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San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde isn't too worried about rumors or predictions. He's been focused on solidifying his role as the team's starter at the position for the third-straight season. Hyde reported to training camp leaner than ever and hopes his new look can help him gain an advantage over those looking to unseat him now and in the near-future.
"I ran into him in the hall and he looks tremendous," 49ers general manager John Lynch said when the team reported to training camp last week. "He really has dedicated himself. He's changed his body type this offseason and that to me at the least bit shows a commitment."
On Friday, Hyde
joined the "Gary & Larry" show on
KNBR and discussed his leaner frame.
"I could have bulked up but I wasn't trying to go that path," Hyde said. "I've been there before. It didn't turn out. Getting lean, getting healthy, and finding the perfect weight where I'm able to still be explosive and still run with power is what I was focused on."
Lynch
also joined KNBR on Friday and, once again, complimented Hyde's weight loss.
"Some people lose weight and they just lose weight," Lynch said. "Some people lose weight and it shows on the field and he's got a burst to him. It's just a level of professionalism right now that's really impressive."
Hyde could have resented the fact that head coach Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner brought in so much competition for him. That isn't the case. Hyde said he has a lot of respect for the duo for bringing in guys to compete with him for the starting job.
"All that's going to do is bring out the best in me and make me even more hungry," Hyde said. "Before then, I was even already hungry, though, just from the last season falling short of my goal of hitting 1,000 yards. That was enough motivation to come back to go even harder this year. With the new competition – it's good. Those guys can easily go in and be the starting running back, so it's good. It's helped us all out."
In 2016, Hyde finished the season just 12 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard rushing season and missed the final game of the season after being placed on injured reserve. Since becoming a starter in 2015, he has been available for just 20 of the team's 32 games due to injuries.
Among Hyde's competition is rookie running back Joe Williams, who the 49ers selected in the fourth round of the draft. Since being selected, Williams has been viewed as Hyde's eventual replacement. After all, Hyde is entering the final year of his rookie deal and a big payday would not necessarily be Shanahan and Turner's style. The running backs coach has had a lot of success in the past finding success with mid-round draft picks.
In Atlanta, Shanahan had his running backs making plays after catching the football in the backfield. Hyde said that he did not really work on catching the football during the offseason because he always felt he had good hands.
"That opportunity (to catch the football) is here and I'm showcasing my ability at catching the ball in the backfield and hopefully I'm impressing my coaches," Hyde said.
"I think I fit this offense perfectly," Hyde responded when asked if he was a good fit for Shanahan's scheme. The running back went on to say that he feels Shanahan will be his last new head coach because he has a good feeling about him. That means Hyde is hopeful to remain with the 49ers beyond the 2017 season and continue to build upon what Shanahan and Lynch have started.
With only nine days remaining until the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager revealed his first mock draft of the year. While most might expect the San Francisco 49ers to target an offensive lineman, Schrager has the team bolstering its wide receiver corps with an SEC talent.
Schrager has the 49ers using the No. 31 overall pick to select former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, whose 2023 campaign with the Bulldogs was limited by back and ankle injuries.
"McConkey in the first round? Yes," Schrager wrote. "Above guys like Troy Franklin and Keon Coleman? Perhaps. I've spoken to a
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus unveiled a seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers, addressing several key needs for the team in the 10-pick projection. Interestingly, the mock draft sees the team adding two legacy players. But before delving into that, let's examine the first three selections.
Sikkema has the 49ers shoring up their offensive line at pick No. 31 with the selection of former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Morgan allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in his 477 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle in 2023. He earned an impressive pass-blocking grade of 87.3 and an overall grade of
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah unveiled his fourth and final mock draft, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to select Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the No. 31 overall pick.
While many anticipated the 49ers bolstering their offensive line in the first round, Jeremiah's choice may raise eyebrows. However, with seven offensive tackles already off the board, he opted to provide third-year quarterback Brock Purdy with another explosive target.
"This is my favorite fit in the first round," Jeremiah explained. "We saw what Tank Dell did in a similar offensive system with Houston, and we know what Mike McDaniel has been able to build with so much
Since entering the NFL, Brock Purdy has faced his fair share of critics. The San Francisco 49ers made him the last overall pick in 2022, thrusting him into the starting role during his rookie season only due to two quarterback injuries.
Purdy then led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. He followed up with a remarkable sophomore season, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 yards and guiding San Francisco to the Super Bowl during his 2023 campaign.
RELATED: Purdy hopes Shanahan makes addition to 49ers playbook
While Purdy's critics have diminished, some skeptics still question whether he deserves to be considered among the league's
