LaMichael James

LaMichael James will be the perfect addition to the San Francisco 49ers offense. James combination of speed, quickness and tenacity were unparalleled in college and will allow him to excel in a scatback role for the 49ers.  

In 2010, James held the NCAA record for all-purpose yards and recorded 24 total touchdowns, ending the season as the Doak Walker award winner. In his final year at Oregon in 2011, James ran for a school-record 1,805 yards and became the school's all-time leading rusher.

James even recorded a punt return touchdown and averaged 9.8 yards per return, another element he brings to this team and something Niners fans will love to have in their back pocket if Ted Ginn goes down again this season.  

While at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh witnessed James run wild against his Cardinal, racking up 233 total yards in 2009 and a whopping 257 rushing yards in 2010. Harbaugh definitely remembered how hard James was to stop and the history between these two definitely fueled his decision to draft James in the second round. Harbaugh witnessed firsthand the skills James possesses and will bring to this team next season.   

The Niners offense last season was based on the ground-and-pound which began up front with their stout offensive line. Pro Bowler Joe Staley anchored the line that produced the eight ranked rushing attack from a season ago.

Harbaugh wants to pound the football, and the combination of Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and recent addition Brandon Jacobs will work well together to implement the ground-and-pound, clock possession offense that made the Niners successful last season.

The Niners were successful between the 20s but struggled in the red zone. Alex Smith takes a portion of the responsibility, but the main blame must be placed on the lack of game-changing options the Niners presented opposing defenses.

Harbaugh was limited in his options outside of Vernon Davis and the counter run play. These limitations made the Niners offense very predictable in the red zone, which will all change next season with the addition of James.   

James provides this offense everything it was not last season, quickness, elusiveness and deception especially on third down and in the red zone. James will become a great security blanket for Alex Smith to break tackles and create huge plays to move the chains. James will immediately improve the red zone statistics for the Niners with his ability to stretch the defense from sideline to sideline. 

James' one knock in terms of being a scatback is that he did not catch many passes in college at Oregon. Although James did not affect the game with his receptions, he did do an excellent job of running on third down, something the Niners loved to do last season. In 3rd-and-7 or longer, Harbaugh would occasionally run and punt in order to limit mistakes of Smith and put the onus back on the defense.

The speed, quickness and scoring ability that James possesses is the kind of stuff you find in a video game, so expect Harbaugh to press James' button many times this season. James will be forced to catch more passes than at Oregon, but expect him to develop as a route-runner and learn to use his speed and small size to his advantage, especially on jerk routes and wheels out of the backfield.

This type of route-running will allow James to develop into an elite game-changer in the red zone and completely fulfill his role as NFL scatback.  

This same logic applies to Vernon Davis but as a tight end. Both are incredible athletes and use their athleticism and respective size to elude defenders, creating mismatches across the field. Expect James to make a Sproles-esque impact for the 49ers this season.    

James is the perfect complement to this offense and will allow the 49ers to become a top-10 offense, not just a field-goal kicking machine, which depends on turnovers and great defense to win games. The Niners offense now has the weapons to stretch the field and attack defenses on multiple levels, something that was missing from a year ago.  

The best part about James is that even if he only touches the ball five times a game, the threat that he presents will open up the field for Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham who live on short passing routes. Alex Smith thrives on the quick passing tree and getting the ball out quickly and the addition of James will also improve their offense on this front, making them that much more formidable.

The large hands of Justin Tuck and other defenders must take that one extra second of hesitation in order to wait for a dump off or screen pass to the highly efficient scatback, LaMichael James.  

When the San Francisco 49ers picked LaMichael James in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, a lot of fans celebrated. A lot of 49ers fans were angry with the pick.

San Francisco made the NFC Championship Game and came just shy of reaching Super Bowl 46. There aren't many things the 49ers need to do to improve, as they have a great defense, a good offensive line, a good receiving corps, a good group of running backs and a good quarterback.

The 49ers have Kendall Hunter, Frank Gore, Anthony Dixon and Brandon Jacobs at running back. Jacobs was brought in via free agency, and since he is a goal-line back, most people thought San Francisco was set at running back.

Then, they drafted James.

I have always liked James. As a Cal and Pac-12 fan, I've watched him play at Oregon a lot. He has great vision and is very explosive, and he can break tackles very well for his size. He fights for extra yardage and will wait for blocks before bursting through a hole.

Even though he is just 5'8" and 194 pounds, James could be a third-down or short-yardage back. The Niners do have Brandon Jacobs, but he gets stopped for losses or no gain sometimes. If the Niners are one or two yards away from a first down, use Jacobs. If they're three to seven yards away, use James.

James averaged an amazing 7.3 yards per carry in his final season as a Duck, and in his three-year career, he ran for 53 touchdowns. Against Stanford, a top-tier defense, he ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

While a lot of fast running backs that dominate in college end up being a bust, James will have a place in San Francisco. He is tough and will never give up on a play, and even though NFL defenders rarely miss tackles, he will find a way to pick up the necessary yardage.

Anthony Dixon seems to be the odd man out, and Frank Gore has been hampered by injuries throughout his career. Kendall Hunter could be a star, but I think he and James could share some carries since both are young.

If Gore gets hurt (which is very likely), James should move up to second or third on the depth chart. He could be a third-down back, as he can slip out of tackles easily and he can make quick cuts. James rarely gets tackled for a loss, which I learned by watching him in person twice.

The first time I saw him in person was when Oregon took on Cal in 2010. He didn't play very well, but he made the plays he needed to. On 4th-and-2 in the fourth quarter of a tight game, Cal seemed to have him cornered. However, he was patient, and when a hole opened up, he burst through it for the first down.

That play was key, as Oregon won 15-13 and held on to its No. 1 ranking in the BCS standings.

The game may have been the worst of James' Oregon career, but he found a way to make an impact. In a huge game against Stanford, he made an even bigger impact.

James burst through every hole he could find, and against a much bigger Stanford team, he dominated. The Cardinal had a great defense, but James dominated them. Every time a hole opened up, he burst right through it. Stanford had no chance against him.

Overall, James is a great player. He has played against future NFL stars and he has dominated them. He picked apart defenses on his way to becoming a Heisman Trophy candidate. While people think his style won't translate to the NFL, he is out on a mission to prove them wrong.

And on that mission, he will transform into an NFL star. 

There are really only a couple well-documented concerns for the San Francisco 49ers heading into training camp on July 26.

Some lingering questions include: Who will win the starting right guard spot? How much can Randy Moss really contribute at wide receiver? Who’ll earn the backup quarterback job, Colin Kaepernick of Josh Johnson?

Or, what will Frank Gore’s role be with so many running backs on the roster? What are the ramifications of Dashon Goldson’s absence on the 49ers secondary?

Other ancillary, or under-the-radar issues exist as well.

Let’s review three of those potential concerns as they pertain to the 49ers at this point in the offseason.

A.J. Jenkins’ Transition

Jenkins’ poor performances (for the most part) thus far in offseason practices might not qualify as an under-the-radar concern. The first-round pick of 2011 has been in the relative 49er spotlight since his selection at the end of April.

Then again, the mass public isn’t always so privy to what goes on in these programs.

What has occurred is Jenkins’ slow transition into the intensity of NFL, Jim Habaugh-led workouts. Despite showing some fine catches and generally consistent hands, his conditioning and footwork have left much to be desired. He was admittedly out of shape during rookie minicamps.

While not in any danger of losing a roster spot, it should be pointed out that the former Illinois product has a long way to go before being ready for the rigors of an NFL season. Expect him to treat training camp practices like actual regular-season games.

LaMichael James’ Absence

The former Duck has missed the majority of practices due to his continued enrollment at Oregon (he’s slated to officially graduate later this week).

Niners’ 2011 rookie class may not have shown any ill effects from a lockout-shortened offseason, but there still exists a steep learning curve for any first-year player. It is incumbent on them to get as many reps as possible.

James must come into camp fully in shape and with a good handle of the playbook to solidify his spot in the running back pecking order. His time playing in Chip Kelly’s extremely up-tempo offense should aid this process, but this concern exists nonetheless.

The 49ers rookie minicamp scheduled for next week will be a big test for LMJ.

Situation at Center

Center Jonathan Goodwin was a stable component of the 49ers offensive line for the majority of 2011.

However, his injury history, age and lack of an established veteran behind him are issues in need of more exposure. The loss of Adam Snyder in free agency puts more pressure on Goodwin to remain healthy to anchor the O-line.

Second-year man Daniel Kilgore is the player in line for the backup job. He needs to prove that he can fulfill those essential responsibilities.

Remember, as consistent as Goodwin was, he still gave up the most sacks (five) in the league at center in 2011.

It’s time for Kilgore to showcase his future with the 49ers.

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The San Francisco 49ers were this close to the Super Bowl last year.

The team devoted most of their draft to upgrading the offensive line and playmakers. As we watch for dispatches from their OTAs, what are the best rookie storylines to follow in the upcoming OTAs from June 4-7 and team minicamp from June 12-14?

Will Randy Moss delay first-round pick A.J. Jenkins arrival in the first-team pass offense?

With free-agent signing Randy Moss looking like the Moss of old, according to tight end Vernon Davis, will there be a place for A.J. Jenkins? The team also signed Mario Manningham, presumably to start, and they also often run two-tight end sets with Davis and Delanie Walker.

Whether or not Jenkins gets any reps with the starters in three-wide sets will be worth watching.

How will second-round running back LaMichael James be used?

The 49ers offense lacked explosiveness and that's exactly what James can bring, but how?

Ted Ginn is back as the team's return specialist. Kendall Hunter was already coming on as the smaller, quicker change of pace to Frank Gore. The addition of Brandon Jacobs means that there are even less snaps at running back to go around.

No running back caught more than 17 passes last year, and the team will surely emphasize throwing to the wide receivers more with the investments made at the position. Exactly how do the 49ers plan to have their second-round pick pay immediate dividends while they are in this championship window?

Unfortunately, James is ineligible to participate in the OTAs and minicamp because of Oregon's June 15 graduation date, but coaches' comments could illuminate our understanding of his role.

Will fourth-round guard Joe Looney be cleared to practice before training camp?

After getting cute at the end of third and beginning of the fourth round, the 49ers missed out on a few guards and moved back up to get Joe Looney, who suffered a broken foot at the Senior Bowl.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reported after the draft that Looney was expected to get clearance by mid-June. He could compete with Alex Boone and Mike Person to start at right guard in training camp, but completely missing OTAs may make it more difficult for Looney to win the job.

Darius Fleming's injury = Cam Johnson's opportunity?

Fifth-round outside linebacker Darius Fleming had a good shot to make the 49ers carry a fourth pass-rusher this year. He was one of the better speed rushers in the draft.

Seventh-round pick Cam Johnson isn't as explosive as Fleming and was likely drafted with an eye towards a practice squad spot. With Fleming out for the year after an ACL tear, though, Johnson could get the opportunity to impress the team enough to force them to carry him and avoid losing him when they attempt to stash him on the practice squad.

Can Chris Owusu or Nathan Palmer beat the odds to earn a roster spot?

Owusu's story is compelling as a terrific size/speed specimen who fell out of the draft after three concussions in a 13-month period. He also played his college football at Stanford under 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh until last year and made a good impression during the rookie minicamp.

CSNBayArea's Matt Maiocco reported that Palmer got the largest signing bonus ($10,000) of any 49ers undrafted free agent. He was also impressed by Palmer at the team's rookie minicamp. 

Michael Crabtree, Manningham, Moss, Jenkins and Ted Ginn (his contract is partially guaranteed) are almost sure to make the team, and James's selection means they'll likely carry four running backs. If a sixth wide receiver is carried, Kyle Williams, who was impressive before his postseason meltdown, has to be the favorite.

In reality, Owusu and Palmer's chances of making the final 53-man roster are barely more than zero, but they can use the stage to create enough buzz for a wide receiver-poor team to pick them up when they are likely let go later this summer.

An overabundance of running backs won't stop former record breaking Oregon running back LaMichael James from making headlines out of San Francisco's backfield.

The second round selection is more likely to make a greater impact than first round wide receiver A.J. Jenkins and the rest of the draft class because of a quicker transition to the league, versatility and explosiveness.

Transitioning to the NFL can be a tough challenge for rookies because of the speed of the game and various responsibilities assigned. However, it's a different challenge for James than it is for, say, first round pick A.J. Jenkins.

Jenkins comes into the league as a Wide Receiver—one of the toughest positions to develop into because it's significantly different than the college game. Typically, it takes receivers three to four years to settle into the NFL and realize their potential, if they do at all. It takes roughly the same amount of time to completely understand Jim Harbaugh's West Coast Offense scheme.

The West Coast Offense, or "Down by the River Offense" as the originator Walsh called it, features a significant amount of complex terminology, far more complex than that of a typical offense because the responsibilities of the player are literally spelled out.

Further, the offense is based off of rhythm/timing and detail, which is why it's crucial for the receiver to get on the same page with his quarterback and run his routes to perfection. Jenkins must take the correct steps on the stem of his route and break it off at the right time. Not to mention, receivers reads change, going from purely reading cornerback leverage to having to understand not only cornerback but safety too.

In contrast, James plays a position where he is already familiar with the base run concepts—power, lead, counter, toss, inside and outside zone—(because they are just about all the same within every offense) and enables him to make plays instinctively, which is what he does best.

His biggest adjustment will be learning his blocking assignments, which can be complicated due to a plethora of looks being thrown at the offense by the defense. Defenses are using sub-packages (five, six and even seven defensive backs) that cover multiple receivers while also playing the run successfully. These defenses consequently create problems for blockers because there are several moving players before the snap.

However, he's unlikely to spend much time blocking initially and the real damage that he'll do is with his versatility as a runner, pass catcher and possibly a returner on special teams.

As a runner, James is very dangerous because he can get to the end zone at any time, especially when he gets into the open field. He is often able to get into the second and third levels of the field because of his quickness and ability to make initial would-be tacklers miss, as seen against the University of Southern California.

His stop-start ability is a very impressive part of his skill-set, something not all running backs have. 

Once James gets into the open field, he has the ability to take it for six because of his 4.45 forty yard dash. As can be seen in the video below, James not only can make defenders miss, as previously noted, but he can turn the corner, get down the sideline and keep his balance to continue running despite receiving contact.

As seen in the last clip and in the following one, James has good balance and keeps his feet moving when dealing with contact, enabling him to pick up extra yardage opposed to falling backwards. This is also something that Frank Gore does an exceptional job as well.

What the clips also illustrate is his acceleration and burst once he sees a hole. James is very fast through the hole, which is important to note because many rookie running backs are fast to the hole and consequently, don't let the play properly develop.

When tailbacks do this, it implies that the game is moving too fast for them, as seen with raw runners such as Daniel Thomas of the Miami Dolphins last season and during his time at Kansas State.

Moreover, James also has the potential to be a threat on special teams for the 49ers. Like the running back position, the franchise has several options to choose from for the kick and punt return jobs, but it's possible that James gets his shot at the duties as well. 

At Oregon, he did not return kickoffs or punts a significant amount because of the other track stars that the team possessed, but when he did, he proved to be dangerous.

Although he had few chances, James made some big plays for the team by flipping field position or taking it all the way into the opposition's end zone as he did against Nevada last season.

James took the ball 58 yards for the score once he caught it, bouncing off of tacklers and keeping his balance in the middle of the field en route to accelerating to the end zone.

These explosive plays will be a great addition to the 49ers, who were unable to consistently come up with big plays down the field when they needed them the most.

James is a very dynamic running back that is also versatile in that he can find creases in the running game to spring him for a long run while also catching the ball, whether it be from the backfield on a screen pass or split out, and potentially special teams as a punt returner as he did at times with Oregon.