M Lattimore, RB, SC (1 Viewer)

[thecatch]

Any updates from beat reporters on how he actually looked in limited practice the past three weeks? I don't think he will ever be the Lattimore we saw in college, but even at 80% of his former self, he should be a solid producer at some point.

The beat writer coverage I've seen the last few weeks on this topic has mainly consisted of quotes from Lattimore himself talking about how good he feels. If the beat writers have seen him practice, there's virtually no chance he's had enough reps for anyone to make an informed observation about his ability. The team is in the middle of a playoff chase with 4 RBs who are already getting carries in real games who need reps, and everyone knew there was no chance Lattimore would play this year.

 

[BeTheMatch]

Whether you think Lattimore will ever be relevant or not, does anyone still think Kendall Hunter has a shot to ever be the feature back? Is he still worth holding in a dynasty league with smaller rosters and some interesting names on the waiver wire? I personally haven't seen much from Hunter to project him as a starter of the future. Obviously Lattimore's presence doesn't help either. How does Hunter's presence impact Lattimore?

 

[thecatch]

Hunter almost exclusively comes in for outside running plays, and has really only taken what the offensive line has given him this year. Really haven't been very impressive. That said, it's his first year back from a pretty devastating injury, so it may be the case that he is in more impressive condition by the time he and Lattimore are competing next offseason.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

Hunter was impressive last year prior to injury, so I agree that he might still be in recovery-mode. Still Latt is the one you want to bet on for the future.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1938928-san-francisco-49ers-how-much-more-does-frank-gore-have-in-the-tank

San Francisco 49ers: How Much More Does Frank Gore Have in the Tank? By Bryan Knowles , Featured Columnist Jan 28, 2014One of the biggest decisions awaiting the San Francisco 49ers this offseason is what to do with Frank Gore.

The running back will turn 31 years old in May and is currently slated to count nearly $6.5 million against the salary cap next season. With young draft picks like Marcus Lattimore and LaMichael James on the roster behind him, and with players like Colin Kaepernick and Aldon Smith looking for long-term contract extensions, that’s quite a bit of money to have allotted to an aging running back.

Running backs tend to decline quite notably once they hit 27 or 28, and 31-year-old running backs haven’t precisely lit up the world. Linked here is the complete list of 31-year-old running backs since the NFL season expanded to 16 games in 1978.

Only 11 times did a running back top the 1,000-yard mark, most recently Thomas Jones in 2009 for the New York Jets. The median running back, Earnest Byner, barely trumped 100 yards. Obviously, that’s not worth $6.5 million a year.

That’s an overly simplistic analysis, however, as Gore isn’t an average NFL running back.

He rushed for 1,128 yards this season, good for 17th best among all 30-year-olds. His 1,214 yards the year before moves him up to 13th among 29-year-olds as well. He’s not on his last legs—far from it. He was able to handle a large workload of 292 touches, with very little help in the passing game for much of the year, and still managed to roll to 4.1 yards per attempt—a very respectable figure.

Of course, that figure is again a bit misleading, as Gore did wind down as the season wore on. Here are his splits in the first and second halves of the season, including the three playoff games:

Games: 1-9

Attempts - 162

Yards - 700

Yards per attempt - 4.32

Games: 10-19

Attempts - 162

Yards - 592

Yards per attempt - 3.65

You can try to spin that as a workhorse back getting tired toward the end of a long season, but Gore’s drop-off is a bit extreme, even for that. Is it a fluke—a small-sample-size situation filled with tougher teams late in the season? Or is it the canary in the coal mine, an indicator that Gore’s numbers balance on the edge of a cliff?

First thing’s first—we can see from Gore’s career splits that he isn’t a significantly worse rusher late in the season, so this isn’t a normal progression for Gore. In fact, his worst month has historically been September, as he gets into gear. So this isn’t simply just business as usual for Gore.

There is no magic way to accurately predict how much gas a back has left in the tank, but let’s take a couple of shots at it anyway.

Back in 2006, Doug Drinen, then of Pro-Football-Reference, attempted to come up with a way of calculating a running back’s future success based on comparing all previous players and using advanced math to come up with a formula for determining just how many more yards a running back could be expected to gain over the course of his career.

I did the same math, taking the 98 running backs who started at least one game in their age-29, -30 and -31 seasons—Gore’s likely to still be the starter next season, so we need to exclude career backups who got a carry every now and again.

It’s not the prettiest list ever, as only 31 of them even had 1,000 more yards left in their NFL careers. The median player, instead, was a player like Eddie George who had one more season of 432 yards left in him before calling it a career.

....

Go to the link for the rest of the story but it looks like the above could open the door for Lattimore to possibly get a shot sometime next season if he is healthy.

 

[Wingnut]

Lattimore should be ready to go

http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/lattimore-i-felt-i-couldve-played

 

[BeTheMatch]

I thought it interesting that the article referenced Lattimore and even James but not Hunter. Does Hunter just have no shot? I'm not that high on Hunter, but I would think he stands a chance of having a bigger post-Gore role than James would.

 

[cstu]

Lattimore owner here, but as a fan I'd like to see Gore take a pay cut and stay so he can make another run at a SB.

 

[BaBastage]

Lattimore owner here, but as a fan I'd like to see Gore take a pay cut and stay so he can make another run at a SB.

I expect this is what will happen. I think Gore feels like he's made his money, now he wants a championship.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I thought it interesting that the article referenced Lattimore and even James but not Hunter. Does Hunter just have no shot? I'm not that high on Hunter, but I would think he stands a chance of having a bigger post-Gore role than James would.

I came away unimpressed with Hunter this year. I thought he would light it up coming off the bench but he did not. They need someone with some pop in that running game, a game breaker to go along side Gore for another season or two.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I thought it interesting that the article referenced Lattimore and even James but not Hunter. Does Hunter just have no shot? I'm not that high on Hunter, but I would think he stands a chance of having a bigger post-Gore role than James would.

I came away unimpressed with Hunter this year. I thought he would light it up coming off the bench but he did not. They need someone with some pop in that running game, a game breaker to go along side Gore for another season or two.

Me too. But there are still a lot of "experts" out there touting Hunter, so I'm reluctant to let him go as a Gore and Lattimore owner. We have very shallow rosters, and I would love to cut him. Haven't been able to pull the trigger yet even though, like you said, didn't really see anything from him this year with his limited opportunities.

 

[beef]

Hunter is a backup only. This job is between gore and lattimore.

 

[msudaisy26]

I thought it interesting that the article referenced Lattimore and even James but not Hunter. Does Hunter just have no shot? I'm not that high on Hunter, but I would think he stands a chance of having a bigger post-Gore role than James would.

I came away unimpressed with Hunter this year. I thought he would light it up coming off the bench but he did not. They need someone with some pop in that running game, a game breaker to go along side Gore for another season or two.

I am not sure if we will ever find out but it could be possible that Hunter gets better with more carries in a game. My gut tells me this going to be a committee that is going to drive owners nuts for years as soon as Gore is done.

 

[Sabertooth]

My first inkling is to ask if the 49ers run blocking is perhaps starting to suffer a bit. But the thing is, a very good back makes the line look a lot better. I looked at Eddie Lacy this season with the Packers. Nobody new on the Packers line except they lost a bunch of guys and had their backups playing. Anyway Lacy, even with a makeshift line, just looked head and shoulders better than any Packer since Ahman Green. I think the back makes the line and if the backs are suffering, it might show an erosion of talent. Not just Gore eroding but his backups maybe not being so hot either.

 

[msudaisy26]

My first inkling is to ask if the 49ers run blocking is perhaps starting to suffer a bit. But the thing is, a very good back makes the line look a lot better. I looked at Eddie Lacy this season with the Packers. Nobody new on the Packers line except they lost a bunch of guys and had their backups playing. Anyway Lacy, even with a makeshift line, just looked head and shoulders better than any Packer since Ahman Green. I think the back makes the line and if the backs are suffering, it might show an erosion of talent. Not just Gore eroding but his backups maybe not being so hot either.

I don't follow the Packers much but I disagree with this. Both Starks and Franklin both looked good behind that line this year. I am not sure what happened but it did.

 

[Sabertooth]

My first inkling is to ask if the 49ers run blocking is perhaps starting to suffer a bit. But the thing is, a very good back makes the line look a lot better. I looked at Eddie Lacy this season with the Packers. Nobody new on the Packers line except they lost a bunch of guys and had their backups playing. Anyway Lacy, even with a makeshift line, just looked head and shoulders better than any Packer since Ahman Green. I think the back makes the line and if the backs are suffering, it might show an erosion of talent. Not just Gore eroding but his backups maybe not being so hot either.

I don't follow the Packers much but I disagree with this. Both Starks and Franklin both looked good behind that line this year. I am not sure what happened but it did.

There is that. But those backs are both quite talented in their own rights. Starks can play when he's healthy, always could. And Franklin looked like he sure as heck belongs in the NFL.

 

[drummer]

I thought it interesting that the article referenced Lattimore and even James but not Hunter. Does Hunter just have no shot? I'm not that high on Hunter, but I would think he stands a chance of having a bigger post-Gore role than James would.

I came away unimpressed with Hunter this year. I thought he would light it up coming off the bench but he did not. They need someone with some pop in that running game, a game breaker to go along side Gore for another season or two.

Me too. But there are still a lot of "experts" out there touting Hunter, so I'm reluctant to let him go as a Gore and Lattimore owner. We have very shallow rosters, and I would love to cut him. Haven't been able to pull the trigger yet even though, like you said, didn't really see anything from him this year with his limited opportunities.

The 49ers couldn't rely on Hunter to split carries with Gore, because Hunter needs holes THIS HUGE to run through, or else he gets blown up behind the line of scrimmage. He has a nice balance for an RB. He's just not very instinctive and powerful. Maybe in an offense that spreads out more can help him find space, but unless the blocking is perfect, he still struggles, even going to the edges. He's just not very good. Not even near anything near average as of late. He's frustrating because he showed promise early, but he isn't dependable. I call him "Minus Yardage" Hunter loses yardage a lot of this carries than he gains.

The 49ers wouldn't have banked on Lattimore if they felt good about Hunter. Their supposed RB depth showed that they really didn't have depth this past season. I dunno what they will do with Hunter, but I feel they will address RB this off-season even with Lattimore for depth.

 

[thecatch]

My first inkling is to ask if the 49ers run blocking is perhaps starting to suffer a bit. But the thing is, a very good back makes the line look a lot better. I looked at Eddie Lacy this season with the Packers. Nobody new on the Packers line except they lost a bunch of guys and had their backups playing. Anyway Lacy, even with a makeshift line, just looked head and shoulders better than any Packer since Ahman Green. I think the back makes the line and if the backs are suffering, it might show an erosion of talent. Not just Gore eroding but his backups maybe not being so hot either.

There's something to this. Gore almost always makes the right reads, and is the best pass blocking RB in the league, but it doesn't seem like he makes guys miss very often and he's not a big play threat any more. If Lattimore can show some more explosion and burst, and isn't going to be a train wreck in protection, he could carve out a role quickly.

Hunter and James are third down backs on a team with a QB and an OC who have little aptitude and/or interest in fully utilizing such a player (though Hunter was working back from an Achilles tear this year).

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I thought it interesting that the article referenced Lattimore and even James but not Hunter. Does Hunter just have no shot? I'm not that high on Hunter, but I would think he stands a chance of having a bigger post-Gore role than James would.

I came away unimpressed with Hunter this year. I thought he would light it up coming off the bench but he did not. They need someone with some pop in that running game, a game breaker to go along side Gore for another season or two.

Me too. But there are still a lot of "experts" out there touting Hunter, so I'm reluctant to let him go as a Gore and Lattimore owner. We have very shallow rosters, and I would love to cut him. Haven't been able to pull the trigger yet even though, like you said, didn't really see anything from him this year with his limited opportunities.

The 49ers couldn't rely on Hunter to split carries with Gore, because Hunter needs holes THIS HUGE to run through, or else he gets blown up behind the line of scrimmage. He has a nice balance for an RB. He's just not very instinctive and powerful. Maybe in an offense that spreads out more can help him find space, but unless the blocking is perfect, he still struggles, even going to the edges. He's just not very good. Not even near anything near average as of late. He's frustrating because he showed promise early, but he isn't dependable. I call him "Minus Yardage" Hunter loses yardage a lot of this carries than he gains.

The 49ers wouldn't have banked on Lattimore if they felt good about Hunter. Their supposed RB depth showed that they really didn't have depth this past season. I dunno what they will do with Hunter, but I feel they will address RB this off-season even with Lattimore for depth.

Are you saying it's possible SF drafts another RB in the 1st 2-3 rounds of the draft?

 

[drummer]

I thought it interesting that the article referenced Lattimore and even James but not Hunter. Does Hunter just have no shot? I'm not that high on Hunter, but I would think he stands a chance of having a bigger post-Gore role than James would.

I came away unimpressed with Hunter this year. I thought he would light it up coming off the bench but he did not. They need someone with some pop in that running game, a game breaker to go along side Gore for another season or two.

Me too. But there are still a lot of "experts" out there touting Hunter, so I'm reluctant to let him go as a Gore and Lattimore owner. We have very shallow rosters, and I would love to cut him. Haven't been able to pull the trigger yet even though, like you said, didn't really see anything from him this year with his limited opportunities.

The 49ers couldn't rely on Hunter to split carries with Gore, because Hunter needs holes THIS HUGE to run through, or else he gets blown up behind the line of scrimmage. He has a nice balance for an RB. He's just not very instinctive and powerful. Maybe in an offense that spreads out more can help him find space, but unless the blocking is perfect, he still struggles, even going to the edges. He's just not very good. Not even near anything near average as of late. He's frustrating because he showed promise early, but he isn't dependable. I call him "Minus Yardage" Hunter loses yardage a lot of this carries than he gains.

The 49ers wouldn't have banked on Lattimore if they felt good about Hunter. Their supposed RB depth showed that they really didn't have depth this past season. I dunno what they will do with Hunter, but I feel they will address RB this off-season even with Lattimore for depth.

Are you saying it's possible SF drafts another RB in the 1st 2-3 rounds of the draft?

I dunno how early, but they have I think 13 picks this draft to maneuver with, and RB is definitely a need as far as depth in their offense.

 

[FF Ninja]

I don't know why LMJ was mentioned. He's just not a good RB.

As for Hunter, before everyone jumps on him, wasn't he coming off an achilles injury? I don't think he'll ever be a starting RB, but judging him based on the season after an achilles injury seems a bit harsh. Might've been part of why they drafted Lattimore, but I think Lattimore was clearly a pick to be a Gore replacement.

Gore has amassed a huge workload the last 3 seasons (especially if you consider the playoffs, which you should). He was clearly slowing down a bit this season. I suspect he takes a pay cut to stay. It would be the smart move for everyone. There is no way they have him back next year at $6.5 million, though. Teams rarely get an opportunity to cut a 31 year old RB with zero dead money, so I have no doubt they'll leverage that. I'd be very interested to see what Lattimore could do if Gore got cut, but I just don't think it happens. So this situation is going to be clear as mud entering training camp and maybe even week 1, I suspect. If Gore was cut, I'd think Gore's numbers the last two years would be Lattimore's realistic upside. Gore was an extremely gifted player. Lattimore probably wasn't as good as him before the catastrophic knee injury (not that Gore didn't also have some knee injuries himself). So a young Lattimore producing like a 29/30 year old Gore is about all you can hope for. It's not like Lattimore was super explosive prior to injury or had anything going for him that Gore did not.

The 49ers couldn't rely on Hunter to split carries with Gore, because Hunter needs holes THIS HUGE to run through, or else he gets blown up behind the line of scrimmage. He has a nice balance for an RB. He's just not very instinctive and powerful. Maybe in an offense that spreads out more can help him find space, but unless the blocking is perfect, he still struggles, even going to the edges. He's just not very good. Not even near anything near average as of late. He's frustrating because he showed promise early, but he isn't dependable. I call him "Minus Yardage" Hunter loses yardage a lot of this carries than he gains.

The 49ers wouldn't have banked on Lattimore if they felt good about Hunter. Their supposed RB depth showed that they really didn't have depth this past season. I dunno what they will do with Hunter, but I feel they will address RB this off-season even with Lattimore for depth.

Were you drunk?

 

[drummer]

Were you drunk?

I edited the quote because I need a drink while reading your post

 

[Eminence]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

 

[FGITLOTR]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I trust Stephani Bell's opinion.

Saw this a few days ago and thought it was worth passing along.

--------------------------------------

Stephania Bell‏@Stephania_ESPNJan 25

By the way #49ers fans, @MarcusLattimore looks fantastic. He is excited and ready to roll for next season. So impressed by his hard work.

 

[Jayrok]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

 

[Kleck]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Marcus Lattimore "feels close" to 100 percent.
"The left knee, it feels like nothing ever happened," Lattimore said. "The right knee, it feels great. Both feel balanced. I've got my speed and I rarely get any soreness (after workouts)." Lattimore shredded his right knee in 2011, and his left knee in 2012. He expects to be full-go when OTAs begin on April 21. With Frank Gore beginning to slow down, Lattimore and Kendall Hunter should get ample opportunity to run the ball in 2014.

Source: Associated Press

 

[msudaisy26]

Rotoworld:

Marcus Lattimore "feels close" to 100 percent.
"The left knee, it feels like nothing ever happened," Lattimore said. "The right knee, it feels great. Both feel balanced. I've got my speed and I rarely get any soreness (after workouts)." Lattimore shredded his right knee in 2011, and his left knee in 2012. He expects to be full-go when OTAs begin on April 21. With Frank Gore beginning to slow down, Lattimore and Kendall Hunter should get ample opportunity to run the ball in 2014.

Source: Associated Press

I just saw the hit and I am still not 100 percent.

 

[zed2283]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

 

[TheFanatic]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

 

[zed2283]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

 

[cstu]

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

This was his 2nd carry after tearing his knee the first time.

 

[zed2283]

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

This was his 2nd carry after tearing his knee the first time.

Huge hole followed by good vision, wiggle, and balance. As I said, I love the kid. But he's not fast. Said every NFL talent scout, ever.

 

[JH56]

I agree he is not a burner but in watching a lot of him I find his vision and short area movement is excellent. There are more backs that are very good to great that have that, than 4.3 speed. I really need to see him in camp before I make my determination on him though. His 4.5 +/-in college was enough and IMO would be good enough in the NFL but if he gets much slower post injury than that and all those quick moves get you is 2 yards

 

[cstu]

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

This was his 2nd carry after tearing his knee the first time.

Huge hole followed by good vision, wiggle, and balance. As I said, I love the kid. But he's not fast. Said every NFL talent scout, ever.

Same goes for a guy named Lesean McCoy. Alfred Morris ran a 4.67.

The guy Lattimore is looking to replace ran a 4.58 and weighed 10 lbs. less. I highly doubt Gore could run that again in the past few years but he's still a 1100/1200 yard rusher in that offense.

 

[werdnoynek]

I agree he is not a burner but in watching a lot of him I find his vision and short area movement is excellent. There are more backs that are very good to great that have that, than 4.3 speed. I really need to see him in camp before I make my determination on him though. His 4.5 +/-in college was enough and IMO would be good enough in the NFL but if he gets much slower post injury than that and all those quick moves get you is 2 yards

I've liked to many posts todays so...

 

[TheFanatic]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

You miss the point. The scouts don't care that he isn't a burner. That's like saying, "Jerry Rice looks pretty good on the field but he's not winning any 100 yard dashes." Each of them has enough speed to be elite in the league which is why a guy who blew out his knee more than just about anyone I've ever seen gets drafted in the 3rd round in order to go straight to the IR for a season. Look down on the guy for a lack of speed and in that second you think that he's buy the lineman, around the LB and past the CB for a score on your opponents team...

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Marcus Lattimore (knee) confirmed he expects to be cleared for OTAs.
"Whatever role they want me to do, I’m ready," Lattimore said. "The rehab is over." Lattimore missed his entire rookie year while recovering from major knee surgery, but reportedly looked good in a three-week practice window late last season. Barring a setback, he should push Kendall Hunter for the No. 2 job behind Frank Gore in training camp.

Source: ESPN.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

49ers second-year RB Marcus Lattimore (knee) told USA Today there's "no doubt" he'll be ready for Week 1, and currently feels "faster than I ever was."
"But my quickness is still coming back," conceded Lattimore, who blew out each of his knees at South Carolina. "Getting stronger and making sure my balance is right, those are the two main things I’ve been working on. I feel close. I really do. I feel very close." Lattimore says he could squad 450-500 pounds before his knee injuries, and is at 405 pounds now. Lattimore currently carries RB4/5 Dynasty league value with the potential to rise this summer.

Source: USA Today

 

[zed2283]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

You miss the point. The scouts don't care that he isn't a burner. That's like saying, "Jerry Rice looks pretty good on the field but he's not winning any 100 yard dashes." Each of them has enough speed to be elite in the league which is why a guy who blew out his knee more than just about anyone I've ever seen gets drafted in the 3rd round in order to go straight to the IR for a season. Look down on the guy for a lack of speed and in that second you think that he's buy the lineman, around the LB and past the CB for a score on your opponents team...

Marcus Lattimore will not be elite in the league. I think the comp you're looking at is probably K.Moreno.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

http://www.ninersnation.com/2014/3/4/5466262/marcus-lattimore-interview-frank-gore-rehab-development

Even Seahawks fans have to root for this guy.

 

[Englishteacher]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

You miss the point. The scouts don't care that he isn't a burner. That's like saying, "Jerry Rice looks pretty good on the field but he's not winning any 100 yard dashes." Each of them has enough speed to be elite in the league which is why a guy who blew out his knee more than just about anyone I've ever seen gets drafted in the 3rd round in order to go straight to the IR for a season. Look down on the guy for a lack of speed and in that second you think that he's buy the lineman, around the LB and past the CB for a score on your opponents team...

Marcus Lattimore will not be elite in the league. I think the comp you're looking at is probably K.Moreno.

Nitpicking here, but WIllis McGahee turned in an upper echelon, highly productive career. Barring another catastrophic injury, I see a very good chance of a similar career trajectory. The kid has immaculate work habits and character, the rehab has gone well, and he will be in a support role in 2014. Additionally, he was the rave prospect in all the land before injury. Lest we also forget, Gore recked his knees as well. Some backs just have "it". And I believe he does. I believe he has the goods and I believe in him as a person.

I'd say Lattimore is a more naturally talented runner than Moreno by far but you have to respect Moreno's prowess in the passing game. Moreno essentially resurrected his career in 2013 though and I like Lattimore's celing much more.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

You miss the point. The scouts don't care that he isn't a burner. That's like saying, "Jerry Rice looks pretty good on the field but he's not winning any 100 yard dashes." Each of them has enough speed to be elite in the league which is why a guy who blew out his knee more than just about anyone I've ever seen gets drafted in the 3rd round in order to go straight to the IR for a season. Look down on the guy for a lack of speed and in that second you think that he's buy the lineman, around the LB and past the CB for a score on your opponents team...

Marcus Lattimore will not be elite in the league. I think the comp you're looking at is probably K.Moreno.

Nitpicking here, but WIllis McGahee turned in an upper echelon, highly productive career. Barring another catastrophic injury, I see a very good chance of a similar career trajectory. The kid has immaculate work habits and character, the rehab has gone well, and he will be in a support role in 2014. Additionally, he was the rave prospect in all the land before injury. Lest we also forget, Gore recked his knees as well. Some backs just have "it". And I believe he does. I believe he has the goods and I believe in him as a person.I'd say Lattimore is a more naturally talented runner than Moreno by far but you have to respect Moreno's prowess in the passing game. Moreno essentially resurrected his career in 2013 though and I like Lattimore's celing much more.

McGahee is a comp for Lattimore only in terms of having a similarly gruesome injury. McGahee, pre-injury, was far more explosive than Lattimore pre-injury. I thought mcGahee looked like one of the best backs in a long, long time before he got hurt.

 

[Englishteacher]

Gore is aging like fine wine. Once he leaves town, it's probably the Lattimore and Kaepernick show.

Line is good and if he's as good as the hype.

He's a fairly aggressive ballcarrier from what I've seen. Reminds me of Cedric Benson.

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

You miss the point. The scouts don't care that he isn't a burner. That's like saying, "Jerry Rice looks pretty good on the field but he's not winning any 100 yard dashes." Each of them has enough speed to be elite in the league which is why a guy who blew out his knee more than just about anyone I've ever seen gets drafted in the 3rd round in order to go straight to the IR for a season. Look down on the guy for a lack of speed and in that second you think that he's buy the lineman, around the LB and past the CB for a score on your opponents team...

Marcus Lattimore will not be elite in the league. I think the comp you're looking at is probably K.Moreno.

Nitpicking here, but WIllis McGahee turned in an upper echelon, highly productive career. Barring another catastrophic injury, I see a very good chance of a similar career trajectory. The kid has immaculate work habits and character, the rehab has gone well, and he will be in a support role in 2014. Additionally, he was the rave prospect in all the land before injury. Lest we also forget, Gore recked his knees as well. Some backs just have "it". And I believe he does. I believe he has the goods and I believe in him as a person.I'd say Lattimore is a more naturally talented runner than Moreno by far but you have to respect Moreno's prowess in the passing game. Moreno essentially resurrected his career in 2013 though and I like Lattimore's celing much more.

McGahee is a comp for Lattimore only in terms of having a similarly gruesome injury. McGahee, pre-injury, was far more explosive than Lattimore pre-injury. I thought mcGahee looked like one of the best backs in a long, long time before he got hurt.

However, both were the #1 propsects at the position. Moreno was a reach by McDaniels, a horrifically bad drafter, and not nearly as highly touted.

 

[Wingnut]

http://www.ninersnation.com/2014/3/4/5466262/marcus-lattimore-interview-frank-gore-rehab-development

Even Seahawks fans have to root for this guy.

What an asinine statement.

 

[Wingnut]

http://www.ninersnation.com/2014/3/4/5466262/marcus-lattimore-interview-frank-gore-rehab-development

Even Seahawks fans have to root for this guy.

What an asinine statement.

 

[cstu]

http://www.ninersnation.com/2014/3/4/5466262/marcus-lattimore-interview-frank-gore-rehab-development

Even Seahawks fans have to root for this guy.

What an asinine statement.

I'd root for him even if he was a Raider.

 

[zed2283]

That's an interesting comparison. I watched very little of him at SC, so I would live to hear who others compare him to? That said, I know he won't be the same guy he was after the two horrific knee injuries.

I saw most all of his carries at SC. He has great vision and a real nose for the end zone. He rarely went down on first contact and has very good balance. But his best attributes, IMO, are his work ethic and his presence in the locker room. Guy's a leader both on and off the field.

Heartbreaking to see his injuries in college. I don't know if he'll be the same explosive runner but I won't be surprised if he comes back stronger than ever. He is a class act and I'm pulling for him to succeed... even if it is with the 49ers.

I love the kid, and I'll be rooting for him. However, while I agree he has great vision and balance, he has never looked explosive or fast to me at all.

Said no NFL talent scout, ever.

Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.

The one thing missing from his game is a second gear to break longer runs into scoring plays.

...he looks like a low 4.5-40 runner on film, one who lacks breakaway speed but still has a good initial burst. He is not a sudden or elusive back...

Average speed (diminished by serious knee injuries) and is not a home-run threat.

You miss the point. The scouts don't care that he isn't a burner. That's like saying, "Jerry Rice looks pretty good on the field but he's not winning any 100 yard dashes." Each of them has enough speed to be elite in the league which is why a guy who blew out his knee more than just about anyone I've ever seen gets drafted in the 3rd round in order to go straight to the IR for a season. Look down on the guy for a lack of speed and in that second you think that he's buy the lineman, around the LB and past the CB for a score on your opponents team...

Marcus Lattimore will not be elite in the league. I think the comp you're looking at is probably K.Moreno.

Nitpicking here, but WIllis McGahee turned in an upper echelon, highly productive career. Barring another catastrophic injury, I see a very good chance of a similar career trajectory. The kid has immaculate work habits and character, the rehab has gone well, and he will be in a support role in 2014. Additionally, he was the rave prospect in all the land before injury. Lest we also forget, Gore recked his knees as well. Some backs just have "it". And I believe he does. I believe he has the goods and I believe in him as a person.I'd say Lattimore is a more naturally talented runner than Moreno by far but you have to respect Moreno's prowess in the passing game. Moreno essentially resurrected his career in 2013 though and I like Lattimore's celing much more.

McGahee is a comp for Lattimore only in terms of having a similarly gruesome injury. McGahee, pre-injury, was far more explosive than Lattimore pre-injury. I thought mcGahee looked like one of the best backs in a long, long time before he got hurt.

However, both were the #1 propsects at the position. Moreno was a reach by McDaniels, a horrifically bad drafter, and not nearly as highly touted.

Moreno was the #1 prospect at his position also. Possibly #2 behind Beanie Wells.

 

[Englishteacher]

True. But when he was drafted I remember many saying Denver reached to get him. In addition, I really don't remember the accolades proclaiming him to be a transcendent or elite type talent. Peterson. McGahee. Bo. --- Maybe he wasn't in that type of blue chip tier, but, he showed up from Day One at USC and studded it out. Hell, I don't even watch that much college football and I caught wind of him. The point? People thought he was special. Moreno, good, maybe the best in the class, but special across many draft classes? No.