Who Are the Building Blocks on the 49ers' Roster?

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers’ roster lacks talent, but does have pieces the team can build around going forward, here we identify those players.

It is not news that the 49ers are a talent-poor team. If it were not the case, then San Francisco would have a much better record than the 1-10 mark the team currently possesses.

The 49ers need a considerable infusion of new blood across the roster in the offseason, regardless of who holds the head coach and general manager positions, if they are to compete in 2017.

However, though this season has been one to forget, it has also helped identify the players on the roster that a GM can build a team around.

Here we look at who those players are.

Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) scores a touchdown during the first half against Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Hyde

Each of Carlos Hyde’s three seasons have followed a similar theme, with the 49ers tailback impressing early before seeing his progress hampered by injury.

A sprained AC joint in his shoulder forced the former Ohio State Buckeye to miss two games earlier this season.

Yet, while Hyde’s failure to play a full season for a third straight year will certainly lead to questions over his durability – particularly given his especially physical running style – there should not be any doubt over his talent.

A human bowling ball who embraces contact but is blessed with impressive foot quickness, Hyde is a player with an exciting combination of power and elusiveness, and the numbers make for largely positive reading.

Hyde is averaging 66 rushing yards a game, putting him on pace to finish with 924 yards and has six touchdowns on the ground – four shy of the franchise record. He has also made strides as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, recording 21 catches – including a touchdown last week against the Dolphins – for 120 yards.

The injuries will continue to be a contentious issue when evaluating Hyde. However, when healthy he has been the focal point of the Niners offense and has largely impressed in this role.

Going forward, it would perhaps serve San Francisco well to add another back who can share the load with Hyde, but the Niners should still see him as a piece they can construct the offense around.

Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Neville Hewitt (46) tackles San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Vance McDonald

Back at the start of the 2015 campaign, it would have been incredibly hard to imagine Vance McDonald as a building block.

Perhaps it is a sign of how desperate things have become that he can be considered as such, but the tight end has continued his upward momentum after the flashes he demonstrated in 2015 and is enjoying his best season as a pro.

It is as much of an indictment of the 49er offense as it is a compliment to McDonald that he is the team’s best big-play threat, yet it cannot be denied he is the Niners’ top downfield option and is averaging a gaudy 17.4 yards per reception.

McDonald is a threat down the seam and consistently gets open over the middle while showcasing surprising athleticism in space. No longer just a decent blocker, McDonald has four touchdowns to his name in 2016 and is on pace for nearly 600 yards receiving.

With such little talent at wide receiver, McDonald has developed into a pass-catcher the 49ers can rely on. Almost every position is a need for San Francisco this coming offseason, but the Niners can strike tight end off their list by re-signing 2017 free agent McDonald to a new contract he most certainly deserves.

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Mike Gillislee (35) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo beat San Francisco 45-16. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead

The two most imposing building blocks on the 49ers roster, DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead have experienced very different 2016 seasons.

Armstead saw his hopes of taking the next step following rookie year in which he racked up 38 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus, curtailed by a troublesome shoulder injury.

He was still able to record 2.5 sacks, but proved to be something of a liability against the run before being put on IR.

It may be of concern to the Niners that they have only allowed a 100-yard rusher in one of the three games since Armstead went to injured reserve, but it has been a largely positive rookie season for fellow Oregon alumnus DeForest Buckner.

Coming out Buckner was regarded as a better prospect than Armstead was in 2015 and, while it is still early, it can be argued that assessment has held true.

Buckner has unsurprisingly excelled at pushing the pocket, with his three sacks more than Armstead managed in the whole of last year, and has proven a superior run defender, with his 49 tackles putting him No. 5 on the team.

The heavy workload the 49ers have given Buckner – he has played over 97 percent of their defensive snaps in the last three games – is an indicator of the trust they have in him.

But the potential both he and Armstead have remains largely untapped due to the lack of talent they have around them.

Buckner and Armstead can both force penetration on a consistent basis, often with startling ease, and have had little issue getting push this year. The issue, though, continues to be that the Niners have no edge rusher capable of taking advantage of the disruption they create.

For the 49ers’ decision to spend back-to-back first-round picks on Oregon defensive linemen to pay off, there needs to be a considerable investment in edge defenders this offseason.

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers right cornerback Jimmie Ward (25) and cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) reacts in the game against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers won 28-0. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmie Ward

It is a development that has not earned much in the way of publicity, but the 49ers probably have their starting cornerback spots locked up for years to come.

One of those spots belongs to the first of the eight defensive backs Trent Baalke has selected over the last three drafts, Jimmie Ward.

Ward was labelled as the 49ers’ best cornerback last week by Chip Kelly, per CSN Bay Area, and that assessment is no surprise given the 2014 first-round pick’s range of abilities.

Having enjoyed a hugely impressive second season as the Niners’ nickel back, Ward has flourished further since being promoted to starter.

He can cover man-to-man and has enough speed to stay with most receivers deep, is not afraid to be physical with receivers – rarely allowing them inside leverage easily – and has the ball skills to disrupt passes at the catch point.

Perhaps the biggest test of how far he has come will come in Week 14 when Ward faces Jets receiver Brandon Marshall.

Marshall’s three touchdown showing in Week 2 of 2014 resulted in the term ‘bust’ being connected to Ward’s name.

Ward is certainly not a bust and, regardless of how he performs against Marshall, he should be an integral part of the 49er defense for years to come.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) talks with wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Rashard Robinson

The 49ers’ 2016 draft raised plenty of eyebrows and many were bemused by the decision to take Rashard Robinson in the fourth round having already selected another cornerback, Will Redmond in the third.

It was a pick that received much scrutiny due to the fact Robinson had not played for LSU since 2014 because of off-the-field issues. However, the selection now appears justified.

Injury has kept Robinson out of two games this season, but his rookie year has largely seen him excel.

Robinson endured something of a nightmare showing in his reunion with Buccaneers’ wide receiver Mike Evans – a player he defended extremely well when they met in college – but has otherwise performed admirably.

What gives Robinson an edge is his length, he stands a tall but skinny 6’1″ and 177 pounds, with his long arms enabling him to break up passes at the catch point.

A player whose aggression was obvious straight away following his arrival in the offseason, Robinson’s play is a blend of physicality and athleticism.

He is an extremely impressive press corner who excels at disrupting routes and has the foot speed to stay with even the most agile of wideouts.

Robinson still has some growing pains to go through, as his struggles in defending Evans proved, but – with Tramaine Brock enduring an up-and-down year – he is in a prime position to start across from Ward next year.

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