San Francisco 49ers: The good, bad, and ugly in preseason loss to Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Alfred Morris #36 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Good: Alfred Morris

If HC Kyle Shanahan is having any doubts about keeping Alfred Morris on the roster, he should get rid of them right now.

Morris is exactly the kind of complementary back Shanahan needs to make his offense whole and complete. He needs a big bodied banger who can get the tough, gritty yards, and keep the chains moving.

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It’s especially valuable come playoff time when you’re playing in inclement weather. It’s also a good player to have when you’re sitting on a lead and need to milk time off the clock.

Signed just a couple of weeks ago, Morris saw his first game action with the 49ers against the Colts – and proved that he still has plenty of juice left in those legs.

Morris carried 17 times on the night, racking up 84 yards along the way – a healthy average of 4.9 yards per carry.

With Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida atop the depth chart for Shanahan, most figured that Morris was brought in to be a camp body as injuries started to mount. Most didn’t think he would be around when the final cuts are made and the roster is finalized.

And, perhaps that will end up being the case.

It would be a mistake to cut him though. Shanahan’s offense is dynamic, there is no question about that. And you can’t really argue with the success he had in Atlanta, as the team’s offensive coordinator. The Falcons had one of the most lethal offenses in the league when they made their run to the Super Bowl back in 2016.

But, they fell short of the ultimate goal because, in the end, they couldn’t run down the clock. They couldn’t keep the chains moving, and they couldn’t keep the Patriots off the field, allowing them to erase a 28-3 deficit in just over a quarter.

Morris showed that he still has it. That he can still be a productive back. Shanahan would be making a big mistake if he let him walk.