As talk of the big free agent moves dies down and focus shifts to the NFL draft in just under a month, what have we learned, who will be set up for success, and who is ready to add another ring to the showcase? One move in particular caught my attention.
Earlier this week, former halfback for the New York Giants, Brandon Jacobs, agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers for one year. What jumps out though is the fact that Brandon Jacobs doesn’t seem to fit on this team. As an explosive, yet inconsistent halfback, Jacobs found his place as a goal line back and a power back when the Giants needed him last year. After rushing for over 800 yards for four years in a row, including a blockbuster 2008 season with 1,089 yards and 15 TDs, his production dropped last year and he had just 571 yards and averaged 3.8 yards per carry, although he did score 7 TDs.
Earlier this off season, Jacobs had trouble agreeing on a new deal with the Giants, and he was released as a free agent. Jacobs still saw himself as a potential starter, and would not get the chance to be in the spotlight in New York. Being the backup tailback behind Ahmad Bradshaw put Jacobs in a bind. He wanted to start, yet he wanted to be on an Super Bowl caliber team. Who could blame him, that’s what all athletes want to achieve in their careers.
After Jacobs tested the waters in free agency, it didn’t take long for offers to roll in, but none came to his liking. Time passed and Jacobs still didn’t get the desired offer. The 49ers showed interest and they agreed to a deal; however, this move doesn’t make much sense to me. Jacobs signing raises a lot of questions.
Is this the right fit for Jacobs? Considering that he wanted a spot to shine on the roster, that’s not what he’s going to find in San Francisco. It’s been clear that they are happy with Frank Gore as the starter, who is dangerous every time he touches the ball. Although he has had health issues previously, Gore is still the workhorse in the San Francisco running game.
Essentially, Jacobs has just moved from one backup spot to another. As interesting of a move as this was, how will Jacobs contribute to the 49ers offense? It’s understandable that you need a backup in the worst case scenario where Gore does get injured for a long period of time, but the 49ers also have Kendall Hunter as a backup. Hunter is young, fast and very anxious to play. He’s just 23-years old and had 473 yards, averaging 4.2 yards per carry in his rookie season last year. He also added 195 receiving yards. I believe Jacobs would have been better off staying with the New York Giants both financially, and in terms of likely playing time.
I guess that just proves the beauty of the sport and how unpredictable it can be. We can only wait and see what San Francisco has in store for the veteran running back, and it will be interesting to see what the he has left in the tank, as he turns 30 this July. Only time will tell if this was a beneficial move or not, for Jacobs and for the 49ers.
By Blake Novacek
Follow me on twitter @Blake_PPI
