LaMichael James

For most of the season, the San Francisco 49ers looked like they would run away with the NFC West.

That isn't happening now, though, not with a one-and-a-half game lead over the Seahawks with four games left and a trip to Seattle looming ahead. 

All year, head coach Jim Harbaugh kept reminding everyone that, at some point, Brandon Jacobs, LaMichael James and A.J. Jenkins would be needed later in the season and would be ready when called upon.

Now their time has come, and while they may be up to the task, the fact remains that a good part of the season's success now rests on the shoulders of three previously non-existent players.

Jim Harbaugh can be a polarizing coach at times, to say the least. But one of the things that has endeared him to most fans, love or hate him, is his unflinching loyalty to his players.

In light of the whole Alex Smith vs. Colin Kaepernick dilemma, it is fair to call some of that loyalty into question at this point.

Now, Harbaugh has much of the season riding on three players he let go unused in order to keep them fresh for the very situation they're in now, as well as a quarterback he moved up in the draft to acquire and has staked the team's future to.

So what happens if it all blows up in Harbaugh's face down the stretch? What if the 49ers somehow manage to blow the division entirely? What happens if they miss the playoffs altogether or get bounced out in their first game?

And what if one of the above scenarios unfolds because Jacobs, James and Jenkins all prove ineffective at best and Kaepernick's play remains about where it is now, which is dynamic at times and susceptible to rookie-like mistakes at others?

Jim Harbaugh isn't getting fired anytime soon, barring some crazed outburst toward a member of the media resulting in him dragging an unconscious Ray Ratto out of the room by his sternocleidomastoid.

That being said, the 49ers are suddenly in a position where Harbaugh's gambles very well may be a determining factor in the success of this season. And for this team, success is defined as a trip to the Super Bowl, at the very least.

At the beginning of the year, this certainly did not look like a team that needed to take these sorts of gambles to get to the Promised Land.

If Harbaugh's decisions backfire and something drastic happens, he is going to be under a lot of fire. The kind that a lesser coach in a very tenuous position may not survive.

The loonies are going to come out of the woodwork and have a field day with him if this season ends disastrously. If that disaster does unfold, it very well may unfold because the quarterback is playing poorly or there is no running game outside of Gore and the receiving corps is suddenly barely deeper than it was this time last year.

Banking on Randy Moss was a gamble in its own right.

If any of those possibilities are a significant reason for a shocking end to the 49ers' season, especially poor play from the quarterback (regardless of who), those reasons can be traced back to Jim Harbaugh in some direct way.

Harbaugh has sat down at the poker table and told everyone to relax because he knows how to play pot-limit Omaha hi/lo split.

Well, sit down at the table with that attitude and then walk away a few hours later with no shirt on your back and people are going to let you know about it on the way out.

The other players are also going to all gang up on you any chance they get. The only way to shut them up is to come back and take all the money the next time.

It is amazing to think that Jim Harbaugh could very easily go from being the proverbial Man of the Year in the Bay Area, a man who seemed infallible at times, to a coach under immense duress and pressure from the fans, media and front office alike, due in part to his own hubris.

That hubris could be very telling of how the rest of Harbaugh's tenure will play out as head coach of the 49ers.

As a player, he was known for playing with a chip on his shoulder.  Even if it meant provoking people into putting the chip on his shoulder in the first place, as if he couldn't function without some sort of conflict or someone to prove wrong or to prove his own ability to.

We may be seeing the same phenomenon play out with him as a coach. Harbaugh, along with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, have shown a tendency at times to almost out-think themselves with their play calling and game plans.

Could it go further? Or maybe it already has:

-Is Kaepernick the starter because Harbaugh wants to prove his doubters wrong, to prove his own genius for having moved up to draft him or because he really believes he is the best option available?

-Were James and Jenkins drafted because Harbaugh saw good players there or because he could look like a genius if he molded them into good players?

-Was Jacobs kept out of uniform because they really didn't need him or because Harbaugh was determined to prove that he could insert any runner into his offense under any circumstances and they would succeed?

-If someone told Harbaugh that the sky was blue, would he argue that it was more of a cerulean color?

Of course, if the 49ers win the Super Bowl, the whole point is moot.

Likewise, if the 49ers suffer some sort of catastrophic injury somewhere and they fail to go far as a result, Harbaugh will probably be absolved.

Regardless, this looks to be the first of many years to come in which Harbaugh does something unorthodox or outlandish in order to create an enemy or a doubter for him to focus his competitive drive on.

Let's just hope he wins all his bets because he's using the team as collateral.

Week 13 resulted in San Francisco’s fourth non-win of the 2012 regular season. Coming off a loss, the San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1) are neck and neck with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in the NFC. 

Late in the season, the 49ers have gone through some midseason changes. They have had some injuries and changeover in terms of personnel. The offense in particular is going through some growing pains, having lost Kendall Hunter and Kyle Williams for the season. 

This week, wide receiver Mario Manningham (shoulder) did not participate in practice. He has been a solid pass-catcher and all-purpose threat in his first year as a 49er. San Francisco may be without his services as soon as Sunday’s game versus Miami. 

On top of that, head coach Jim Harbaugh promoted second-year man Colin Kaepernick to starting quarterback. 

All of a sudden, this seemingly unanimous No. 1 contender lost 13 years of collective experience on offense, not including Manningham. And even though Kaepernick is dynamic, there is still a lot of development to be had. 

San Francisco needs to start collecting wins here, and in order to do that they need to utilize all of their instruments—no limitations. Entering Week 14, San Francisco’s first and second-round picks are yet to see the field during the regular season.  

Of the first two players the Niners selected in the 2012 NFL draft, the one they need to integrate immediately in LaMichael James. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n--pqmfL5Kc

Kendall Hunter going down left a significant hole in the 49ers’ backfield—more so than the departure of Kyle Williams did with the team’s receiving corps. 

With the postseason approaching, the 49ers need to get James acclimated as soon as possible. Last week’s experiment with Brandon Jacobs was unsuccessful, as the bruiser only carried four times for six yards. 

As a fourth-rounder, Hunter was able to step in and be effective right away. Meanwhile, James is one of the most prolific runners to ever grace the NCAA. His running style is more similar to Hunter's, in that he would provide a change of pace. 

With great speed and elusiveness, James brings the home-run threat on each play, which is something Brandon Jacobs and Anthony Dixon do not. In this creative and opportunistic offensive approach by the 49ers, James seems like a perfect fit. 

The ability to dictate coverages with ingenuity would ultimately create opportunities for James in space. He would provide explosiveness as a runner and a receiver, similar to New Orleans Saints RB Darren Sproles. 

The team could also use some depth and options at returner since Ted Ginn Jr. has been underperforming. Overall, the 49ers could benefit from more explosiveness. Not to mention, a productive James would optimize Frank Gore's general output. 

San Francisco needs these final four games to get James ready to contribute in the playoffs. The 49ers’ ground attack is the most important part of their offense. And more often than not, when they are moving the ball on the ground, the entire offense is able to open itself up. 

Getting LaMichael James involved right now is the next best thing the Niners can do to get better as a team.

The wait is over...

— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) December 5, 2012

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The San Francisco 49ers are the only team in the NFL that has not played either their first- or second round-draft draft picks in any NFL games this year.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Every team in the NFL has played either its first-round or second-round picks from last April's draft.

Except for the 49ers.

The only reason the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't played guard David DeCasro is because of ACL and MCL injuries he incurred during preseason, but what's the 49ers excuse for not playing LaMichael James and A.J. Jenkins?

They are not injured and have been used in practice throughout the season.  Still, they haven't seen a minute of a playing time since preseason.  

Could they have helped in last week's loss against the St. Louis Rams?  It's possible, especially with speedy running back Kendall Hunter and wide receiver Kyle Williams out for the season, both lost (via mercurynews.com) due to injuries incurred on the same play two weeks ago against the New Orleans Saints.

So if Jenkins and James are available in practice, why haven't they been called up to play?  Reps are a crucial part of a rookie's development, and it's not like the 49ers offense has been lighting it up as of late.  In the past two games, the 49ers have averaged just 15 points per game (via espn.com) on offense.  Subtract the field goals, and that figure looks even worse. 

The 49ers appeared to add "speed" to their offense when they drafted Jenkins and James, but that has yet to appear.  It's difficult to say whether the two haven't played because Harbaugh's experimenting with some sort of collegiate "redshirt" principle, where players sit out for a year, or because they aren't performing well in practice.

But this much is clear:  If James and Jenkins can contribute anything in an actual game, now is the time to play them, especially now that another 49ers receiver, Mario Manningham, may have reinjured his shoulder in their loss to the Rams.  That leaves just Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree and the often injured Ted Ginn, Jr. to line up as receivers.  

Ginn must cover punt and kickoff return duties full time now that Kyle Williams is out, so activating Jenkins seems like a must.

But if Jim Harbaugh is trying to apply collegiate concepts at the pro level—which he seems intent on doing—then fans can only hope his redshirting principle doesn't end up looking like that botched zone-read pitch from last Sunday's game.  

We all know how that turned out...

San Francisco 49ers running back Brandon Jacobs posted a couple of comments on Twitter Thursday that raised a few eyebrows around the league, but the veteran back, who has not had a single carry for his new team, is insisting that the tweets were not about his frustrations with the 49ers organization.

“People automatically assume it has something to do with this [expletive] sport,” Jacobs said, via CSNBayArea.com. “It’s not. It’s not. I have different companies, and different businesses. I got a life on the outside of football.”

After reporters asked him about the tweets, Jacobs went back on Twitter and wrote that he had actually been talking about his brother’s boss. Here are the tweets in question and you can make your own assumptions.

Have you ever been in a spot and you wonder why are you there.

— Brandon Jacobs (@gatorboy45) November 15, 2012

Never work in a place where you hate your boss so much, you should always be happy at work.#YouLiveAndYouLearn

— Brandon Jacobs (@gatorboy45) November 15, 2012

The second tweet about hating your boss was also re-tweeted by 49ers second-round pick LaMichael James, who has not received a single carry this season either.

The situation seems too coincidental. It's like when you are fighting with a significant other who takes to social media to vent their anger and then tells you to not assume everything is about that.

Jacobs has to be disgruntled about the situation in San Francisco. His days of being an impact back are behind him, but Jacobs surely did not think his role would be what it has been when he signed with the 49ers in the offseason.

What do you think? Are the tweets in fact about Jacobs being disgruntled in his new home and he is now having to cover his tracks?

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4-star running back and Oregon Ducks commit Thomas Tyner is very fast, and that's probably the understatement of the century.

According to Rivals.com, Tyner runs an absolutely astonishing 4.38 40-yard dash. To put that in perspective with some recent college superstars you may know turned pro, Robert Griffin III ran a 4.41 at the 2012 NFL combine and wideout A.J. Jenkins ran a 4.39.

Both were first-round draft picks in the 2012 NFL draft.

Oh, some back named LaMichael James ran a 4.37, but who's heard of him anyhow? (Note: Sarcasm)

It's important to realize that just because a player is really fast, that does not make him really good, but this is not the case for Tyner.

There is a huge difference between running speed and football speed, and Tyner has both. Sure, he can run extremely fast, but he also complements that speed with an explosive burst out of the backfield.  He has good vision, the ability to make cuts and he can kick it into high gear once he gets to the second level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YnJCpjUtUk

He's not some small finesse back mind you, so his size is something else he has going for him. Tyner currently checks in at a solid 6'0'', 200 pounds.

Now that you know what he's bringing to the table, how exactly will Tyner impact the Oregon Ducks in 2013?

The thing to keep in mind is that the Ducks already have one extremely fast back in sophomore De'Anthony Thomas. Thomas, though, is not as big as Tyner (Thomas is only 5'9'', 173 pounds) so Kelly will now have the ability to get Thomas some rest, saving him from the wear and tear of being an every-down back, while not losing speed or explosiveness with his backup.

With Tyner backing up Thomas, the Ducks will essentially have two featured speed-backs that can break the big run. He'll be able to keep both of them fresh, which will keep both of them effective.

Often the quality of a backup running back is undervalued due to the importance of the starter, but in today's day and age of physical football, having two capable backs is a must.

Also, in Kelly's up-tempo offense he can't afford to lose any speed when he goes to the bench.

The Ducks won't be losing anything when Tyner is in the game, and that will pay huge dividends for their offense.

 

The San Francisco 49ers have a very crowded backfield as they head into the 2012 regular season. In addition to starter Frank Gore, the 49ers also have Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon as holdovers from last season.

The 49ers also brought in free agents Brandon Jacobs from the New York Giants and Rock Cartwright from the Oakland Raiders. In addition, LaMichael James was drafted in the second round and is an extremely explosive threat out of the backfield.

Starting fullback Bruce Miller is also a lock to make the roster. Miller, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, surprised everyone with his rapid transition from a collegiate defensive end to a fullback in the pro ranks.

Will the 49ers carry seven running backs?

This is a very real possibility, as the two players who may be on the bubble have multiple assets they bring to the table. Cartwright is an outstanding special teams player and Dixon is also a solid special teams performer and has learned the fullback position. 

If the 49ers decide to keep only six running backs, my gut feeling is that Cartwright will stick and Dixon will be released. I am fully aware that Dixon has had a good preseason, but Jacobs has largely usurped his role as a ball-carrier.

Injuries could play a role, and if any players the 49ers are counting on for special teams are unable to play, that could also ensure roster spots for both Cartwright and Dixon.

Whether it's six or seven running backs, head coach Jim Harbaugh will have to juggle the workload in order to keep everyone happy and get the most out of his talent.

This brings us to the next question: How will Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman split the carries between the large stable of running backs the 49ers have? 

To answer this question, let's first look at 2011, which will give us some insight on the overall numbers. The top three backs last year—Gore, Hunter and Dixon—combined for 423 carries. Gore led the way with 282 rushing attempts, which is 67 percent of the opportunities.

The 49ers offense should be a lot more potent in 2012. If we assume an increase in productivity and fewer three-and-outs, we can also assume a 10 percent increase in the total number of carries to about 465 for the top four running backs.

In 2011, Gore rushed for 1,211 yards and a 4.3 yards-per-carry average. He also played in 15 of the Niners' 16 regular-season games.

I believe Harbaugh would like to slightly decrease Gore's workload, which could keep him fresher for the playoffs. If Gore gets 50 percent of the carries, he will still have roughly 230 rushing attempts. With a 4.4 yards-per-carry average, that would net Gore over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his career.

Hunter, who had 26 percent of the carries in 2011, has looked very strong in the preseason. I think Harbaugh will give Hunter more chances this year, and he may see roughly 32 percent of the carries. That would give him 148 carries for the year. I expect Hunter and James to make a positive impact in the passing game as well.

James, who is currently battling an injury, is a big-play threat. He is extremely explosive and a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. James' issues pertain to familiarity with the offense and his ability to stay healthy.

If Harbaugh and Roman can find a way to get James the ball five times per game, that would give him a chance to make some big plays. I think James can be even more effective as a receiver out of the backfield, so if he gets two or three carries per game and is targeted on two or three pass plays, he will prove to be very valuable.

If we count on James for 40 carries this season, that leaves roughly 47 carries for Jacobs, who will be the 49ers' short-yardage specialist. I do not look for Dixon or Cartwright to get many attempts.

The key to these numbers will be the health of the players. If, for example, Gore or Hunter are forced to miss any significant playing time, the number of carries for all of the running backs could be changed dramatically.

The positive news is that under Harbaugh and Roman, the 49ers have the intelligence and creativity to get the ball into the hands of the players where they can do the most damage.

I am excited to see how the 49ers offense comes together this year. In addition to the continued growth of Alex Smith, I believe the keys for the 49ers success on offense will be to stay healthy and also get consistent play along the offensive line.

The San Francisco 49ers were a proficient offense in 2011, but in their transition from year one to year two under Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco will look to make the jump to becoming an explosive offense.

The offense complemented the dominant defensive effort, and together they were able to manage a plus-28 turnover ratio last year. The Niners did a host of signature things that made them an effective team, like running the ball and being fundamentally sound. San Francisco finished last season eighth in rushing and 11th in the league in scoring (380 points).

However, in overall productivity, the 49ers were the 26th-ranked offense in 2011. The unit was also notoriously poor on third down and in the red zone. With the weapons they've added this offseason, the 49ers will be looking to extend drives which means more plays.

The Ground Attack

The 49ers produced 498 total attempts on the ground in 2011, in an offense that at times struggled to stay on the field. Progress is expected of San Francisco’s total offense, so there will be more opportunities for players to get touches in 2012.

Out of the 498 attempts, a number of them were by Alex Smith (52) and Ted Ginn Jr. (8); a collective 60 carries that should shrink with more qualified runners on board in 2012.

Between the returning players and new additions, one of the questions is if there are indeed enough carries to go around. To shed some light on the subject, the 49ers’ new-look ground game could be compared to the Saints, who feature a crowded backfield. Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram all share attempts, so distribution between four running backs is possible—just not always even.  

The early predictions favor a backfield that features Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James and Brandon Jacobs.

Jacobs should get the least touches but be compensated by being more important for certain situations, on third down and in the red zone. Hunter and James could look to rotate as the primary backups to lead-man Frank Gore.

(Gore’s stats in 2011: 282 attempts for 1,211 yards.)

Gore could be looking to revert back to the 2008 and 2009 version of himself, where he had 240 and 229 attempts but churned out 1,000-yard rushing campaigns with four-plus yards per carry. Predicting Gore assumes a similar workload; he should still be a productive feature back but allow for potentially 250-plus attempts to be shared between Hunter, James and Jacobs.

Ideally, James and Hunter will share the bulk of the remaining workload with Jacobs operating as a blocker and situational player.     

Hunter was a productive backup in 2011 with 112 carries, registering just under 500 yards rushing as a rookie. Hunter and James could feasibly get 100 attempts each, leaving Jacobs with 50 or so essential carries where the 49ers really need that extra horsepower.  

Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman could very well fall in love with their split-backs formation, where they have an opportunity to get two backs on the field at once. Furthermore, they could experiment with different personnel and route combinations according to skill set.  

The Passing Game

Alex Smith had 445 passing attempts in 2011, the least by any qualified quarterback (16 starts). Even with top backs like DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart operating in a run-first offense, Cam Newton was able to throw 500-plus times in his rookie season. Smith’s attempts will increase in 2012, which means more opportunities for his playmakers to get their hands on the football.

With more firepower on the outside, Smith will also be throwing against less eight-man fronts. And we were presented with evidence last year that if he has protection, Smith can make pinpoint throws. He protected the ball extremely well in 2011, and by taking what the defense gave him, he executed at the highest level of his career.

Smith, as a proficient quarterback who doesn’t turn the ball over, will help this offense excel now that it has suitable playmakers in place.

The consensus is that Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree will be slotted as the No. 1 and No. 2 receivers heading into Week 1. In terms of skill set, Moss and Crabtree are the ideal one-two punch as flanker and split end receivers.  

Randy Moss adds a whole new dimension—he’s going to take the top off defenses and inevitably make this a higher-scoring offense. All of the reports, via Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com, say he’s rejuvenated and inspired, even reporting to 49ers training camp a day early.

Moss should wow us in 2012, especially if he serious about winning a championship before he calls it a career. The 49ers will face the league's highest-scoring offenses, and will no doubt be leaning on Moss to help them score against teams like New England, New Orleans and Green Bay. 

Between five and eight touchdowns for Moss is reasonable, but he's no stranger to double-digit scores in a single season.

Michael Crabtree is also expected to take a leap as a pro, assuming the split end role and taking on lesser-skilled cornerbacks (via Will Brinson, CBSSports.com).

Crabtree appears to have the most advanced chemistry with quarterback Alex Smith, as No. 15 was the leading receiver for the 49ers in 2011. Crabtree is in a position to succeed this year and provide the 49ers with a much-needed possession receiver, while Moss stretches the field.

The 49ers are also expected to rotate a number of other receivers, including Mario Manningham, Kyle Williams, Ted Ginn Jr. and A.J. Jenkins. In sets featuring three-plus wide receivers, 49ers fans will be able to get a glimpse of the overall depth and athleticism of a revamped receiving corps.  

The 49ers will also have the evolving dynamic between Alex Smith and Vernon Davis to build around. That has been the central focus of their passing offense, but it will finally be expanded upon with outside threats. This will ultimately make the middle of the field more vulnerable to gashes by Davis, who like Moss, has freakish athletic ability.

The unit should feel more comfortable taking shots down field and manipulating coverages with their super-athletic playmakers on offense.

The Trick Plays

The 49ers had a number of a trick plays under the new Greg Roman-run offense. The new system and style of play-calling from the staff has proven to be one of the more creative ones in the league.

One of San Francisco’s trick plays in 2011 that worked to perfection occurred in Week 17. The 49ers lined up for a field goal; David Akers took the direct snap from Brian Jennings and threw to a wide open Michael Crabtree, who had drifted to the sideline, walking in for a touchdown.

More of a special teams trick play than an offensive one, but since it involved Michael Crabtree, it's worth noting.

On offense, the 49ers executed a number of designed runs for Alex Smith—one of the more notable ones was a 28-yard touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC divisional playoffs.

San Francisco also experimented with direct handoffs to Ted Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams as well as Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. 49ers offensive coordinator and primary play-caller, Roman, sees worth in misdirection and outsmarting one's opponent. Trick plays are also very much about timing, of which the Niners' OC seems to have a firm grasp.

The value of the trick plays was to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers and to catch defenses off-guard.

With new players like LaMichael James, Brandon Jacobs and Randy Moss—all of whom have unique physical abilities—the 49ers could be drawing up trick plays specifically designed to utilize their skill set. In a shortened league year, the Niners still experimented with elaborate trick plays; entering their first full offseason under Harbaugh, 49ers fans can expect to see more of the same in 2012.

San Francisco will be innovative, methodical and explosive on offense in 2012. It will be a no-nonsense, by-any-means-necessary approach to putting the football in the end zone. While they will make it fun for their guys on offense, the 49ers are serious about becoming a feared offense, instead of constantly relying on their generous defense to bail them out.

The players have bought into the idea that there is a Super Bowl-caliber team in place, and it's up to them to seize it.  

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