Carlos Hyde is the former second-round pick who fell just short of 1,000 rushing yards a year ago. Joe Williams is the fourth-round pick who the team gushed about to an embarrassing degree after selecting him in April's draft. Neither one took the first backfield snap at practice yesterday.
Instead it was Tim Hightower, the 31-year-old free agent signing who was out of the league from 2012 through 2014. Hightower played for new coach Kyle Shanahan in Washington prior to that sabbatical, and as a result has the most familiarity with Shanahan's blocking schemes. He's apparently the only back on the roster comfortable running the outside zone plays that the offense relies on.
The story in the San Jose Mercury News that said Hightower got the first snap noted that Hyde got the second snap (and that Hyde fumbled it). But Hyde drew praise from Shanahan over the weekend. "He started making a move, just his work ethic and just his attention to detail, about halfway through OTAs. And then, coming back five weeks later and being able to see him, he’s even taken it to another level. I can tell he’s put in the work and has given himself a chance to have a good season.”
My major takeaway from these stories is that it's not a two-man battle in the 49ers backfield between Hyde and Williams. It's a three-man battle with Hightower -- or if it is a two-man battle, it's between Hyde and Hightower. Haven't seen anything noteworthy about Williams since all the post-draft hype.
What seems clear is that Hyde could very well be the starting running back, as most expect, but that Hightower is also going to be a factor in this backfield. If nothing else, he's the most accomplished receiver, with a 63-reception season to his credit back with Arizona. Hyde has caught 50 passes in 34 career games. So even if Hightower doesn't claim the top job in the backfield, he's the favorite for passing downs work.
As for Williams, who was a second-round pick in dynasty league rookie drafts, he's looking more like a long-term investment than somebody who should be taken in re-draft leagues this summer. We'll see how the exhibitions shake out, but he looks like the No. 3 right now.
--Andy Richardson