RB Depth

Originally posted by tsty:
I said it right here on the blogs a month ago and got roasted, but Kendall Hunter was brittle,went down on first contact and should've been waived. Especially as we saw Mike Davis looking more like a short version of Carlos Hyde. I like Hayne but Tomusla and Tom Rathman should be smart and move Mike Davis to the #2 spot.

I get why Hayne is #3 on game day when Bush is healthy...he is more versatile. He seems to be really good in Pass Pro, can return kicks and cover them as well, still runs pretty good and has some unique pass catching ability.

Davis is more traditional back and strictly speaking probably runs better but isn't quite there in pass pro and doesn't do anything for special teams. So he offers you less being up on the 43 baring injury. I would imagine with Bush out he will be up this week and see his share of carries but it is clear the team trusts Hayne better in a more diverse slate of situations at this stage in their individual development.

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:
We aren't really a one/ two punch kind of team traditionally. We are among the last holdouts who prefer to go with a "bell cow". Fortunately we have also been pretty good at finding that true number one guy over the years and fingers crossed Hyde is shaping up to continue the proud tradition.

Agree...also one of the last to use the FB the way we do. With a healthy Miller I think we are OK. If Miller goes down I wonder if Bell or Celek would be used.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:
We aren't really a one/ two punch kind of team traditionally. We are among the last holdouts who prefer to go with a "bell cow". Fortunately we have also been pretty good at finding that true number one guy over the years and fingers crossed Hyde is shaping up to continue the proud tradition.

Agree...also one of the last to use the FB the way we do. With a healthy Miller I think we are OK. If Miller goes down I wonder if Bell or Celek would be used.

They already showed a propensity to shift a TE into the backfield and block that way...I am pretty sure that this staff would go that route well before converting a D-line player *cough cough*

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:
I brought this up in the Hyde thread. I consider us a running team. We want to wear you down over the course of a game. Bush is old and likely unable to be a workhorse at this point, while Davis and Hayne probably aren't starting caliber. That leaves Hyde to shoulder a very heavy load. If he goes down, I think we are screwed.

Ps. I do like Davis, but not sure he is ready for prime time.

I think Davis is ready but perhaps not on all the nuances as much as Hayne...which surprises, but pleases, me. Davis is very good RB and I expect he will be used quite a bit this year.

Hayne is a great story and his ability to take a hit and avoid hits is a rare ability...or at a rare level. His fumbled punt was unfortunate but this often makes guys mad and they become even more focused! Watch out Steelers!

Just not sold on Hayne or Davis yet. That's all I'm saying.

However it happens, I just hope we find a nice "one/two punch" by next year.

We aren't really a one/ two punch kind of team traditionally. We are among the last holdouts who prefer to go with a "bell cow". Fortunately we have also been pretty good at finding that true number one guy over the years and fingers crossed Hyde is shaping up to continue the proud tradition.

I agree that traditionally we've been a team that has one "featured back." However, Baalke has been very vocal about being less dependent on the health of one running back and moving more towards a commite approach. Mabye it was just CYA talk incase he couldn't find someone to replace Gore...

As much as I like Hyde, the RB position is a very violent position. I'd feel better if we had a proven quality back on the bench.

If you read between the lines -- Davis might be the better option at running the ball. But Hayne is simply a better blocker at this point. Backup running backs need to know how to block. And if Hayne is clearly the better blocker? He's likely the number two back this weekend against Pittsburgh.

Originally posted by SoCold:

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by SoCold:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by SoCold:
you don't ride the cart to the locker room and miss a Thursday practice for just a "cramped up calf muscle"

He cramped it up good. It looked balled up when he was limping off the field. That said, he's probably out for this week at least and will continue to get treatment to reduce swelling and ensure further damage. With the way Hayne played and now activating Davis, we'll be fine.

You thought a coach was the reason a player got injured. Sorry I can't accept your advice on injured players. I'll let the doctors tell me.

just as many of us will choose to believe the coaches and front office when it comes to why they felt there was no reason to draft a corner at number one over you and sus

Look man I have the right to say who I like better in the draft, just my opinion. I'm not telling anyone else how to think.
It doesn't mean I hate the FO or the team or other posters. We can disagree on things you know.

NC did tell me the reason Vance hurt his back is because Harbaugh made him block too much, lol. Has to be one of the most ridiculous things I've every read on here.

Yes, asking a 250 "slot WR" come into the NFL to suddenly be a full time blocker in the power running game surely wouldn't have an effect on one's back. Nah. No way. Not like he had to have surgery or anything.

Fortunately he looks 100% again and blocking on the move in this ZBS schemes (plus catching) vs. power blocking at the LOS certainly seems to be a better fit for him.

I guess this leaves us no choice but to bring in Ray " Mamma Said Knock You Out " Rice.

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:

Originally posted by RishikeshA:
Hyde, Hayne and Davis are punishing runners that can wear out a defense in the 4th quarter. Can Bush stay healthy? His years in the NFL say no. Hyde looks like a superstar in the making, Hayne may prove to be one also, Davis runs hard and moves the pile. The running back position is the best it's been in years.

I can't recall when it has been better.

I like this line up as well and they also have Miller who has been effective on swing routes out of the backfield. I like Davis a lot. Think he and Hyde could be a terrific one/two tandem since their styles seem to be sort of similar. Hayne is fun to watch and a great story but he still looks a little unnatural lining up in the backfield and taking handoffs. But being that he has only played in five games his entire life I guess that's to be expected. He did a good job of picking up the blitz last week and if he keeps doing that he'll earn more opportunity and experience. Anytime Bush gives them will be a bonus

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by Disp:
No idea why you'd be concerned about RB depth. We have 4 solid backs on the roster, with 1 slightly injured. Compare that to the past few years when we had Gore/Hunter/Dixon, then Gore/LMJ/Dixon, and last year Gore/Hyde/I don't even remember. We're stacked at RB.

of course this is the truth. people just need to generate some drama

We are POTENTIALLY stacked at RB. But just as potentially doomed with one injury.

Hyde looks amazing through one game. But he has never played a full season as a starter and didn't stay healthy the one season he split carries with Gore. There are tons of reasons to be optimistic about him, but NO reason to assume he can be the bell cow and stay healthy for a full year as starter. He has never done it.

Similarly the top backups going into the season, Hunter and Bush have injury histories and simply can't be counted on to stay healthy. Great upsides potentially, but are no sure thing to be on the field. Hunter has already been cut and Bush is already dealing with an injury.

Hayne and Davis show great potential, but have zero NFL experience. Both have as much of a shot of being a core part of this team for years, as going the way of LMJ, Boobie Dixon, Lattimore, or Coffee. With the jury still out on the careers of Hyde and Davis, no RB we have drafted/brought in since drafting Gore has done jack s**t (for us), so it's hard to just assume our new project/draft picks at RB will definitely succeed.

Given all that, and that we have other options like Hayne, Ellington, and White for returners, I just surprises me that we took the option of bringing in Bush and retaining Hunter, instead of bringing in a healthier more durable back to be more of a true backup or taking a shot on a guy like Fred Jackson when he became available.

I'm very high on Hyde. But I have no faith Bush will stay healthy. And Hunter is already gone. So, one injury to Hyde and likely our offense will be built around two guys with zero NFL experience. One with virtually no football experience at all.

By next year, I may be all in on Davis and Hayne as a backfield you can bank on. For this year, it sure seems like we could use a true back up for Hyde more than we can use a change of pace guy like Bush.

Baalke drafted a RB in just about every year. Not worry about depth at RB.

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
We are POTENTIALLY stacked at RB. But just as potentially doomed with one injury.

Team is doomed if Kaepernick is injured, other than that no one person is that indispensible. My next most important offensvie player would be Staley or Boldin, followed by Boone and then Hyde. So this is always a matter of concern but few teams had as much talent as the 9ers do going into this season.

Edit: Unproven, granted, but talent none the less.

Originally posted by TexasNiner:

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by Disp:
No idea why you'd be concerned about RB depth. We have 4 solid backs on the roster, with 1 slightly injured. Compare that to the past few years when we had Gore/Hunter/Dixon, then Gore/LMJ/Dixon, and last year Gore/Hyde/I don't even remember. We're stacked at RB.

of course this is the truth. people just need to generate some drama

We are POTENTIALLY stacked at RB. But just as potentially doomed with one injury.

Hyde looks amazing through one game. But he has never played a full season as a starter and didn't stay healthy the one season he split carries with Gore. There are tons of reasons to be optimistic about him, but NO reason to assume he can be the bell cow and stay healthy for a full year as starter. He has never done it.

Similarly the top backups going into the season, Hunter and Bush have injury histories and simply can't be counted on to stay healthy. Great upsides potentially, but are no sure thing to be on the field. Hunter has already been cut and Bush is already dealing with an injury.

Hayne and Davis show great potential, but have zero NFL experience. Both have as much of a shot of being a core part of this team for years, as going the way of LMJ, Boobie Dixon, Lattimore, or Coffee. With the jury still out on the careers of Hyde and Davis, no RB we have drafted/brought in since drafting Gore has done jack s**t (for us), so it's hard to just assume our new project/draft picks at RB will definitely succeed.

Given all that, and that we have other options like Hayne, Ellington, and White for returners, I just surprises me that we took the option of bringing in Bush and retaining Hunter, instead of bringing in a healthier more durable back to be more of a true backup or taking a shot on a guy like Fred Jackson when he became available.

I'm very high on Hyde. But I have no faith Bush will stay healthy. And Hunter is already gone. So, one injury to Hyde and likely our offense will be built around two guys with zero NFL experience. One with virtually no football experience at all.

By next year, I may be all in on Davis and Hayne as a backfield you can bank on. For this year, it sure seems like we could use a true back up for Hyde more than we can use a change of pace guy like Bush.

I think you are expecting unrealistic depth in todays nfl. Having a bell cow, a change of pace back and two promising "young" guys behind them is about as good as any team in the nfl. Fred Jackson as a backup is a anomaly not the norm.

Originally posted by natrone06:
I think you are expecting unrealistic depth in todays nfl. Having a bell cow, a change of pace back and two promising "young" guys behind them is about as good as any team in the nfl. Fred Jackson as a backup is a anomaly not the norm.

LOL...I was just thinking about the Nebraska team when they use to suit up hundreds for their home games! Can't we do that?

We have it.

there comes a time when young players come in and have to prove themselves.. i think we are good with Hyde, Hayne and Davis.. Bush after Hyde is more than enough depth... stop whining.. Gore is done and out!