Any discussion of the 49ers offense usually revolves around the skill position players. That’s understandable when you consider the franchise’s glory days featured back-to-back Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Joe Montana and Steve Young. Wide receivers such as Dwight Clark, Freddy Solomon, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, and Terrell Owens were on the outside. In the backfield were explosive running backs like Roger Craig and Ricky Watters.
The current team’s discussion is about how the 49ers offense will be unstoppable with weapons like Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Trey Lance delivering the ball. Throw in Kyle Shanahan calling the plays, and it is not fair for the rest of the league.
Often overlooked in these discussions is the role the offensive line plays in any offense’s success.
San Francisco lost left guard Laken Tomlinson to the New York Jets in free agency. Meanwhile, right tackle Mike McGlinchey is recuperating from a torn tendon in his right quad, leaving his status in doubt. These have led to plenty of concern around this group heading into 2022.
Is the concern warranted? Yes and no.
Trent Williams will return at left tackle, and Alex Mack is expected to be back at center. Both veterans reached the Pro Bowl following the 2021 season.
The team has also tendered right guard Daniel Brunskill with a contract, and he is also expected to return.
San Francisco has starting-caliber depth across the offensive line.
Colton McKivitz started at left tackle in the 49ers week 18 victory over Los Angeles to reach the playoffs. Justin Skule started multiple games for the 49ers at left tackle in place of Joe Staley during 2019.
In addition to the veterans, Jaylon Moore started games at both left and right tackle during his rookie season.
The 49ers expect big things from Moore and fellow 2021 draft class member Aaron Banks.
Speaking at the NFL owners meetings on Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan noted Banks is ready to step into the starting lineup in 2022.
“The way that he finished last year, he was ready to go,” Shanahan told reporters. “We almost made a move and put him in, but we kind of went on a win streak and were jelling as a team. If you’d asked me halfway through if he was going to be playing, I would’ve said, ‘Yes.’ And then things started clicking for our team, and we didn’t want to mess it up. But he’s ready to go.”
San Francisco still has work to do with building out its offensive line. With Alex Mack likely entering his final season, expect the team to go after his replacement in the draft. Making a move now allows the rookie a year to sit and learn like what the team did last year with Banks.
A few names to keep your eye on throughout the draft process include Cam Jurgens from Nebraska, Alec Lidstrom from Boston College, and Luke Fortner from Kentucky.
I agree that we have a lot of good O-line players and the emphasis should be on a replacement for Alex at center. Hopefully they can find their guy with their second round pick. I’m still a little nervous about Alex returning as he hasn’t publicly stated his intent. I look at this as their biggest need on the team.
“San Francisco has starting-caliber depth across the offensive line.”
I totally disagree with this statement. Alex Mack made the Pro Bowl yes but to say he played at a pro bowl level of play last year is an absolute no. He made the Pro Bowl based on his name only. He played average through stretches but well below average in other stretches. Brunskill is a backup. Good backup for spot duty but not a starting caliber player. McGlinchey is a starting caliber player when healthy but that is an extremely tough injury to come back from and still be good. McKivitz was on the PS almost the entirety of the year last year and not one team picked him up. If he’s a starting caliber offensive lineman no one in the NFL knows it. I think everyone on this blog knows how I feel about Aaron Banks but lets give him the benefit of my doubt and say he will be an adequate starting LG next year. That still leaves 2-3 positions where the 49ers need to seriously upgrade on the O-line. 49ers need to add quality starters at RG and RT this year and then plan for a replacement for Mack next year. I’m still hoping the 49ers might sign or trade for a proven RG and then draft a RT higher in the draft.
So how do you explain the fact that PFF rated the Niners O line #3 in the NFL? I wouldn’t bet money that the Niners will upgrade 2 to 3 positions on the O line.
Pretty easy answer – I think PFF is wrong. PFF is a great tool just as a metric but it’s not the end all be all. They have Tom Compton ranked about 20 spots higher than Andrew Whitworth and Duane Brown. Both those guys are not as good as they once were but they are both better than Tom Compton. Having said that, I think the overall rating is misleading because Trent Williams and Laken Tomlinson were ranked high. Williams was the #1 tackle in the NFL and Tomlinson was the #12 guard. Every other O-lineman was below average according to PFF. Mack was around the #19 Center. Brunskill was around the #65 Guard and Compton was around the #27 Tackle. Also take into account the overall rating was higher because all those guys are pretty good run blockers. They are poor in pass pro.
One other note, Creed Humphrey was the #1 rated Center in the NFL according to PFF. Signing Mack and drafting Aaron Banks was a mistake. Should have drafted Humphrey and signed a FA Guard. With Creed Humphrey and Trey Lance the 49ers could have had their QB/Center combo set for the next decade. That alone could have made the 2021 Draft one of the best drafts in 49er history if Lance pans out.
Patriot speaks the unhappy truth we must live with.
I am cautiously concerned about the Oline. We will have a much better idea by August -obviously. The two critical puzzle pieces are McGlinchey bouncing back and Banks overcoming his freshman woes . If we get solid play from those two guys we will be in pretty good shape. I suspect we will draft a C/G , who better ready to play immediately. We cant afford a redshirt year. I also suspect we will add a veteran C/G by FA or trade in August. Reminder that we acquired Trent, Laken and Mack all at relatively low cost and got good/great production.
Are 49ers offensive line concerns warranted?
For the record: YES.
JACK
* IMO the 9er top needs for 2022 draft are :
* A Safety to replace Tart.
* A Right Guard to replace Brunskill, who’s a backup.
* A Center to backup Mack.
Are you happy at Left Guard and Right Tackle?
htwaits
Q: “Are you happy at Left Guard and Right Tackle?”
A: NOPE! But as stated, IMO, those 3 are the 9ers top needs for the 2022 draft.
With 9 draft picks, the 9ers also need to draft an EDGE, a WR, an OT, another CB, a RB and another OG
Tomlinson was a huge loss. I fear TL will be running backward as this weakened OL looks hapless.
I believe that we have a number of talented O-line guys, but the focus should be on finding a centre replacement for Alex. With their second-round pick, they should be able to find their guy. I’m still a little worried about Alex returning because he hasn’t announced his intentions openly. This, in my opinion, is their most pressing team need.