The 49ers have a crowded backfield: the guy they signed last year, the guy they signed this year, and their most effective back last season. Question is which if any of those players -- Jerick McKinnon, Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida -- will emerge as the main running back.
Beat writer Matt Maiocco believes it will be Tevin Coleman, calling him the clear favorite. Note that he says that in part because he's the healthy one -- McKinnon, Breida and Raheem Mostert all aren't participating in OTAs, due to rehabbing injuries.
Coleman is also the most recent signing, of course, and he's got a history with Kyle Shanahan from when they were both in Atlanta. But Coleman hasn't been a lead back to this point in his career, save for some of last year with Devonta Freeman hurt. And he's been a mixed bag at it.
Coleman averaged 4.8 yards per carry last year. He's been a capable receiver, important in the offense. But he was also ineffective at times, losing yards on a higher rate of his attempts last year than anyone in the league.
Table shows percentage of negative yards on carries for all backs with at least 50 attempts last year. Coleman had the highest rate of such plays. Breida was somewhat better, and yet another San Francisco back, Jeff Wilson, was better than either.
| RUNNING BACK STUFFS, 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Stuff | Yds | Pct |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 167 | 31 | -84 | 18.6% |
| Elijah McGuire, NYJ | 92 | 17 | -34 | 18.5% |
| Dion Lewis, Ten. | 155 | 28 | -58 | 18.1% |
| Adrian Peterson, Was. | 251 | 42 | -82 | 16.7% |
| Ito Smith, Atl. | 90 | 15 | -37 | 16.7% |
| Alfred Morris, S.F. | 111 | 18 | -41 | 16.2% |
| LeGarrette Blount, Det. | 154 | 24 | -54 | 15.6% |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 120 | 18 | -47 | 15.0% |
| Chase Edmonds, Ariz. | 60 | 9 | -23 | 15.0% |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 161 | 24 | -60 | 14.9% |
| Dalvin Cook, Min. | 133 | 19 | -29 | 14.3% |
| Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 99 | 14 | -43 | 14.1% |
| Justin Jackson, LAC | 50 | 7 | -11 | 14.0% |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 210 | 28 | -61 | 13.3% |
| Corey Clement, Phil. | 68 | 9 | -24 | 13.2% |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 237 | 31 | -73 | 13.1% |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 261 | 34 | -99 | 13.0% |
| Nick Chubb, Clev. | 192 | 24 | -45 | 12.5% |
| Josh Adams, Phil. | 120 | 15 | -32 | 12.5% |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 153 | 19 | -47 | 12.4% |
| Alex Collins, Balt. | 114 | 14 | -44 | 12.3% |
| Chris Ivory, Buff. | 115 | 14 | -29 | 12.2% |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 133 | 16 | -41 | 12.0% |
| Isaiah Crowell, NYJ | 143 | 17 | -43 | 11.9% |
| Rashaad Penny, Sea. | 85 | 10 | -17 | 11.8% |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 234 | 27 | -72 | 11.5% |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 181 | 20 | -44 | 11.0% |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 150 | 16 | -31 | 10.7% |
| Nyheim Hines, Ind. | 85 | 9 | -12 | 10.6% |
| Carlos Hyde, 2 tm | 172 | 18 | -29 | 10.5% |
| Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 192 | 20 | -39 | 10.4% |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 80 | 8 | -18 | 10.0% |
| Damien Williams, K.C. | 50 | 5 | -13 | 10.0% |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 121 | 12 | -23 | 9.9% |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 133 | 13 | -28 | 9.8% |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 250 | 24 | -51 | 9.6% |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 304 | 29 | -50 | 9.5% |
| Jalen Richard, Oak. | 55 | 5 | -6 | 9.1% |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 256 | 23 | -47 | 9.0% |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 56 | 5 | -19 | 8.9% |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 90 | 8 | -16 | 8.9% |
| Royce Freeman, Den. | 130 | 11 | -22 | 8.5% |
| Derrick Henry, Ten. | 215 | 18 | -37 | 8.4% |
| James Conner, Pitt. | 215 | 18 | -34 | 8.4% |
| Latavius Murray, Min. | 140 | 11 | -24 | 7.9% |
| Wayne Gallman, NYG | 51 | 4 | -8 | 7.8% |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 258 | 20 | -31 | 7.8% |
| Jeff Wilson, S.F. | 66 | 5 | -9 | 7.6% |
| Austin Ekeler, LAC | 106 | 8 | -22 | 7.5% |
| C.J. Anderson, 2 tm | 67 | 5 | -13 | 7.5% |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 175 | 13 | -28 | 7.4% |
| Zach Zenner, Det. | 55 | 4 | -7 | 7.3% |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 194 | 14 | -35 | 7.2% |
| Jaylen Samuels, Pitt. | 56 | 4 | -5 | 7.1% |
| Wendell Smallwood, Phil. | 87 | 6 | -17 | 6.9% |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 195 | 13 | -29 | 6.7% |
| Jordan Wilkins, Ind. | 60 | 4 | -10 | 6.7% |
| Kenneth Dixon, Balt. | 60 | 4 | -9 | 6.7% |
| Chris Carson, Sea. | 247 | 16 | -29 | 6.5% |
| Frank Gore, Mia. | 156 | 10 | -17 | 6.4% |
| Mike Davis, Sea. | 112 | 7 | -9 | 6.3% |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 219 | 13 | -27 | 5.9% |
| Kerryon Johnson, Det. | 118 | 7 | -13 | 5.9% |
| Doug Martin, Oak. | 172 | 10 | -23 | 5.8% |
| Sony Michel, N.E. | 209 | 12 | -21 | 5.7% |
| Rex Burkhead, N.E. | 57 | 3 | -8 | 5.3% |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 138 | 6 | -7 | 4.3% |
| Spencer Ware, K.C. | 51 | 2 | -5 | 3.9% |
| Marcus Murphy, Buff. | 52 | 2 | -5 | 3.8% |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 104 | 3 | -7 | 2.9% |
| James White, N.E. | 94 | 2 | -8 | 2.1% |
| Gus Edwards, Balt. | 137 | 1 | -1 | 0.7% |
A lot the results are a function of the blocking. Atlanta, by drafting a pair of linemen in the first round and signing a pair of veterans, clearly blamed the personnel in front of Coleman for some of his struggles.
But I think it's fair to wonder if Coleman is suited for a lead back role, and if San Francisco won't wind up using Breida more than Maiocco thinks. Or Wilson, or Mostert or....
--Andy Richardson