It’s only June, but the 49ers are already drinking the Chip Kelly Kool-Aid.
At least, according to third-year running back Carlos Hyde.
“It’s been great having Coach Kelly there,” Hyde told Bruce Murray and Maurice Jones-Drew on the SiriusXM Blitz Thursday. “I feel like the team has bought into his system.”
Hyde said that he is already familiar with Kelly’s system because it is the same one he followed at Ohio State.
Hyde also appeared quite positive about the progress the team has made thus far and said the players are happy about “making a name for themselves.”
The key for Hyde will be to remain healthy. After a splashy debut in Week 1 last year when he pounded out 168 yards on the ground and two scores, the rest of his campaign wasn’t nearly as productive. Various injures nagged and he eventually missed the remainder of the season starting in Week 8.
Week 8 was also the last time we saw quarterback Colin Kaepernick take field before he was replaced by Blaine Gabbert.
Back to Hyde, he believes that Kelly’s scheme will enable him to showcase his abilities as both a rusher and receiver.
If Hyde’s health prevails, he will surely be an asset to whichever quarterback is under center this fall. Though, preliminary projections, according to a Las Vegas oddsmaker, already have the 49ers will as underdogs for each one of their games this fall.
If anything, this should be fuel for Kelly, Hyde and the team to beat those long odds.