RSS
Home
49ers position battles: Running backs and fullbacks
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Running back Frank Gore (21) looks to top 1,000
yards rushing again while Thomas Clayton (33) hopes
to make the roster.
(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
The running back position will be a big focus for the new offense this year. With the offense focusing on ball control, running back Frank Gore has said he likes the new offense.
The 49ers have big plans for their new running game, so let's take a look at the backs on the roster.
Currently on roster:
- Moran Norris (entering 9th year)
- Frank Gore (entering 5th year)
- Zak Keasey (entering 3rd year)
- Michael Robinson (entering 4th year)
- Kory Sheets (entering 1st year)
- Thomas Clayton (entering 2nd year)
- Glen Coffee (entering 1st year)
Before diving into the running back situation, I wanted to talk about the fullbacks first. Well, technically, Zak Keasey is listed as a running back, but I'll count him as fullback since he played at that position for most of last season.
Keasey was well used in Martz's offense last year, but with the signing and return of Moran Norris, it might be hard to find a spot on the roster for Keasey. He was a decent player on special teams, but it might not be worth it to keep him. However, there still could be a lot of improvement for Keasey.
As for Norris, he was one of the reasons why Frank Gore was a Pro Bowl player in 2006. His return could spell more success for Gore. Norris is your typical blocking fullback and on occasion, might be asked to catch some passes.
But entering now into his ninth year, the 49ers might just use him mainly to block. And maybe to change things up, he might get his share of carries.
As Gore works himself into the offense this off-season, expectations are extremely high on the back from Miami. For starters, Gore hasn't topped his 2006 campaign and with his fourth different playbook in as many years, it would be hard to expect too much from him. However, this is the year where the focus will be on the running game and Gore has to carry that load.
Carrying that load will be a tough assignment for Gore (given his injury history). The 49ers saw that and drafted Alabama's Glen Coffee to help out Gore. We might not see an even split of duties, but we could see a possibly 80-20 split with Gore getting the majority of the work.
But with Coffee, he has a very raw talent in going downhill as well as bouncing outside. As Gore has been used as a great receiving back, expect Coffee to possibly get a lot of carries to maintain a running game. But don't be surprised if the 49ers decide to throw to Coffee out of the backfield. Coffee is expected to be the team's second string running back and Michael Robinson could end up being the third back.
As the third back, Robinson is a rare talent. Over the past few seasons, he has developed into a solid running back. But if the 49ers do change things up a bit (for example, a Wildcat formation play), Robinson still can throw the ball (he was a quarterback at Penn State). Last year, Robinson was used both as a running back and fullback. This year he can focus on becoming the third back, possibly used to get the tough short yards.
Kory Sheets and Thomas Clayton are both on the bubble to make the team. Sheets was signed as a rookie free agent. Clayton has been the MVP of the preseason the past two years and now entering his second NFL season, this could be his last chance to make an impression.
Although he did play well in previous preseasons, he hasn't been given the opportunity to play in the NFL. Last year, he was activated for the team's last two games but didn't see a snap. Clayton is an interesting case. He may not be big, but is extremely strong. But since he was a product of a Nolan draft and the 49ers have pretty much secured their first three running back spots, chances of Clayton making the roster seems slim.
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
