Originally posted by MC9BEAT:
Originally posted by Nuns:
Originally posted by outside4949:
to be honest he hasn't even flashed that much . its seems like someone taps him and he is on the turf.
These are my observations as well. Doesn't seem like a natural runner, dances too much, can't break an arm tackle.
And yet he leads the team in yards per carry. When Hunter went down last year he stepped in and played great and helped us get to the Superbowl. This past season I believe he finished with a 4.9 yards per carry average. It's not his fault the team doesn't play him. Nobody was sure Gore would still have all that gas left in his tank and with him splitting time with Hunter what happens to the 49ers if 1 of them gets hurt? Especially if it's Gore? With the 49ers relying soo much on the running game he was drafted as insurance. It's not his fault Gore hasn't missed a game or dropped off and Hunter only missed a few and the 49ers don't use him.
This is my issue. Although I don't think anyone likes his complaining, what you stated is being completely ignored. James did well with the ball as a runner when given the opportunity. Unless this guy becomes some kind of locker room cancer, I say we hold onto him until his contract expires. He can be useful in the running game, has potential as a pass catcher in the flats, and is a decent returner. I'd love to see what he'd look like if he got 5-10 carries a few games. I wouldn't expect that every game, but considering his skill set and that he has more burst than Gore, I think he can be used to gash some slower defenses for big gains.
The reality is, the 49ers aren't very good at the present time in utilizing the abilities of all of their players. We over rely on certain guys. The good news is that, we saw some adjustment this year (more so on the defense). I think Vic Fangio rotated players much better this year than in 2012. Hopefully we will see something similar on offense next year because LaMichael James, Kendall Hunter, Quinton Patton, and Vance McDonald can add a lot to this offense.