Out of sight, out of mind. The Running Back question.

So far, this off season, my favorite option to replace, renew, restore our running game would be to trade a 4th or 5th round choice to Minnesota to get Toby Gerhart. Andrew hates that idea.

Jack has been espousing a trade up deal to take Lacey, Alabama’s RB and more than a few people around here are with him on that. Not me, but then, I’ve already got my favorite, Gerhart.

Shores brought Le’Veon Bell from Michigan St. to our attention and I have to say I was pretty impressed with the film I saw of him. And even BP came on-board after he saw the kid run.

And recently Asa brought up the idea of taking Marcus Lattimore from South Carolina, and stashing him for a season or two while he finishes the rehab on his knee.

Nifty ideas all. But sadly, for the armchair GM squad, I think the Niners already have their guy.

Jewel Hampton

We picked up Hampton as an undrafted free agent last season, stuck him on the pup list, and then on the P.S.

Hampton got little to no press because he didn’t have what you’d call a successful college career. He started out at Iowa, and after a terrific first season he was set to be the starter in his second year… but he tore his ACL. Surgery and rehab cost him his second season. But he came back… and almost immediately tore his other ACL. (Much the same way Frank did).

After two seasons of no production Iowa moved on, and Hampton moved to Southern Illinois. Unlike Lattimore, Hampton played a full season as a college running back after the two knee surgeries and rehab.

Hampton as a Freshman at Iowa in 2008:




Hampton in 2011, his final college season at Southern Illinois:




If you’ve got Frank, and LaMike, and hopefully Kendall… and a prospect like Hampton waiting in the wings… do you think we should be spending this much time focusing on RBs?

I’m still a big believer in the idea of using a big back in the power game. But it’s becoming very clear that Ballke (the guy whose opinion counts) is a big believer in the “smurf” approach. And as "smurfs" go, Hampton looks pretty good to me.