Multi-tasker Ward: a safety or corner?

INDIANAPOLIS — Jimmie Ward was a safety at Northern Illinois and he has been a cornerback during his threeyear NFL career.

Now, in 2017, Ward’s position is … yet to be determined.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday the 49ers haven’t decided where to play the versatile defensive back in their new 4-3 scheme.

“I’m not sure yet,” Shanahan said. “That’s definitely stuff we’ve discussed because I know he’s capable of doing both. So, it’s more when we know our whole roster, options in the draft, free agency, what’s going to be best for us. But when you have a guy who is capable of playing both, it gives you some freedom, which is nice.”

The 49ers’ starting safeties the past three seasons have been Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea, who will turn 33 in July and is scheduled to count $7 million against the salary cap.

The 4-3 calls for a ballhawking safety with sideline-to-sideline range, which the Seahawks have in Earl Thomas.

Shanahan said general manager John Lynch probably would weigh in on Ward’s position this season. Lynch, a former NFL safety, was a ninetime Pro Bowl pick during his 15-year career.

“That’s probably his position of choice to talk about,” Shanahan said. “I would love to hear John’s opinion. It’s something we’ll all be talking about a lot.” Play-calling coach: Shanahan is a rookie head coach with control of the 53-man roster who will serve as offensive coordinator.

He was asked if handling play-calling duties could overwhelm him in his first season.

“I don’t think so,” Shanahan said. “I think a lot of coaches do that. I think it’s important that some of the reasons that you get the job, you keep doing that stuff. I enjoyed being a coordinator. I enjoyed calling plays and I will always do that if I feel it helps the team. The day that I feel that it doesn’t then that would be the day that I would change.”

Shanahan, of course, landed the job partly because the Falcons scored the eighth-most points (540) in NFL history last season. His offenses ranked among the NFL’s top 10 in six of his nine seasons as an offensive coordinator.

“I don’t know him personally,” Seattle general manager John Schneider said when asked about Shanahan joining the NFC West. “Just some of my good friends that know him brag about how his football mind is off the charts.” High on Hyde: As the Browns’ offensive coordinator, Shanahan studied 49ers running back Carlos Hyde closely before the 2014 draft. And he was impressed. Hyde, a second-round pick, has rushed for 1,791 yards and averaged 4.3 yards a carry in his career. He also has missed 14 games because of injury.

“I looked at him hard … and had a good feeling he was going to be a great back then,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think he’s a finished product. I think there’s a lot more to his game and I look forward to us helping him bring that out.”