As you search long and hard for reasons to even bother monitoring 49ers training camp updates, there really is a lot to love about Carlos Hyde.
A 24-year-old stallion with the benefit of fresh legs and low mileage, Hyde could end up carrying the football 250 times this season for Chip Kelly. He can sprint off tackle, he can run up the gut as a bruiser and his biggest strength is shedding safeties and linebackers in space. Hyde’s 78.5 elusive rating, according to Pro Football Focus, is the highest a running back has ever had under Kelly — and that list includes LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray, and Darren Sproles.
“Carlos is a stud,” Kelly told Murph and Mac back in May. “He’s as advertised. To have someone that size that is that agile, has that vision, it’s really impressive to see him work every day.”
We keep harping on Kelly’s resume in Philadelphia, but the exact reason the 49ers took a chance on hiring a loose cannon personality was his track record for elevating talent. People tend to forget McCoy was coming off of a disastrous 850-yard season in 2012 when Kelly first arrived on the scene with the Eagles. A scheme change and a play-caller wearing a visor completely flipped the script for McCoy, who went from floundering to walking on water. He posted 2,146 total yards, 11 touchdowns and led the Eagles to an NFC East title.
Everything was different in Philadelphia. The Eagles had a strong defense, dangerous wide receivers and a sturdier offensive line surrounding McCoy. And Hyde is a different model car than McCoy, more of an old fashioned bell-cow who seeks contact, rather than jukes away from it.
The point, and the hope, is that Kelly can put Hyde in positions to succeed. And with a paper-thin roster at just about every other skill position on offense, barring injury, Hyde is the lone reliable piece Kelly can count on every Sunday.
“I hold myself to that standard to be that three down running back, to never come off the field, to always just be in the game,” Hyde told reporters in June.
The problem is that Hyde alone won’t be enough to keep the 49ers’ offense humming up and down the field. The talent is there for a breakout season; it’s whether or not the rest of the team can move in sync with him that will determine the 49ers’ offensive production. One-dimensional offenses in the NFL lead to 6-10 seasons. Hyde can be the focal point of the offense, but he can’t be the end-all, be-all.
It’s a good thing Hyde’s strength is breaking tackles, because the 49ers’ retooled offensive line is not going to instantly become a top 10 unit in the league. If all the dominoes fall San Francisco’s way, though, Hyde’s best friend could become rookie guard Joshua Garnett. Known for his punishing run blocking at Stanford, Garnett paved the way for Heisman candidate Christian McCaffrey. Free agent acquisition Zane Beadles, if he can be an effective guard right away, will also have a ton do with Hyde’s success. Anthony Davis’ un-retirement wouldn’t hurt, either.
Of course, a strong passing game is the correct way to fully unleash Hyde. If Blaine Gabbert can win the starting job, complete 63 percent of his passes and throw 250 yards per game — oh, who are we kidding. There’s the tiniest chance Kelly can recapture Colin Kaepernick’s magic. More realistically, if Kelly can galvanize the quarterback position and find a halfway decent option, Hyde will be the biggest benefactor. And even though he lacks the prototypical body of a hybrid weapon, Hyde wants to be split out wide as a pass catching target, an option Kelly will probably have to lean on.
“I definitely think I’ll be involved in the passing game a lot more this year, which I’m excited about,” Hyde said. “I like playing receiver. Another opportunity to get out in space and get the ball in your hands.”
Get used to seeing Carlos Hyde’s number this season. For better or worse, the 49ers are going to be leaning heavily on him.