3 SF 49ers who could switch positions like Tim Tebow
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers ‘Tight End’ Kyle Juszczyk
For those arguing the fullback is a dying breed within collegiate and NFL ranks, someone apparently forgot to tell Kyle Shanahan, who continues to utilize fullback Kyle Juszczyk far more than just a lead blocker in the run game.
And probably why Juszczyk has been the highest-paid fullback in the league ever since 2017.
In a way, though, moving Juszczyk from fullback to tight end would kind of be cheating, since Juszczyk has often lined up as a tight end-type receiver in Shanahan’s offense. Even when Juszczyk is being used as a decoy, as shown in the video below, it’s not as a typical running back-type weapon capable of catching the ball from routes stemming from within the tackles:
Of all the 49ers’ theoretical position switches, this one might come the most naturally. Because even though Shanahan has long since used fullbacks, his offensive scheme doesn’t necessarily require it.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, for example, uses a derivative of the Shanahan scheme without a fullback. And when Juszczyk missed four games in 2019, it was backup tight end Ross Dwelley who served as the Niners’ lead blocker in this role.
Maybe San Francisco spending less effort on trying to grab a key No. 2 tight end to support the All-Pro, George Kittle, is indicative of Juszczyk seeing more action in the passing game this season.