Running back Glen Coffee yesterday shocked the 49ers organization and its fans by retiring from professional football... at age 23. This was only going to be his 2nd season in the NFL, playing backup to featured back Frank Gore.
Coffee's average yard per carry wasn't too impressive last year, and led many people to comment that he was a disappointment - yet from what I observed from the 49ers running game last season, there were few yards to be gained by anybody with the lack of space to run. It's a team game after all, and improvements to the offensive line were aggressively addressed this past draft with choices to offensive tackle and offensive guard with the 49ers' two first round picks.
An improved passing game would also help the running game as opposing teams aren't be able to 'stack the box'; honoring the threat of a viable passing game opens up opportunities to run the ball. And I have to believe that the 49ers passing game will be much, much improved this coming season.
Over the weeks I'd been tempted to remark about this on a discussion board: improvements to the blocking and passing games would lead to improvements by our running backs, including Glen Coffee. But for Coffee at least, it's a moot point now.
I wish him the best.
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