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San Francisco 49ers’ Offensive Foundation

By Carl Cockerham

August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) hands the football off to running back Carlos Hyde (28) during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi
August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) hands the football off to running back Carlos Hyde (28) during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi /
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After a horrible 2015, San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick needed saving!

Former head coach Jim Harbaugh turned him into a player the team could win with for a time. But he is no longer with the organization and recently fired head coach Jim Tomisula isnt’ the answer. So Chip Kelly was hired and it was looked at as a good thing by many in the NFL.

Afterall, Harbaugh ran a lot of Spread Offense concepts to let Kaepnernick be Kaepnernick. But for some reason, Kaepernick didn’t buy into Kelly’s offense, that would be a big benefit him, or the 49ers. He sought trades to the New York Jets, the Denver Broncos, anyone that would take him.

After none of that worked out, Kaepernick showed up at the team’s minicamp and was a changed man. It suddenly appeared that he was content to be a 49er and bought into the program. Despite the trade drama he is now excited to play in an offense that fits his skill-set.

He was quoted by ESPN saying at a press conference in early June,  “I really don’t want to get into specifics of what happened, why things happened. At this point everything is football, I’m a 49er and excited to work with Chip and his coaching staff. I’m excited about what’s to come.”

But the Spread Offense isn’t all about the quarterback running and throwing the ball around. Running backs are important and run the ball quite a bit in Kelly’s offense. We saw that with LeSean McCoy’s 626 carries over his first two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

This is where Carlos Hyde, who also fits in after running the Spread Offense in college himself, comes in. The thing about Hyde is that he came into the NFL looking forward to runnng the ball out of an NFL offense. So he would have to buy in as well and it looks like he has.

He told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday, via Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. “I feel like the team has bought into his system. Even though it’s new to most guys, I’m kind of familiar with the system from college. But I definitely feel like everybody has bought into the system.

“And guys are just really looking forward this season. Guys are really looking forward to making a name for themselves.”

Kelly has always liked Hyde, amazed by the former second-round pick’s Pro Day workouts in 2014. And we already know what a fit Kaepernick’s skill-set is for Kelly’s offense. So after having personnel the didn’t exactly fit his system in Philadelphia, he has a good foundation now.

Let’s see who can emerge at receiver now!