Shanahan like ‘a kid in a candy store’ coaching McCaffrey

SANTA CLARA — Christian McCaffrey never would be the last kid picked to someone's football team, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan believes that's his All-Pro running back's mentality. "What's so special about Christian, that don't know until you get him, is he seems like a guy no one will play," Shanahan said on Friday. "He's just working so hard and such an overachiever. And he's just like, 'Coach, just let me be on the team.' "Everyone has those gym rats, who just work so hard. I'm probably describing myself in college because I was trying to turn myself into someone I'm not." Shanahan has personal experience with that hard-working mental approach to the game after he tried to make a name for himself as a wide receiver at the University of Texas. The former Longhorn caught 14 receptions for 127 yards over two seasons, but it wasn't for a lack of effort. Ultimately, Shanahan realized the best way to be involved in the NFL was to follow in his father, Mike's footsteps, as a coach, and it clearly was the right choice. McCaffrey, on the other hand, is one of the most dynamic players in the league whom nearly every coach and general manager would use their first pick to acquire....