LaMichael James to 49ers: San Francisco Drafts Perfect Change-of-Pace Back

The San Francisco 49ers' bizarre draft continued on Friday in the second round when they selected Oregon running back LaMichael James at No. 61 overall.

But just because the 49ers' draft has been bizarre doesn't mean it's been a bad draft.

It must first be said that, beyond guard, the 49ers only needed to add depth heading into the 2012 NFL Draft. That's important to recognize because what they have done in the first two rounds screams "complementary players."

The 49ers first selected Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins, who, if anything else, will be a solid downfield threat given his elite speed (the 49ers clocked him in the 4.3-second range in the 40-yard dash). The 49ers only have one other downfield threat at receiver, and that's 35-year-old Randy Moss. 

So when the 49ers drafted a running back in James who was largely considered a third-round prospect given his durability concerns, they were simply adding a change-of-pace back to complement Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter in San Francisco.

If you are drafting James as a feature back, you are going about it all the wrong way. But if you draft him as a situational player who can come in on third downs and add to the passing game, you are drafting smart.

The 49ers may have selected James a little early, but there was also the chance that he wouldn't have been available in the third round. They were probably doing the same thing they did with Jenkins: Grab the guy you want, even if it means drafting him a little high.

With Jenkins, and now James, the 49ers are adding weapons for quarterback Alex Smith, who enjoyed a career season in 2011. And, with Jenkins and James, the 49ers are setting up Smith to succeed once again.

Remember when the 49ers drafted Aldon Smith at No. 7 overall last year? That was also considered a reach given Smith was largely considered a raw pass-rusher. But they set Smith up to succeed on the outside and all of a sudden he finished with 14 sacks in his rookie season.

It may have been shocking that the 49ers grabbed James on Friday, but you only have to look at the organization's recent draft history to see the consistency to their approach.

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