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San Fransisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne is looking at a long road and a long climb.
Fortunately for the former Australian rugby league star, he joined a team that now is open to change.
The San Francisco roster seemingly changes daily, with surprising retirements, trades and free-agent signings.
There are a number of factors that are working in Hayne’s favour as he attempts to make the transition from dominating one code to just making the team in America’s most popular sport.
First of all, his coach likes him. That might sound like office politics, but it is basic human nature.
The 49ers new head coach Jim Tomsula is a tough guy; you could light a match on his jaw. He respects toughness and that is a quality that Hayne has in abundance.
Tomsula’s road to the NFL coaching ranks was very different to most coaches. He was a defensive lineman in college at Catawba in North Carolina, an exceptionally small school. There were no headlines, or acclaim – just hard work. He was a strength and conditioning coach for Catawba, then a high school coach, then returned to coach the defensive line at his former college.
He eventually ended up coaching professional football in Europe with the England Monarchs, Scottish Claymores, Berlin Thunder and the Rhein Fire. That is not the normal career path to becoming an NFL head coach, and shows Tomsula is all about maximum effort and dedication.
Furthermore, this road to the top taught Tomsula to be open to different players, different styles, and not the kind of thinking that seemingly rules pro football in America.
That is one of the keys to Hayne’s shot with San Francisco: his coach thinks outside the box. He believes in innovation.
Tomsula made the leap to the NFL in 2007, and earned his reputation by coaching with the 49ers defensive line for eight years. It was all about work, work, and more work.
As for Hayne himself, in the US military, he has what is called ‘command presence’. He simply looks the part. He is an alpha male and he doesn’t have to boast, brag, or talk about how famous he was in his home country. In the locker room, there are leaders and followers – Hayne is a born leader.
In American football there are usually two players very deep near the goal-line to return kickoffs. That position is fundamental to the game. On the current 49ers’ depth chart, Hayne is listed as the fourth-string returner, meaning he has three running backs ahead of him.
Number one is Bruce Ellington, a short, fast wide receiver who is considerably smaller than Hayne. Ellington was also a point guard in college basketball, so he is quick and elusive.
Number two is Carlos Hyde, a powerfully built athlete heavier than Hayne but not as tall. Chances are that Hyde has the opportunity to become the first-string running back when the 49ers have the ball at the line of scrimmage. If that is the case, then it is doubtful he will return kicks because of the chance of injury.
San Francisco want him healthy, and returning kickoffs in the NFL is a dangerous business – 22 men flying around the field all trying to knock the crap out of each other. It’s the closest thing we have to playing rugby.
Number three is Trindon Holliday. He has tremendous speed and what is described as instant burst and acceleration. He is also about the size of your girlfriend – five-foot-five, about Jarryd Hayne’s chest height. Holliday is injury prone, understandable given his size.
That leaves us with Hayne. At 6’2” and 220 pounds he is a powerful demon, and suddenly fourth string doesn’t look so bad.
Hayne’s other opportunity will come when he lines up with the San Francisco’s special teams. Those are the 11 guys who fly down the field when the 49ers kick the ball.
I really believe that is Hayne’s best shot at making the practice squad and eventually the team. You don’t need strategy, tactics, or American football knowledge. You simply stay in your lane, run like hell, track down the opponent’s ball carrier, and put a shoulder in his ribs to prevent him from scoring.
That’s where Hayne’s natural athleticism, speed and power pays off. In some respects he was born to play this game.
This will all play out over time. In the meantime, all Jarryd Hayne is asking for is a shot at living out his dream. When you get right down to it, that is all any of us ask for in life – a shot at our dreams.
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