Jarryd Hayne News: 49ers new coach Chip Kelly could maximise Aussie’s full potential
San Francisco 49ers new head coach Chip Kelly could use Jarryd Hayne in his offensive tactics and maximise the Australian rugby league star’s full potential in playing American football.
The 49ers started their 2016-2017 season preparations by bringing in new coach Kelly, who was fired from his coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles after another dismal season. Roger Craig, three-time super bowl winner with the 49ers, cited Kelly’s exciting offense, which involves plenty of snaps for running backs like Hayne.
"I like it [Kelly’s hiring] because they system is exactly like the West Coast. They're throwing the ball to the running backs,” Craig told the San Jose Mercury News. “They're getting everybody involved. It's an exciting offense.”
David Fucillo of Niners Nation believes Kelly could make the next season interesting for both the 49ers and Hayne. Fucillo noted that the 27-year-old rookie, who was excited about Kelly’s hiring, would benefit “tremendously” from the coaching change.
“While we have no idea what kind of career Hayne will end up having in the NFL, he strikes me as the kind of weapon that Chip Kelly will have some fun with this coming season,” Fucillo wrote. “Whether it works out remains to be seen, but the potential use of Hayne is intriguing to consider.”
Kelly, who is known for his fast-paced offense, will be the franchise’s 19th head coach. The 52-year-old had his first NFL coaching job with the Eagles in 2013, when Philadelphia won the NFC East and reached the first round of the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Hayne started the 2015-2016 NFL season in the 49ers’ active roster after impressing the world in his preseason stint with the team. However, the former Eel got reshuffled into the 49ers’ practice squad, where Hayne spent more than a month before getting a crack in the active rotation in San Francisco’s final two games of the season.
