49ers select Jordan James-RB-Oregon with the 147th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

Originally posted by Scoots:
On the bright side, if a rookie RB can make the read and cut consistently, and if they can understand the blocking assignments, they can get on the field and be good NFL players. It's one of the easiest positions to play well for rookies.

BTW, Guerendo made mistakes both in protection and in hitting the hole which is one of the reasons he didn't get much play. Hopefully he's found some consistency there. I still don't think he's an every down back.

What we need is a coach willing to make it happen.

Right there with you on this… I seem to remember many of JonnyDel's videos last year where Gurrendo, and Mason in particular, would not make the right read. Explosives could have been house calls, short gains could have been explosives, and losses could have been short gains. So much left on the table.

I was left wondering if it is really hard to find RBs who can make the reads in Kyle's offense, or if other attributes were given more weight in selecting the RBs. Regardless, it seems that a young guy who can make the right reads could really go off in Kyle's offense. Hopefully James is that guy.

Originally posted by Midbay:

Originally posted by Scoots:
On the bright side, if a rookie RB can make the read and cut consistently, and if they can understand the blocking assignments, they can get on the field and be good NFL players. It's one of the easiest positions to play well for rookies.

BTW, Guerendo made mistakes both in protection and in hitting the hole which is one of the reasons he didn't get much play. Hopefully he's found some consistency there. I still don't think he's an every down back.

What we need is a coach willing to make it happen.

Right there with you on this… I seem to remember many of JonnyDel's videos last year where Gurrendo, and Mason in particular, would not make the right read. Explosives could have been house calls, short gains could have been explosives, and losses could have been short gains. So much left on the table.

I was left wondering if it is really hard to find RBs who can make the reads in Kyle's offense, or if other attributes were given more weight in selecting the RBs. Regardless, it seems that a young guy who can make the right reads could really go off in Kyle's offense. Hopefully James is that guy.

Zone running discipline is rare. Kids just learn different systems that use different reads and processes and it's hard to learn the change for some people. James learned the zone run system in college.

Originally posted by Scoots:
Zone running discipline is rare. Kids just learn different systems that use different reads and processes and it's hard to learn the change for some people. James learned the zone run system in college.

Thanks. Makes sense.

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by NinerPrideinNJ:

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:
I think niners run the crap out of the ball especially early in the season. I could see James getting 4th quarter reps in games they are ahesd

Feels that way for sure. The uncertainty and parity in the WR room...the D focus...Shanahan general proclivity to that kind of offense.

I used to love it when Mooch would just punish opponents and run 10-15 downs in a row. It would just break defenses. Of course that only works if you keep getting first downs.

Unfortunately, he did not try to punish the Packers enough and gave up too soon on our running game in that NFCCG at home..

dumb Mooch !!

Didn't know James was a Frank Gore pick. Kinda like that they keep their old players involved.

I'm getting devonta freeman vibes with him.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
I'm getting devonta freeman vibes with him.

I can see it. James is a bit tougher to tackle, but maybe has worse vision. Mason was good at making guys miss while James tends to just try to run through them ... not the sort of tactic that tends to work in the NFL.

That said, he's an experienced zone runner, so he could be quick to adapt, and as a RB3 he's better than Taylor :)

One note for James ... he and Kiner have VERY little experience in pass protection, so if they are in they are running the ball or going out for a pass probably because they don't want to rely on them to protect Brock.

James has no fumbles in his high school or college career ... something Cory "Tiny Hands" Kiner can't claim.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
I'm getting devonta freeman vibes with him.

You love your bleacher report player comps
I do to and their write ups

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
I'm getting devonta freeman vibes with him.

You love your bleacher report player comps
I do to and their write ups

I don't really read Bleacher ... I just remember it as being fan stuff back in the day, somewhere on the way they started being seen by some as professional :)

Originally posted by Scoots:
Didn't know James was a Frank Gore pick. Kinda like that they keep their old players involved.

If Christian is as good as he was the season before last, the only place you will see James is on ST. If not? Who knows?

Originally posted by billbird2111:

Originally posted by Scoots:
Didn't know James was a Frank Gore pick. Kinda like that they keep their old players involved.

If Christian is as good as he was the season before last, the only place you will see James is on ST. If not? Who knows?

Nah, he'll get some snaps in there somewhere. Blowouts one way or the other ... running out the clock, stuff like that.

Originally posted by Scoots:
Didn't know James was a Frank Gore pick. Kinda like that they keep their old players involved.

Interesting, remember gore kinda taking a shot and the other James from Oregon we selected.

I hope James becomes a solid addition. The Niners haven't had good luck with Oregon RBs in the past so maybe they're due for one that works out.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I hope James becomes a solid addition. The Niners haven't had good luck with Oregon RBs in the past so maybe they're due for one that works out.

fr how long is that list? I could only find one in the last 30 years other than James.

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I hope James becomes a solid addition. The Niners haven't had good luck with Oregon RBs in the past so maybe they're due for one that works out.

fr how long is that list? I could only find one in the last 30 years other than James.

Derek Loville was a 3rd or 4th string back in Seifert's time. He wasn't drafted by the 49ers but he played for them for 3 seasons. Then in more recent times they tried LaMichael James who was a big disappointment after watching him in college. (I live inEugene so he was a big deal here). Kenyon Barner came in for a tryout but they didn't actually sign him. I always thought they shoukd have taken a shout on LaGarrette Blount. He was a bigger back that they coud have used in short yardage.