It's been 9 years since the 49ers have known another starting running back that was not named Frank "The Tank" Gore. After 10 seasons of watching Gore sneak through holes in the red and gold, the Niners franchise leading rusher headed to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. His departure leaves a massive hole of heart, skill, and leadership in the backfield.
Frank's departure leaves the position open for Carlos Hyde to take. Carlos showed flashes of great running last season when he spelled Frank. He has good speed, quickness, and quite a bit of pop. He will need to replace Gore's ability to wait for holes to open up and blocking ability. These are things that will be learned with experience.
Even with Carlos Hyde starting, the Niners will definitely be using a rotation in the backfield. Kendall Hunter, Reggie Bush, Mike Davis, and even Jarryd Hayne will be given opportunities to help the team. Kendall was always a great compliment to Gore and he could play a major factor if he can stay healthy. Bush will have opportunities as a pass catching RB more than a rusher. It will be interesting to see how Davis and Hayne progress through training camp, but the potential is there. Expect to see a lot of rotations from these players to replace the legendary Frank Gore.
49ers Links
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I hope he can stay healthy to provide a spark for this team | Hunter Is Key (Maiocco)
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QB Drills (Barrows)