Carlos Hyde is back where he opened last season for the 49ers. Again, he is playing second billing on the marquee to the running back on the other sideline.
"It's just like last year," Hyde said. "Going into the Monday night game, all the talk was about Adrian Peterson. You know? We just got to go out and do our job. It doesn't matter what the media is talking about, the other guy. I just have to go out and do my job and help my team win."
When the 49ers open the regular season Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium, it will be Todd Gurley who gets most of the attention. After all, Gurley is the central figure of an organization that returns to the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles after a 21-year sojourn in St. Louis.
Gurley rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. When asked if he pays attention to other running backs, such as Gurley, Hyde answered, "No. I don't follow anybody. I follow me."
A year ago, in the season opener, Hyde stole the show in the first game replacing Frank Gore as the 49ers' primary back.
Hyde provided the 49ers with their highlight of the season when he rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-3 upset victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson managed just 31 yards on 10 rushing attempts.
San Francisco 49ers
The fun did not last for Hyde, who sustained a stress fracture in his foot and was never the same. He appeared in just seven games before opting for season-ending surgery.
There is little doubt Hyde is also the central figure of his team's offense with the beginning of the Chip Kelly era. The 49ers' offensive line looks significantly better, and Kelly has made no secret he wants to fire up the run game out of the team's high-tempo, spread offense.
"Definitely, the offensive line has been a big improvement," Hyde said. "And then with the new scheme, spreading guys out, so many guys in the box, you can spread guys out and give it better chances for the O-line and also myself. The scheme definitely plays a big part, also."
The 49ers worked on getting to the line of scrimmage quickly and snapping the ball early in the play clock. Hyde believes the 49ers will play at a faster pace than what they showed during the exhibition season.
And he believes the approach will pay dividends in the fourth quarter.
"I'm looking forward to getting the defense tired, late in the game and coach just calling my number and getting the ball," Hyde said. "That puts a big smile on my face -- some big yards coming."
