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The San Francisco 49ers head into their bye week looking to find ways they can improve on offense. With upwards of a week off to start getting ready for the Carolina Panthers, Jim Harbaugh told the assembled media the team is focusing on ways to improve. I realize this is not a shocking statement.
What was interesting was that Harbaugh did specifically mention running back LaMichael James. The 49ers running back has been in the news plenty the last couple weeks as he has sat on the sideline as a healthy scratch. Harbaugh said he wanted to get LaMichael going, and viewed him as a player who was just too good a football player not be playing.
I have no idea what to make of this given that we take Jim Harbaugh press conferences with a grain of salt. I'm sure the team is trying to figure out ways to get LMJ more involved, but the question is what kind of result will we see? The biggest request has been to get him in as a return man. Kyle Williams has held that job much of the year, and struggled mightily this past Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Are we at a point where LMJ gets his chance after the bye?
The bye week ends up as a really long wait for our next bit of 49ers action, but I can't help but be excited to see what the team comes up with coming out of the bye. This coaching staff has shown it can take advantage of extra preparation time. With two weeks to get ready, maybe we'll see some surprises.