By Scooter_McG
With the 49ers now in the slowest part of the offseason and we all wait for training camp to roll around, there won't be much 49ers news to talk about over the next few weeks. So I won't post as often for a little while.
However, one topic that remains a mystery is what the 49ers will do at WR behind Aiyuk and Samuel. Currently the options after the two starters are either older vets that are a few seasons removed from their best (e.g. Sanu and Benjamin), young guys the 49ers drafted in previous years that have yet to prove themselves (e.g. Hurd, James and Jennings), guys that have been in the league for a few years with other teams but are yet to solidify themselves as more than fringe players (e.g. Sherfield, White, Fowler, Cracraft, Jones), or the rookie UDFA Austin Watkins.
The team did try to add some competition through trade (Hamilton, before tearing his ACL) and the signing of Marqise Lee (before cutting him less than a week later after he got injured too). And given the lack of a clear cut option, many thought the team would or at least should make a play for Julio Jones, though according to the 49ers they did not make any serious attempt to trade for him.
It is possible then that the third WR is not currently on the roster, and the team may explore free agency (with options such as Golden Tate and Kenny Stills available) or the trade market for that third WR role.
The logical choice for the third WR may be for an experienced player like Sanu that has done it all before, and plays a similar type of game to Kendrick Bourne who was the third WR last season. Or perhaps Travis Benjamin as the speedy complementary WR in a similar role as Goodwin in previous seasons. Or even Richie James, who has been on the roster for three years now biding his time for an opportunity, and who showed some potential in the game against the Packers last season.
But for mine, if he can remain healthy, the player I think is most likely to emerge as the third WR is Jalen Hurd. Hurd is entering his third year in the NFL but is yet to enter the regular season on the active roster due to injuries in consecutive seasons, with a back injury during training camp ruling him out of 2019 followed by a torn ACL at the start of last years training camp ending his 2020 season before it began.
The 49ers took Hurd in the third round of the 2019 draft in large part because of his unique combination of size and athleticism. At around 6'5", 230lbs, but with nimble feet, agility and speed, he is an elite athlete with considerable mismatch potential that has shown his versatility by playing as both a RB and WR in college. His experience as a RB also highlights his skills with the ball in hand, which suits the heavy run-after-catch offense Shanahan loves to employ.
Remaining healthy will obviously be the first and most significant hurdle (Hurd(le)?) for him to overcome, and back and knee injuries can be difficult to come back from, especially for a player that has yet to make their mark in the NFL. But if he is able to recapture his pre-injury athleticism he is the most talented WR on the roster behind Aiyuk and Samuel (and an argument can be made that on athletic talent alone, he is the most talented on the roster). I can see Hurd primarily being used similarly to how Reed was employed last season, as the big slot WR, but also with the ability to be moved around lining up as a WR, RB and even as a TE on occasion.
That is my prediction for who will win the third (tHurd?) WR role. Who do you think it will be?
My money is on a Hurd stampede if healthy.
ReplyDeleteJames must improve his blocking if wants more opportunities as a wr.
James might struggle to make the roster imo.
DeleteScooter
ReplyDeleteYou've stated all the reasons WHY, so I'd agree with you that Hurd may be be the 9ers something? WR3, RB, Move TE, or all of the above, "IF" he can stay healthy! But that is a big if. If he can't stay healthy, I believe all the WR's you mentioned, will get an opportunity to step up and prove they can be the WR3
Health is definitely the biggest if with Hurd, imo. I think the talent is there.
DeleteHey Scooter, thanks for helping us restless Faithful pass this stage of the off-season with one of the biggest question marks confronting the offense heading into training camp.
DeleteBased purely on talent, I'd say Hurd should be the favorite to claim the WR3 spot IF he's anywhere near the same player he seemed to be coming out of Baylor. The good news for Jalen now, as compared to his rookie season, is that he should have a very good understanding of the offense, so a lot of this stuff should be closer to second nature for him, allowing him to rely on his instincts, and play at his highest speed, as opposed to the initial phase of having to think before reacting.
Considering his relative lack of experience at WR, he actually is a natural route runner. He's not only an extremely big, physical route runner, he also has rare physicality in the way he runs with the ball in his hands, which is likely a product of years of playing RB (@ 6'5") at a high level.
That said, I'm tempering my expectations for him, given his injury history. I mean ... he's entering his 3rd season and he's yet to make a regular season reception, so in a lot of ways, he's entering this season behind the eight ball, and it's going to be an uphill battle to make this roster.
Even if Hurd manages to make the team, and I think he will if he is healthy, I think Kyle is likely to treat his WR3 the same way he likes to use his RB's, that is, by committee. I think we're going to see at least 3 WR3's being used primarily in the slot on a SITUATIONAL basis.
Cheers, and GO NINERS!
Good write up, Scooter.
ReplyDeleteI’m pulling for Hurd. But if he’s not the starter at the beginning of the season, I still see Shanahan finding ways to get him involved in the offense.
A healthy Hurd could be the closest thing to a swiss army knife player that the 49ers have had since Delanie Walker.
Hurd has the ability to be the “no position” type Shanahan envisioned.
Keeping my fingers crossed!
I think he might not be the #3 at the start of the season, as he works his way back from injury through camp, pre-season and early part of the season. But by midseason I can see him being firmly entrenched as the WR3, barring injury.
DeleteYeah, I see Hurd being healthy for most of the season and grabbing the #3 spot. There will be some exploitable mismatches with Hurd on the field.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Tbh, he is one of the skill position players that excites me the most in terms of what he could be.
DeleteScooter
Delete1) Where do you see Sanu fitting in with the 9ers WR's?
As per Pot...Kettle's comment, I can see him filling the Bourne role to start the season, or at least competing to be the 3rd WR initially, while Hurd is brought along slowly.
DeleteSpeaking about making comebacks, one of the best has to be Alex Smith.
ReplyDeleteCatching Alex Smith on espn E60. I’m sure it’s redundant to say, but this guy is a real life hero.
I hope that the 49ers do something special for Alex Smith. A class organization needs to rectify what they did to Alex Smith by giving him a rightful place in 49ers folklore.
Just one man’ opinion.
Scooter, as you know, Hurd has so much talent that he became a dangerous college WR in his first year at the position. He's got it all, so to speak. Imo, if healthy and he stays that way, he's a lock for WR3 this year and, I believe WR2 the next.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, because I think it will take Hurd time to get up to speed (recovering from injury cuts into his availability during training camp, stymies his growth), I believe Mohammed Sanu will have the third receiver job at the start of the season. Hurd may overtake him in-season, but Sanu's experience wins out at the start.
ReplyDeleteReasonable.
DeleteYes, that is something I can see happen. Whether it be Sanu or someone else, not sure, but I would not be surprised to see the 49ers take it slow with Hurd to start the year.
DeleteBaldy: "Kinlaw will be a problem". Check out the video compilation:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1407017704180129803
Lined up next to Bosa, he'll be a problem alright!
DeleteIt will also be fun to see Kinlaw moved around. Ryans is probably going to be more aggressive than Saleh..
DeleteSpeaking of Ryans, he was a player in the league as late as 2015. It's amazing how fast he's risen up the ranks -- faster even than Mike Vrabel. I see a couple of more third round picks in Niners' draft future thru Ryans...
Jack Hammer article today on what playing Lance could mean for Juice:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/starting-trey-lance-could-bring-more-juice-to-the-49ers-offense
TEU is in session
ReplyDeletehttps://www.49ers.com/news/george-kittle-travis-kelce-greg-olsen-tight-end-university-teu-nashville-nfl
David Lombardi video on Aaron Banks and the oline:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fP0sGkRStQ&t=2208s
Yep, I've been saying all year if you can stabilize and develop cohesion center right, McGlinchey will benefit. Couldn't agree more with David.
DeleteHere's a question for everyone:
ReplyDeleteAll other things being equal in the Shanahan offense and assuming no injuries to the starters and with Jimmy as the QB, what percentage of improvement will the new offensive line provide in terms of points on the board? I'll say at least 20%.
Kittle's return alone should provide that. I'd say more like 35%.
DeleteRightly or wrongly, a lot of the discussion regarding the Niners return to the SB centers around talent and depth comparison to that 2019 team.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you make of that WR squad comparison? Most had Pettis as WR1 going into the 2019 season. Deebo was an unknown as a rookie. Bourne, Goodwin and Garcon expected significant playing time, Taylor slated for the slot. Many pundits considered that squad "deep", and of course there was the in-season pickup of Sanders.
I think this years squad has the potential for much greater things. WR1 and 2 Deebo and Aiyuk (when both healthy) are a much better twosome than Pettis and anybody. Goodwin and Garcon in the end never contributed much of anything, Sanu and Benjamin can contribute at least as much. What of Hurd? Anything this season gives the edge over his contribution in 2019. There is still that Sanders wild card. The Niners will trade for/sign someone to occupy that crafty vet role. Who? Names can be bandied about, but I don't think anyone predicted Sanders when the 2019 season opened.
I hear you ribico. But it can be argued that the flame-out of Pettis directly precipitated the need for signing a Sanders. This year Deebo and Aiyuk play to their potential, stay healthy, that need for a Sanders type is much less critical.
DeleteAnd surely some Hammer type can give the statistical percentage of Shannies usage of 12 and 21 packages. Maybe slot and 3rd receiver isn't as critical a conceit either.
Heh, did you accidently out yourself as a double poster?
DeleteNah, I just figured the likelihood of anyone responding to a comment on a 5 day old thread was slim, so might as well do it myself :)
DeleteRib,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you. Aiyuk and Deebo will make the offense tough to guard and having Kittle back has the potential to make this a special season. I expect our Oline to be much improved and believe that Jimmy G will play better now because he knows that Lance is lurking on the sideline.
If the defense can be better than last year, we are SB material.