Jordan Mason has only accumulated 464 rushing yards and four touchdowns in his two NFL seasons as a backup. However, the San Francisco 49ers believe the 25-year-old could be on the verge of a breakout season. The challenge is that Mason and several other reserve players sit behind Christian McCaffrey on the depth chart, limiting their opportunities to shine.
That's what training camp is for. Mason and the other running backs must prove they can be reliable options to spell McCaffrey when the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year comes off the field. McCaffrey has no doubt Mason is up to the task.
"He's improved so much [since] the first time I met him, just the way he is in the meetings, the way he is out at practice," McCaffrey told reporters on Thursday.
McCaffrey once compared Mason to former Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera, believing the running back could come in when needed to finish things off. Mason may now be a more well-rounded player.
"I think he looks way more complete than he has been," McCaffrey commented. "He's always been able to do it. It's just being consistent with it. And I think you see now, he's making things happen in the pass game and the run game that are just consistent with it."
McCaffrey added, "So I think he can pitch every inning now."
Where has offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster seen the biggest improvement in the young running back?
"All of the above," Foerster answered. "He has become a better ball carrier. He was just such a hard-running, strong, physical, tough guy that he sheer-willed himself into yards. Now he's understanding the playbook better."
"Bobby Turner (running backs coach) coming back in the building has been—not that everything was wrong with [Anthony] Lynn—it's just the two guys have clicked. And so, that's really helped, and then, he's just matured as a player. He's had a chance to run more routes. He's had a chance to watch Christian run routes.
"It's a huge benefit to not only be coached well, but then have a guy that's premier at doing it go like, 'Oh, I can see how that's done a little bit better, and it's a guy that I'm right here with, and I know the guy.' So it's helped him in every facet. He's really, really taken off. It's really exciting to see."
McCaffrey is excited about the depth in the 49ers' running back room this year, believing it will lead to overall improvement for everyone.
"I think our whole running back room has such a good energy to it right now," McCaffrey said. "We're all pushing each other, making each other better, but also being there for each other. It's a really fun room to be a part of because, you want to talk about guys forcing you to be at your best, every single one of those guys right now are doing just that, and makes it fun to be a part of."