Hyde has two games to make big statement
A glitch in the Jacksonville Jaguars defensivemachine is potential generosity against the run. So the 49ers certainly will test that Sunday.
Thenwhat? Whatwill become of the 49ers running game?
Not just through Sunday’s home finale or a New Year’s Eve visit to the Los Angeles Rams, but beyond into 2018, when the 49ers might flip from a last-place team to a playoff contender, as the Jaguars have done this year?
This game could be running back Carlos Hyde’s “Next Contract Super Bowl.” He is finishing his fourth season and rumbling for free agency, as well as possibly his first Pro Bowl (he’s an alternate).
With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo settling in as the frontman, the 49ers’ offensive band could change its lead running back next spring, among other positions.
“It frees you up in the draft to go looking for other needs and build your team around him,” general manager John Lynch said Thursday on Fox Sports about Garoppolo’s presence.
Hyde said last month he doesn’t want his agent to talk extension until after the season, and coach Kyle Shanahan has echoed that stance regarding negotiations with any pending free agents, including Garoppolo.
“Shoot, I’m hungry every game, but these last two games will be a real big test for us, going into the next year also,” Hyde said. “We’ll be able to learn a lot from these last two games.”
So he’s hoping to be in those 2018 plans? “Correct,” Hyde replied. Any movement toward a new contract?
“Not that I know of. I assume that I’ll be here.”
Hyde, 27, is 204 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season. Last Sunday, he averaged only 1.6 yards per carry (16 rushes, 25 yards), and there’ve been a fewsuch duds this season that could give the 49ers (4-10) pause about a pricey contract.
Hyde is their leading rusher (204 carries, 796 yards) and leading receiver (54 catches, 321 yards), providing dual-threat capability that’s needed in Shanahan’s system. As are less drops and better pass protection. As is staying healthy, and Hyde has not missed a game this season, which is a major accomplishment. He finished the previous three seasons on injured reserve (2014, ankle; 2015, foot; 2016, knee).
“He has a great attitude for a running back: he always want to hit somebody, and sometimes I think he’s a lineman,” guard Brandon Fusco said.
Hyde is set to join a freeagent class that currently includes Garoppolo’s former New England teammates, Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead, as well as NFL rushing leader Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers), 49ers icon Frank Gore (Indianapolis Colts), Isaiah Crowell (Cleveland Browns) and Orleans Darkwa (New York Giants).
As for the draft (see: Penn State’s Saquon Barkley), Shanahan said: “It’s been proven that you can get guys later. But, that by no means makes it that I’m going to saywe’re never going to draft a running back high. When you find a special one and you think that makes sense for your team, you should never hesitate to do that.”
Matt Breida, an undrafted rookie, has served as a shifty, speedy understudy to Hyde. They both are averaging 3.9 yards per carry.
One category where the Jaguars defense falters is run defense, allowing the league’s fourth-most generous average at 4.68 yards per carry. “Yeah, they’re pretty good in all the other (categories),” Garoppolo noted.
The Jaguars lead the league in fewest points al- lowed (14.9 per game), sacks (51) and forced fumbles (17). They have four Pro Bowlers — defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson, and cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A. J. Bouye — and two should-be Pro Bowlers — linebacker Telvin Smith and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
“Being bad in the run game — not being bad, but not being as good as in the pass game — it really hasn’t hurt hem that much because they get off the field on third down or they get a turnover,” Shanahan said.
Added offensive lineman Zane Beadles: “We always want to establish the run, and no week is that more important than this week. Wewant to stay two-dimensional. I’mexcited. It’s going to be a fun Christmas Eve bash.”
• Garoppolo won the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week. By passing for 381 yards and leading the 49ers to a 25-23 win over the Tennessee Titans, Garoppolo beat out fellow nominees Blake Bortles (Jaguars) and Eli Manning (New York Giants). A $2,000 donation to The USO will be made in Garoppolo’s name.
• Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) and cornerback Greg Mabin (calf) remained out of practice. Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin returned after tending to a family matter Wednesday.
cinman@ bayareanewsgroup.com