Hayne went from a preseason sensation to a midseason outcast, though he was recalled to start at running back in the second-to-last game. This time a year ago, Hayne had embarked on his NFL career and left behind his rugby-league stardom.

“I think it’s pretty amazing,” Kelly said, “just because I know how difficult this game is and to not have any background in it, and then to be able to play at its highest level is really a credit to him in terms of what type of athlete he is.”

-- NaVorro Bowman led the league in tackles and made First-Team All-Pro, but Kelly thinks that could just be the start of better things to come from the linebacker, who missed 2014 with a knee injury.

"I don’t think he was 100 percent this year, and to still lead the NFL in tackles is really impressive," Kelly said. "Second year after the injury, you’re hoping he’s better than he was last year, and if he is, that’s a pretty good inside linebacker."

-- Kelly's ideal trait for a quarterback: "First and foremost, he’s got to be a great decision maker. That’s the most critical factor in everything he does.

"The ones who are the best in the game, they all come in different shapes and sizes. You can look at Russell Wilson and Tom Brady. One is 5-10 and the other is 6-5. They’re both outstanding decision makers. They don’t put the ball in harm’s way. Sometimes being a great quarterback is knowing when to cut your losses.

"You go to a combine and watch a guy and say, ‘He can throw. He can run. He can jump.’ But what kind of decisions does he make when the game’s on the line. That’s the most important thing.”

-- Kelly's ideal offensive lineman: "Obviously size is important. Again, it’s a big-person league. Joe (Staley) is prototypical of what you want. You want that athleticism. They’ve got to be able to bend. And they have to be physical."

-- Bruce Ellington could take on a larger role after serving as a seldom-used receiver and return specialist his first two seasons.

"What really is Bruce Ellington?" Kelly asked. "Just from the short time I’ve seen of him, you’re like, ‘Wow.’ That kid can do some interesting things. It’s then our job to figure out how we can use that to help us win games.”

-- Kelly said the 49ers' depth at safety is a pleasant surprise, a surplus compiled by using high draft picks the past few years on Eric Reid, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt.

Kelly's take on the defense and overall roster: "I was impressed with the overall athleticism and youth of the team. They had to quickly turn it around.

"Three years ago, they were in the Super Bowl with Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Aldon Smith. You look at that defense and there were some outstanding players. Now they’re all gone. So you look at how did they replace them. There’s some rally good young talent on the team."

-- Having recruited Arik Armstead and coached him briefly at Oregon, Kelly knows what the 49ers have in last year's first-round draft pick.

"You saw him grow as the season went along. I was really impressed with him," Kelly said. "He’s still coming and he’s got a huge upside. I was really impressed to see his progress in his first year, from Week 1 to Week 17."

-- Tight end Garrett Celek, fresh off signing a four-year contract, met Kelly the first day he got hired last month. Celek's brother, Brent, played for Kelly the past three years in Philadelphia. "I loved his brother," Kelly said. "His brother’s a stud. If Garrett’s going to be anything like Brent, we’re going to be in good shape."

-- Running back Shaun Draughn, who emerged as a capable replacement to Carlos Hyde, should be re-signed as long as the price is right, Kelly said.

-- Kelly went on a military tour last week in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He also did a similar one in 2010. What's his affinity for that?

"I just think it’s an important thing to do," Kelly said. "There’s people that are defending our country and making, in some cases, the ultimate sacrifice to that we can do what we’re doing now.

"So when you have free time to go say thank you, I think it’s the right thing to do, but it was really inspiring to me to see the men and women of the United State military working up close and personal."

Kelly said he was greeted by "a lot of 49ers fans over there. It’s pretty cool, really cool."

His affinity with the military includes studying "a lot of high-performance operations" and spending time with the U.S. Navy SEALs. "I’m an admirer of just how they work and the leadership that is on display," Kelly added.

-- Kelly is hesitant to analyze Blaine Gabbert -- or anyone else -- from last season because he doesn't know the play calls that accompany whatever he's watching on film. Instead, he's focusing on players' skill sets.

"When I look at Blaine throw a check down," Kelly said, "I don’t know what he was told to do or what the play call was, so it’s hard for me to say, ‘Boy look at him. He’s wrong making this decision. The receiver on the left is open. But it may have only been a half-field read and that kid was just running a clear-out route that had nothing to do with the play.’ To analyze the film and say this guy is making poor decisions, that’s hard if you don’t know the play call.”

-- Defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey (knee) and safety Antoine Bethea (pectoral) are recovering well from last season's injuries, Kelly reported.

-- Kelly has not spoken with right tackle Anthony Davis, who's said he plans to return from a one-year hiatus. The 49ers put him on the reserve/retired list last June.

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