Stunning Matt Breida Pass On Display
November 22nd, 2018
Joe almost lost the Thanksgiving vibe reading these two stories out of the San Francisco area.
Dang, why have the Bucs had such challenges evaluating running backs?
For those unaware, 49ers running back Matt Breida is on pace for 1,000 yards and is the NFL’s 10th leading rusher. He went undrafted in 2017.
The young man went to high school in Brooksville and worked out for the Bucs before the draft and had talks with them before Tampa Bay lost interest, he told the East Bay Times this week.
Also, 49ers beat writer Matt Maiocco shared chatter from Dirk Koetter on a conference call this week. It turns out Koetter has an interesting history with Breida, who starred at Georgia Southern.
Koetter also is familiar with Breida, a native of Tampa. Koetter’s daughter, Kendra, began her college volleyball career at Georgia Southern, where Koetter’s friend, Todd Kleinlein, is the athletic director. Koetter and Kleinlein worked together at Arizona State, where Koetter was the head coach from 2001 to ’06.
“And he had told me about Matt,” Koetter said of Kleinlein. “I actually attended a game when he played, and was very impressed.”
.. … Breida made the 49ers’ 53-man roster as a rookie, and is thriving in his second season. Breida is tied for 10th in the NFL in rushing with Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey with 632 yards rushing. Breida’s 5.6-yard rushing average is best in the league among ballcarriers with 100 or more rushing attempts.
“There are so many running backs nowadays that are maybe undrafted and come into the league and when they get their opportunity, they make the most of it,” Koetter said. “Matt has certainly done that. He’s playing good football.”
In the 2017 offseason, the Bucs passed on multiple stud running backs and drafted Snoop Dogg McPlaybook in the fifth round. They also paid Doug Martin a fortune coming off a 2016 season in which he averaged 2.9 yards per carry, and had no interest in working out Adrian Peterson. (Joe begged for a simple, in-person sniff.)
What it is with this franchise and running backs? It just seems like their evaluation process is subpar.
November 22nd, 2018 at 12:10 pm
The common denominator in all running back choices ( or lack thereof ) …including the Ronald McDonald-Jones pick? That’s right…it’s Licht’s Out.
November 22nd, 2018 at 12:17 pm
I knew that Matt would be mentioned this week and for good reason. This kid grew up in the area was an incredible back in HS then went on to have consistently amazing seasons at Georgia Southern. How the heck Licht missed on this kid defies all logic. As fan of this team since 1976 they sure make it difficult to keep the faith.
November 22nd, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Wrong? A disturbingly profound lack of management discipline and strategic in-depth analysis. Same for ownership? I don’t think so but, Joe, you tell us.
November 22nd, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Seems like their evaluation process is subpar Joe? Seems like? We have hit on a couple that blind men could have seen ( Evans, OJ); struck gold with Marpet ,Brate and Hump. Where to from there? We passed up plenty of talent to grab a bunch of also rans who wouldn’t be on a pro team if it wasn’t for the Bucs. Not “ seems like”. Our evaluation process stinks and has cost our team dearly.
November 22nd, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Anyone else miss Jon Robinson ???
November 22nd, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Joe,
When a team goes 11 years without a playoff appearance it literally means they have some of the if not THE worst talent evaluation in the entire NFL.
November 22nd, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Couldn’t agree more with what everybody just said. FIRE LICHT.
November 22nd, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Hard to run with multiple DLinemen in the backfield. Get a tougher Oline and asap. No way they should resign Smith. Marpet and Jensen are the only keepers. Jensen only because alot of salary guaranteed next year. Need some big run blockers who can improve their pass blocking, not other way around. Cant teach nasty.
November 22nd, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Just another example of this idiot coaching staff not seeing talent right in front of them. Unreal.
November 22nd, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Licht known to pick a plug or three.
November 22nd, 2018 at 4:50 pm
The Bucs with Licht leading the charge have had challenges at RB, OL, DL, the entire secondary, k, and QB….Could easily throw defensive coaches on that list.
November 22nd, 2018 at 7:40 pm
Both Jason Licht and Koetter need to go. It’s as simple as that.
November 22nd, 2018 at 10:05 pm
I’m sure the kid had to work on his blocking skills.
November 22nd, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Most of the important decisions are made from the local winghouse . That comment explained it all to me
November 23rd, 2018 at 1:30 am
It’s clear that Licht has no clue. Fireeeeee Licht!
November 23rd, 2018 at 5:43 am
NO 👏 RUNNING BACK 👏 COULD SUCCEED 👏 BEHIND 👏 THIS 👏 GARBAGE 👏 OLINE 👏 OF FAT LOSERS
November 23rd, 2018 at 2:11 pm
When we had Jon Robinson, our drafts were much better. We should snatch him away from Tennessee by offering him a VP of Football Operations title.