The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for a bounce back year for the first time in a few seasons. After the departure of Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers are hoping to get back to their championship ways and have added several offensive pieces in order to do so. While signing wide receivers like Torrey Smith, the 49ers also added Reggie Bush to their running back rotation as he and Colin Kaepernick have formed some quick chemistry.
The 49ers signed Bush after the departure of Frank Gore. According to the San Francisco Bee, the 49ers liked the running backs for his pass catching abilities and not just his running form. Expected to make a versatile impact on the offense, Bush and Kaepernick have been putting in the work together and general manager Trent Baalke likes what he sees.
"Reggie has really been an asset to Colin and has opened up some things," Baalke said, via SiriusXM NFL Radio, per CSN Bay Area. "When you get the speed going down the field and you give a back like Reggie room to work in the third-down packages and stuff like that, it really is a bonus for the quarterback. And Colin is developing a real rapport with Reggie coming out of the backfield."
Many believed the 49ers would draft a wide receiver as that position group is beginning to age. After getting rid of Michael Crabtree, Smith was signed, but San Francisco opted to avoid top wide receivers in the draft. Baalke noted that he has total faith in the players currently on the roster. He was pleased with players like Quinton Patton who he noted had a strong offseason and could content for a starting job. He will join the likes of Bruce Ellington and Jerome Simpson who want to start alongside Smith and Anquan Boldin.
The rise of Bush could mean other running backs see less playing time. With Gore gone, CSNBayArea.com was reporting that Carlos Hyde would be the starting running back in 2015. The rookie showed promise last season in the brief playing time he received. It was believed he and Kendall Hunter would force a nice one-two punch. However, Bush crowds the area now and if he has better chemistry with Kaepernick, Hyde might not be the every-down back in 2015.
