San Francisco 49ers: Future Position Battles
By Erik Lambert
Dec 23, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of the final regular season game at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Expectations are sky high for the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. So it will be very interesting to see how their roster plays out.
Backup RB: Kendall Hunter vs. Carlos Hyde
Running back is arguably the most important position for the San Francisco 49ers offense. Even more so than Colin Kaepernick. When it goes, the team goes. That is why the depth chart for the position is very important. While Frank Gore should remain the starter, the group behind him is in store for a possible shift. Longtime backup Kendall Hunter will have some serious competition in rookie 2nd round pick Carlos Hyde. The Ohio State product has future starter capability, and with a number of quality options behind him, Hunter runs the risk of losing more than his spot in the lineup if he can’t hang on to his job.
Center: Marcus Martin vs. Daniel Kilgore
The departure of Jonathan Goodwin has left an uneasy void at the center position. Jim Harbaugh has a tough decision ahead of him in finding a replacement. Third-year man Daniel Kilgore has been a solid backup for the team since entering the league in 2011 and deserves first crack at the job. However, the 49ers sent a loud and clear signal that he won’t have it easy when they drafted Marcus Martin out of USC. Viewed by many as the best center in the 2014 class, he has a high ceiling in terms of talent and comes from a proven program. Kilgore must send a message of his own if he wants to take advantage of what might be his only opportunity to start.
Backup LB: Chris Borland vs. Shayne Skov
When NaVarro Bowman went down with that terrible knee injury in the NFC championship, it was only reasonable that the San Francisco 49ers look to the draft for depth at inside linebacker. They struck a considerable blow when they landed Chris Borland out of Wisconsin, graded by many experts as the second best interior linebacker in the class behind C.J. Mosley. He has the natural instincts and athelticism for it. The real head scratcher didn’t come until the 49ers chose to add Shayne Skov as an undrafted free agent. Skov played under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, so the move made sense in that way. Still, Skov was considered one of the top college free agents available and after drafting Borland far less of a need for San Francisco. It will be very interesting to see what the team does when the two go to battle in camp.
Safety: Jimmie Ward vs. Antoine Bethea
Another curious decision by the 49ers front office was their 1st round pick in the draft. While it’s hard to fault them taking a talent like safety Jimmie Ward, what makes it a curious choice was the fact the team had already signed Pro Bowler Antoine Bethea in free agency. Bethea turns 30 in July so there is no imminent age danger and he hasn’t missed a game since 2007. It’s a fair question to ask how Ward can possibly overtake the veteran since Eric Reid is firmly entrenched at free safety. That is something to watch moving forward for sure.