49ers’ breakout back: Will sixth-round rookie Mitchell get starting shot?
LEWISBURG, W.V. — Rookie Elijah Mitchell is on pace for a 1,768-yard rushing season.
What’s actually fair to expect, however, from a sixth-round rookie who completed the 49ers’ draft class?
Mitchell, history says, will get a chance to parlay his 104-yard debut into a consistent role as the 49ers’ starting running back.
That job opened up early in Sunday’s 41-33 win at Detroit, once Raheem Mostert bowed out with torn knee cartilage that will require surgery and apparently sideline him for the season, Mostert announced Tuesday.
Here are a couple of reasons Mitchell was Mostert’s immediate replacement, which caught many off guard:
1. Trey Sermon was drafted much higher (third round) and played big-time college football at Ohio State and Oklahoma (all due respect to Mitchell’s time at Louisiana).
2. Mitchell missed the first two preseason games with a core muscle injury.
Mitchell won over the 49ers’ brass the past couple weeks, however.
“History shows you can get them in the first round, you can get them in the sixth round, and you can get them undrafted,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of running backs.
“There are always some diamonds in the rough that you can look for,” Shanahan added. “And by no means do we hit on every one.”
Sunday’s encore at Philadelphia likely will keep Mitchell as the 49ers’ mainstay, with Sermon making his delayed debut in a relief role alongside JaMycal Hasty.
If those three young rushers struggle or get injured, Jeff Wilson Jr. should be available for the season’s second half, if his knee recovery cooperates.
Mitchell said position coach Bobby Turner informed him a couple of days before his debut he’d be RB2 against the Lions. Sermon was a healthy scratch.
“Coach Bobby T. coaches everybody the same and keeps us ready to go because things happen,” Mitchell said after Sunday’s win.
And great things can happen in this 49ers’ running scheme, which Turner has presided over for much of his 25 years as an assistant, under both Mike Shanahan (in Denver and Washington) and Kyle Shanahan for a fifth season now with the 49ers.
Look at the honor roll of rookies alone they’ve hit on:
1999: Olandis Gary (Denver), 1,159 yards
2000: Mike Anderson (Denver), 1,497 yards
2002: Clinton Portis (Denver), 1,508 yards
2012: Alfred Morris (Washington), 1,613 yards
“I usually like our percentages with running backs, whether it is a draft pick or whether it is an undrafted guy,” Shanahan said.
That’s because Shanahan and Turner seek “very special people” with attention to detail and ability to overcome adversity and pressure.
“Not everyone can handle that,” Shanahan said. “But when you get some undrafted guys who come in really hungry and very humble and pissed off, usually ready to prove to the world that everyone’s been sleeping on them, sometimes it’s a little easier with those guys.”
Mitchell was very humble after his breakout performance, and for good reason. The 49ers offensive linemen, tight ends and wide receivers blocked tremendously against the Lions.
“I’ve got to give it up to the 10 guys blocking in front of me. They do a great job of that,” Mitchell said.
On his 38-yard touchdown run that put the 49ers ahead (for good) at 14-7, Mitchell took a pitch and had a massive lane to run through on the right side, courtesy of big blocks by George Kittle, Mike McGlinchey, Daniel Brunskill, Ross Dwelley and Jauan Jennings.
“As soon as I caught the ball, I saw George and them on the outside blocking their butts off, and I saw the hole, so I had to hit it,” Mitchell said. “They make it very easy for you.”
It might not be so easy against the Eagles. They won 32-6 at Atlanta. The Falcons leading rushers weren’t spry youngsters like Mitchell:
Cordarrelle Patterson (seven carries, 54 yards) and Mike Davis (15 carries, 49 yards).
Even if a veteran free agent is added (see: Artavis Pierce), look for Sermon to still suit up in his No. 28 jersey Sunday.
“He’s up regardless and I expect him to come in and play at a high level and just keep getting better,” Shanahan said Monday, “because there’s a reason we drafted him and we’ve got a lot of confidence in him.
“But we’ve got a lot of confidence in all our guys in the building right now.”