San Francisco 49ers rumors: Carlos Hyde to have large role in offense
By Jack Crosby
The San Francisco 49ers are stacked this season at the running back position, which is never a bad thing. But with the age creeping up on Frank Gore, and the uncertainty surrounding how the returning Marcus Lattimore will fare, that means that rookie Carlos Hyde could be looked upon to step up early and contribute.
According to NFL.com’s Albert Breer, that’s exactly what the team will be looking for him to do in his first season.
2) One rookie to watch -- 49ers RB Carlos Hyde. Based on spring, is on his way to playing a role in the fall. Could ease burden on Gore.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2014
Hyde is the type of rusher that the 49ers love in this offense, which is why they drafted him in the second round out of Ohio State. Not only can he work his way through the tackles, but he can hit that second gear once he gets into the secondary that could lead to a lot of scores in his first season.
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Again, with Gore getting up there in age, they need someone to take the load off of his shoulders, and Hyde could be perfect for that role.
Then, should Lattimore return to his dominant collegiate form following his over one year recovery from knee surgery, the 49ers could have one of the best running games in the entire NFL this season.