During the recent NFL draft, the 49ers were excited to add former Utah running back Joe Williams. Then San Francisco signed undrafted free agent Matt Breida of Georgia Southern after trading for the Broncos’ Kapri Bibbs. The 49ers are high on Williams and excited about Breida who, according to one report, was called by a 49ers assistant coach the best rookie on the field during the team’s minicamp last week.
Throw in veteran Tim Hightower, who signed with the 49ers in free agency, and suddenly the 49ers have a much deeper running back corps than they did in 2016.
That also means Carlos Hyde, the team’s No. 1 back, will get plenty of competition for carries in 2017.
Hyde certainly feels it’s a different atmosphere now, as the team heads toward the opening of training camp in late July.
“I feel there’s more competition in the room now,” Hyde told Kalana Martin of 49ers.com recently. “(Running backs coach) Bobby (Turner) stresses it every day that he wants guys in the room competing. Any one of those guys can go in and be a starter.
“That just pushes me to take my game to the next level, because I want to be the starter. Every guy in that room wants to be the starter. So, it’s going to help everybody out. It’s going to benefit all of us.”
Hyde had the best of his three NFL seasons in 2016, just missing 1,000 yards rushing. He had career highs in carries (217), yards rushing (988), touchdowns (six), yards per carry (4.6), receptions (27) and yards receiving (33).
Sports
It’s expected the 49ers offense will use a rotating group of running backs and not rely on just one main back, a signature of the offenses run by new head coach Kyle Shanahan at previous NFL stops as a coordinator. Still, Hyde wants to be the primary back. So far, Turner has liked what he’s seen.
“He’s doing an outstanding job,” Turner told Martin. “But again, I’m not surprised. He’s eager, eager to learn. And at this point in time, he’s doing a good job.”
