Jarryd Hayne, 49ers running backs on equal level to impress Kelly, get RB spot: Carlos Hyde

Jarryd Hayne may have a better chance to be featured as one of the San Francisco 49ers’ running backs next season, according to the team’s top RB Carlos Hyde.

Hyde, who returns for the 49ers after a season-ending injury last year, believes every running back in the team, including the Aussie sophomore, is on equal footing in new coach Chip Kelly’s offensive scheme.

“This is all new for us," Hyde said, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. "We're all starting off on the same foot with this offence. We're all trying to get a grasp of this new offence and all trying to learn day-by-day."

Last season, Hayne was given limited opportunities to display his potential as an RB, partly because of his inexperience in the game. If Hyde’s claims are true, it means Hayne has a fair amount of chance to impress Kelly and earn more playing time at the running back position.

With Hayne and the 49ers’ contingent of running backs have yet to have a grasp at Kelly’s playbooks, there is no telling whether the 28-year-old Aussie would be best suited for the former Philadelphia Eagles coach’s up-tempo style of play. But according to senior 49ers beat writer Chris Biderman, Hayne’s skill set would be more suitable in Kelly’s playbooks.

“As a coach, Kelly is renowned for his fast, up tempo offence. It’s a new age offence and extremely friendly to a guy like Hayne,” Biderman told The Daily Telegraph. “And right now on the 49ers roster, there aren’t players with that same skills set. Obviously the club could still draft in some more running backs, but Jarryd gives the roster a different dimension and (in Kelly) has a coach who can use those skills intelligently.”

Hayne has had his first glimpse of Kelly’s offense plans this season when the Aussie running back returned to the United States for the 49ers’ offseason training earlier this week. It remains to be seen whether Hayne will truly get the nod to be San Francisco’s RB next season, but the Aussie may have the slight advantage among other candidates.