49ers didn’t get anything done in the run game, and will be a cause for concern if it continues into Week 3 against the Vikings.
Does Williams see more touches in the “dress rehearsal?” Can he leapfrog Hightower as the primary backup to Hyde?
It will definitely be interesting to see how Shanahan divides up the carries, and if the 49ers offensive line can open up running lanes regardless of who is carrying the rock.
Which brings us to the next slide.