www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/football/nfl/san_francisco_49ers/13268201.htmHicks continues to prove himself
49ers running back is reinforcing his abilities by putting up good numbers
By Dennis Georgatos
KNIGHT RIDDER
Just days before the start of the season, Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher remembers closely watching the waiver wire in hopes the 49ers released running back Maurice Hicks in their final roster cutdown.
"I would have loved to have had an opportunity to claim him," said Fisher, who instead is taking Hicks into account in his preparations for today's game against the visiting 49ers.
"You maybe just see him as a runner, as recently as last weekend with two big plays," added Fisher. "But he does a lot of good things in all the other areas as far as special teams and everything. He's just a good football player."
Fisher became aware of that when Hicks ran up 175 all-purpose yards, including a 7.1 yard average on 13 rushes, against the Titans in an Aug. 26 exhibition that also cemented his roster spot with the 49ers.
For anyone needing reminding, Hicks reinforced his playing capabilities in last Sunday's narrow loss to division-leading Seattle. The team's third-string tailback rushed 11 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, including a beautiful cutback run that went for 50 yards on his first carry from scrimmage this season.
"If you create space for Maurice in the run game, he can make something happen because he's so quick and explosive," said guard Eric Heitmann. "He's got some moves that can make people miss."
Hicks, 27, has been one of the 49ers' core special teams players while backing up Kevan Barlow and Frank Gore, who both are nicked, opening the door to increased playing time for Hicks. Barlow sustained a concussion last week but is expected to play against the Titans while Gore likely will miss a second consecutive game because of a strained hip flexor.
"We've got a good crop of backs. We just have them a little banged-up right now," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "But as was evident in the last game, we don't drop off when we go to our third guy. Maurice is just a tough, hard-running physical guy that competes at a high level."
That pattern that has been evident for a long time with Hicks, who set an NCAA record at North Carolina A&T in 2001 when he ran for 437 yards and four touchdowns in a game against Morgan State.
Undrafted as a rookie, he originally signed as a free agent with Chicago in 2002 and was allocated to NFL Europe. He joined the 49ers in December 2003 after being released by the Bears. Hicks had another stint in NFL Europe and spent the first seven weeks on the practice squad last year before being brought up by the 49ers to the active roster.
He started two of the last nine games as Barlow's backup, including a sensational first start in which he ran 34 times for 139 yards. His five catches gave him 39 touches on the day, tying a team record, and he became just the third 49er and first free agent in team history to surpass 100 yards in his first career start.
Despite that initial splash, Hicks, like just about everyone else on the roster, had to re-prove himself after Nolan was hired in January and then brought in a new staff.
Knowing the 49ers were in transition was part of the reason Fisher held out some hope that Hicks might fall through the cracks amid the hectic roster maneuvering before the start of the season.
Hicks said it was flattering to know he caught the attention of others outside the 49ers organization. He also said he never let himself become overly concerned about where he stood with the 49ers, now or in the days before the team arrived at its opening day roster.
"I try not to think about stuff like that. That's just one thing you can't do," Hicks said. "Because when you worry, that's when you starting messing up. I try to think positive. If you just work hard, everything else is going to take care of itself."
That approach has carried Hicks a long way and from the looks of things, it's going to carry him still further.
"He may not be a player that a lot of people know about because they've only gotten a glimpse," 49ers wide receiver Johnnie Morton said. "We've seen what he can do every day in practice. He can be a game-breaker. He's that type, because of his speed. He gives us an opportunity to score from anywhere on the field."
Hicks, the team's primary kick returner and a member of every special teams unit except placements, said he's always tried to make the most of every playing opportunity he gets.
"When I do get out there, I like making everything exciting for the fans and for my teammates, to give them a spark," he said. "If they're having a dry spell, I'd love to help get the team up and get them going.
And here he goes again.
