Originally posted by SteveYoung:
Originally posted by 9ersLiferInChicago:
Great analysis Marv as usual. And great to see you back.
The only thing I have is about Hyde. I really hope we can keep him somehow, and Shanny don't fall into the "our guy" kind of thing. I made this point in another thread: Breida as an every down back. He's a very good change-of-pace back (which is needed), but not a bell-cow (which is needed first). There's currently no better option than Hyde on the roster; he's our best, most complete back we have.
Was Hyde's stats where we'd like to see them? No! But teams played the 49ers vastly different when Hyde was in the game vis-à-vis when Breida was in the game. Hyde didn't face the nickel defenses that Breida faced. Breida wasn't constantly facing stacked boxes like Hyde was constantly facing (with a below average run-blocking O-line too). If he were his 190lbs frame simply wouldn't hold up, especially having to face NFC West D-lines. This is why our play-action game more effective with Hyde in the backfield than Breida. Plus, and perhaps more importantly, Hyde's pass blocking is glaringly more superior than Breida. Breida's production is more of a reflection of Shanny's play calling than anything.
If we can get him back at a discount it'll be a mistake to not resign him. If we let him walk, fine! But we had better have a plan of replacement because Breida isn't that kind of back. And if we go into the 2018 season as Breida as our primary back then that position will regress and our offense will become one-dimensional, IMHO.
I dis-agree about Breida facing stacked D. Breida wasn't a 3rd down back or a change of pace back. He saw as many base D looks as Hyde did.
And Breida won't be a #1 next year any more than Tevin Coleman was for Atl.
We will find a 200 carry back but it won't be Hyde.
+1
The guy who saw most of the 3rd down snaps this year was Hyde.
. For me, in Shanny's offense I'm not all that convinced that you need Zeek Elliot to be lethal, just a real ground threat that the defense has to commit another body in the box to account for that threat. Just look at how potent this offense turned out to be with a competent QB at the helm. Hyde, while not a "gamebreaker", consistently forces the defense to account for him just by his presence in the backfield because he's already proven he can be a real problem for the defense. Shanny rely heavily on play-action, and with Hyde in the backfield the play-action is way more convincing. You won't get that with Breida. With Hyde's blocking, running, what he forces the defense to do I'll take the occasional drops.
I would absolutely love to get Sony Michel from Georgia to pair with Williams & Brieda. Would give us a very explosive back field that Kyle & Garoppolo could have a bunch of fun with next year
