Jarryd Hayne not a good player yet, could be on the outer under 49ers new coach Chip Kelly: ex-NFL scout
San Francisco 49ers new coach Chip Kelly will be the deciding factor for Jarryd Hayne’s NFL future, but according to ex-NFL scout, the Australian rugby league star is just an “extra” in the team’s roster despite the potential of improving under Kelly.
According to former Philadelphia Eagles scout John Middlekauff, who is now a sports-talk radio host for San Francisco’s 95.7 The Game, Hayne could benefit tremendously under Kelly when the team’s offseason program starts. However, Middlekauff is not convinced the former Eel's player could be a very good player yet, clouding Hayne’s chances of a breakthrough stint with the 49ers.
“Jarryd Hayne is just kind of an extra,” Middlekauff said, reports Fox Sports. “You can’t look at him yet like a very good player.”
Middlekauff also pointed out Hayne’s remarkable preseason stint that earned the Aussie a spot in the 49ers’ active roster. However he also reiterated the obvious about the difference between preseason games and regular season actions, when Hayne found himself in limited playing times behind the more experienced running backs and punters.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that only three members of last season’s coaching staff will be retained for the next season, which includes defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, running backs coach Tom Rathman, and outside linebackers coach Jason Tarver.
According to James Matthey of News, Kelly’s choice of his new coaching staff could have serious implications on Hayne’s chances of striving with the 49ers in the 2016-2017 season, as special teams coach Thomas McGaughey, who pushed for Hayne to do well in American football, is unlikely to be retained.
“A notable absentee from the list of 49ers coaches to stay on next season is special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey — the man responsible for honing Hayne’s skills as a punt returner — the position he shone in during much of the 2015 pre-season, and occasionally in the season proper,” Matthey wrote.
However, David Fucillo of the SB Nation’s Niners Nation believes McGaughey is in the running to keep his job with the 49ers despite a dismal 2015 campaign that saw San Francisco finish with a 5-11 record. Fucillo, who cited Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrows as his source, said Kelly was unlikely to bring his special teams in Philadelphia Dave Fipp as the latter is joining new Eagles coach Doug Pederson.
Hayne was certain to return with the 49ers after the team retained his rights when the 27-year-old rookie remained in the active roster in San Francisco’s final game of the season. However, the coaching change could once again have Hayne fighting for a spot in the 49ers’ active squad.
