The special teams call that left Jarryd Hayne ‘filthy’

JARRYD Hayne didn’t have it all his own way with the 49ers’ coaching staff in his final preseason hit-out against San Diego.

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Adrian Phillips #31 of the San Diego Chargers during their NFL preseason game at Levi's Stadium on September 3, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

IT was the moment that had some Aussie NFL fans scratching their heads during Jarryd Hayne’s final preseason game for the 49ers on Friday — and also the man himself.

Fielding a punt in the final quarter with plenty of room to run the ball back, Hayne surprised viewers by calling for a fair catch.

It was a shock to see a player who had taken countless risks in the return game during four preseason matches for San Francisco suddenly taking the safe option. But there was more to the story.

Hayne confirmed in the locker room after the game he had been instructed by special teams coach Thomas McGaughey not to attempt to return the ball. San Francisco trio Hayne, Bruce Ellington and DeAndrew White had been producing long gain after long gain in the return game and in a preseason encounter with San Diego that had nothing on the line, McGaughey decided to show some sportsmanship.

Hayne looked visibly frustrated on the field with the call and admitted as much after the game. “I was filthy,” Hayne said with a smile. “We got told to do it. It was kind of sportsmanlike, the special teams coach said.

“I was just like ‘What? What do you mean this is a fair catch?’ He said ‘don’t return it, don’t return it’. I was like ‘Why?’, he’s like, ‘Nah nah, just don’t return it’. I was like ‘all right, cool, I need to practise a fair catch anyway’.”

That play aside, Hayne was given plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent in the 14-12 win at Levi’s Stadium.

He carried the ball 10 times for a game-high 58 yards, taking his preseason total to 175 yards at an average of seven yards per carry. He also made a couple of nice punt returns to finish with 196 return yards at an average of 19.6 in four games.

Hayne is tackled by Adrian Phillips of the San Diego Chargers.

But it was a 12-yard catch that he punctuated with a devastating hit on Chargers corner Lowell Rose which generated the most headlines and left one Bay Area reporter convinced Hayne has a future at the 49ers.

“Hayne couldn’t afford a so-so game Thursday, yet for a while, that’s what he gave,” KNBR’s Dieter Kurtenback wrote.

“Utilitarian punt returns, a few decent run plays — perhaps he needed more work, he should look markedly better than the second and third-string Chargers, after all.

“But as the half-full (at best) stands began to drift into sleep, Hayne reminded everyone of why he’s going to be on this team.

“The flattening of Chargers corner Lowell Rose wasn’t merely a flash of awesome to mask a ho-hum performance — it was a signal of how far Hayne has come in learning the game.

“Pad level has been a concern with Hayne since he signed with the Niners. He’s a vertical runner because there is no such thing as pad level in rugby. But in football, the lowest man wins, and for the first three games of the preseason Hayne wasn’t showing much interest in being the lower man. But it all clicked before Thursday’s game — as Rose can attest.”

Oh. That's just former Rugby League star @jarrydhayne_1, turning NFL defenders into pancakes. #SDvsSF http://t.co/sObSmoGhX9

— NFL (@NFL) September 4, 2015

Now all that remains is to have his place confirmed on San Francisco’s 53-man roster, which is expected to be finalised Sunday morning (AEST). At this point signs are positive.

Well-connected 49ers beat writer Matt Maiocco said “thing are looking very, very good” for Hayne after he survived the most recent round of cuts on Saturday morning.

Not a surprise, of course, but I’m hearing things are looking very, very good for Jarryd Hayne sticking on 49ers’ 53-man roster.

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) September 4, 2015

The 49ers released wide receiver Issac Blakeney, safety Craig Dahl, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, guard Joe Looney, offensive lineman Patrick Miller and linebacker Philip Wheeler to trim their active roster to 69 players.

Hayne says he has no back-up plans at this point if he doesn’t make the cut. “The future is always exciting when you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Hayne said of his future. “Whatever happens, happens. I don’t control the future. And if I don’t control it, then I try not to worry about it.”