The San Francisco 49ers brought aboard versatile running back Tevin Coleman on a two-year deal on the first official day of NFL free agency.
Coleman, who played under head coach Kyle Shanahan for two years with the Atlanta Falcons, joins a crowded backfield that includes runners Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida and special teams ace Raheem Mostert. Exactly how Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner formulate this crop, and who stays and goes, likely won't be determined anytime soon.
For now, though, Coleman will look to be another integral piece of Shanahan's offense once more. And it appears as if a number of his new teammates, as well as others, are looking forward to seeing what the 25 year old can bring to San Francisco's offense.
Once rivals, now in the same backfield! Welcome to the Bay, @Teco_Raww!!
— Raheem Mostert (@RMos_8Ball) March 13, 2019
Let's go @Teco_Raww about to be lit🔥🔥🔥🔥💯
— Matt Breida (@MattBreida) March 13, 2019
@Teco_Raww welcome to room my guy ! Backfield litty 🔥
— Jerick Mckinnon (@JetMckinnon1) March 13, 2019
@Teco_Raww we up to somethinnnnnn! Congrats G! 💰
— Kendrick Bourne Poly (@BournePoly11) March 13, 2019
#49ers adding a very affordable Tevin Coleman to Jerick McKinnon is the biggest steal in free agency thus far.
— Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) March 13, 2019
In Kyle Shanahan's final year in Atlanta (2016), Tevin Coleman averaged 13.6 yards per catch. He averaged 17.7 yards per reception when lined up as a receiver, including 13.2 ypr after the catch. #49ers
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) March 13, 2019
49ers' HC Kyle Shanahan coached RB Tevin Coleman in Atlanta, and has long admired and respected his work. Now Coleman, Matt Breida and Jerick McKinnon give the 49ers the type of 1-2-3 punch many teams seek.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019
It's going to be interesting to see how Shanahan deploys what could be a foursome of running backs this upcoming season. True, Jerick McKinnon is coming off a season-long ACL tear and has yet to take a regular-season snap with the 49ers. Matt Breida, after rushing for an average of 5.3 yards per carry, likely isn't going anywhere in 2019.
And Raheem Mostert's abilities on special teams puts him on the safer side of the roster bubble.
But as ESPN's Adam Schefter pointed out, a possible deployment of the trio of Coleman, McKinnon and Breida could spell headaches for opposing defensive coordinators. Shanahan won't simply deploy weapons like these in the traditional sense, rather lining up runners as pass catchers and creating mismatches in the process.
Until then, it sure looks as if San Francisco's offense just got a bit more dynamic.
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Written by:Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
