Who's gonna be the thunder to Frank Gore's lightning in 2009?

by David Fucillo on Feb 23, 2009 8:00 AM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

Early last month we discussed the 49ers running back performance in 2008 and what to look for in 2009. The poll I attached listed several options, and most notably, 30% thought Thomas Clayton would be the primary backup in 2009, 16% thought it would be a 2009 draft choice and 9% thought it would come through free agency.

I bring this up again because Barrows threw out some names the 49ers might very well be interested in. Not sure if it's just speculation, but it's good to have some names to research. That can be combined with Maiocco's report that buzz in Indy was that Deshaun Foster (along with Bryant Johnson) would not be back with the 49ers next season.

Some of the backs Barrows mentioned included Andre Brown (NC State), Cedric Peerman (Virginia), Devin Moore (Wyoming - not invited to the combine), Rashad Jennings (Liberty) and Javarris Williams (Tennessee State). It should be noted that none of these guys is considered a first round pick and I think the one thing I'm truly confident of, is that the 49ers will not select a running back in the first round. I'm sure that may stun some of you.

I went through ESPN's pre-combine rankings (Insider protected) and the guys listed above are ranked anywhere from 7th to 19th (with Moore unranked since he wasn't invited.

What I'm curious about is what kind of running back would really fit as a quality backup to Frank Gore. Looking around the league, there's a lot of the "Thunder and LIghtning" types of duos. However, does Frank Gore actually qualify as lightning? Gore is 5'9, 217lbs, and built like the proverbial brick [site decorum]-house. He's not the size of a Brandon Jacobs or Lendale White, but he seems to bring a bigger game than his height would indicate.

If you're looking for bigger, a guy like Rashad Jennings from Liberty might be the answer. He's 6'1, 234 pounds and likes to barrel through folks (a video down the right side shows him benching 395 lbs). He ran a 4.5 40, but clearly he's meant more as the bruising back. Given his solid offseason, I don't imagine he'll last too long.

Considering how some of these folks are performing, when should the 49ers spend a draft pick on a running back, if at all? As always, the 49ers have several holes to fill so it might be wise to wait. Of course, the best option could be there in the 2nd or 3rd round, and maybe you just have to pull the trigger (do we even know who has "the trigger" now that McNolan is no more?).

Personally, I'm a Thomas Clayton guy (try not to throw rotten tomatoes at me over that one). I'd rather spend the draft filling legit needs, but of course, if a big guy like Rashad Jennings fell in the draft (not exactly a realistic possibility), I could certainly see the value in grabbing him.

So, now that running backs have had their day at the combine, has anybody jumped out a little further onto your radar?

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Rashad Jennings! Gonna be a great thunder-like back, and we can get him in the 3rd round probably. Gore is a little stumpy for a lightning back, but his ability to cut and find holes makes him a quicker back essentially. I would rather get a big back then say a speedy 3rd down back. Gore-Jennings would be a powerful backfield.

by norcal225 on Feb 23, 2009 10:37 AM PST reply actions

ummm...

You remember what happened with the other Jennings guy, right;)

Throwback unis? Yes. Throwback afros? YES!

by grantmp on Feb 23, 2009 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

Brian Jennings?

He’s been solid as a long snapper. We refuse to acknowledge any other Jennings.

by David Fucillo on Feb 23, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions

A bit more info

http://www.draftcountdown.com/rankings/rb.php ranks them like this:
8. Andre Brown NC St. 6-0 228 4.49
12. Rashad Jennings Liberty 6-1 230 4.60
13. Cedric Peerman Virginia 5-10 208 4.45
14. Devin Moore Wyoming 5-10 191 4.41
17. Javarris Williams Tenn St. 5-11 215 4.52
Those are all pre-combine dimensions, and pre-combine rankings, but the times are accurate. All of them are ranked as ‘mid-rounders’, but that could change (particularly with Brown’s good Senior Bowl and combine showings. Peerman seems like someone we can knock off the list, and Moore seems a bit smallish for the thunder role, too.

Throwback unis? Yes. Throwback afros? YES!

by grantmp on Feb 23, 2009 10:44 AM PST reply actions

Peerman doesn't really fit the thunder mold

but he is a very good back and I wouldn’t be at all disappointed if the niners drafted him. I think he actually matches up with Gore very well and don’t think that it would be so bad to have two players like Gore who have a nice blend of speed, agility and power.

by foosball4949 on Feb 23, 2009 12:39 PM PST reply actions

How about...

Ian Johnson from Boise State? Certainly had a good college career.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Feb 23, 2009 2:49 PM PST reply actions

Not exactly thunderish

But then again Gore isn’t exactly lightingish. I believe Johnson actually had a pretty good combine workout and could be worth a mid round pick.

But I kind of like the idea of bringing in Deuce McAllister to be Gore’s “Thunder”.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Feb 23, 2009 3:49 PM PST up reply actions

Of course this is only after the Niners exhaust all resources in attempting to acquire

Michael Bush.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Feb 23, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions

Now...

… that’s some “thunder.”

by sfgfan on Feb 25, 2009 9:30 AM PST up reply actions

I really don't get this...

Gore himself is a power back.

Why do we want thunder and thunder?

by shlecko on Feb 23, 2009 6:36 PM PST reply actions

+1

Yea I was thinking we could use a speed back to be the lightning to Gore’s Thunder. Gore catches the ball well, but he’s primarily a between the tackles one cut type of runner who rarely goes down after first contact. But he also rarely out runs anyone and gets caught from behind kind of a lot.

"It’s a hobby of mine. Kind of like collecting your fingernail clippings or pooping in jars." -olympic mike

by sam23 on Feb 23, 2009 11:23 PM PST up reply actions

Because thunder and lighting can be left for the nature enthusiasts

It’s more important to have two productive backs than a “thunder and lighting” combo. Change of pace is way overrated, in my opinion. Sure it’s useful to have a sure handed RB as a 3rd down back and typically those are smaller RBs because most of you’re bigger backs aren’t known for their hands but Gore has good hands so there’s not need for a 3rd down style back. But as far as a change of pace back goes, it’s not like defenses can’t see who’s lining up in the backfield and it’s not like they don’t know the particular tendencies/skills of each back. Sure Leon Washington, Jerious Norwood and Darren Sproles are great “lighting” type backs but they’re productive not because they’re changing up the pace. They’re productive because they are immensely talented and because their roles (and the pounding they take as smaller backs) are limited.

I’d also question Gore ability to a true power back as he seems to struggle around the goal line. It’s definitely not a jitter bug in the backfield and he is a strong runner but I don’t think I’d label him as a “power” back.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Feb 24, 2009 8:01 AM PST up reply actions

Any of the guys on this list would be cool with me. Note also that I don’t have numbers for Moore, who is probably the fastest (and smallest) back available.

by kiyoshi on Feb 24, 2009 12:38 PM PST reply actions