Here he goes again: Sims ready for start at LT

When Barry Sims re-signed with the 49ers in the offseason, he knew he wouldn’t be a starter, but an insurance policy.

Now the Niners will find out just what kind of protection that policy will provide.

Mike Singletary hedged slightly today, but it appears certain that Sims will replace Joe Staley (fractured fibula) at left tackle for Sunday’s game against visiting Tampa Bay. Sims has taken the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense this week and sure sounds like a guy ready for action.


“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go out and show people that I still belong,” he said.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Sims has logged one offensive play this season
and has been inactive for eight of the first nine games. Still, the
apparent decision to start Sims instead of Adam Snyder isn’t a surprise given the 12-year veteran’s recent history of capably replacing
Staley after emerging from mothballs.

Last year, Sims filled in after Staley was injured on the first
offensive play in Week 8 at Indianapolis. Sims limited Colts All-Pro
defensive end Dwight Freeney to one sack and one quarterback pressure.

The performance set the tone for his next seven starts in which he
played surprisingly well. In his first start in Week 9, he limited
Tennessee’s Kyle Vanden Bosch, a three-time Pro Bowler, to one tackle.

He won’t begin this season’s assignment against an All-Pro. Tampa Bay’s
Stylez G. White (3 sacks), in his fourth season, is part of a defense
that’s managed eight sacks, the fewest in the NFL.

Sims, one of three Niners to play in a Super Bowl (Travis LaBoy, Brian
Westbrook), has 134 career starts, 39 more than San Francisco’s other
four starting linemen on Sunday.

“The experience speaks volumes,” Singletary said. “Any time you have a
guy that’s been around a bit, gone against different pass rushers, guys
that are quicker or stronger, faced many different situations, he can
really help a young offensive line ease a lot of the fears and concerns
that they might have. It’s amazing what experience can do.”

And it’s amazing what being inactive on game day can do.

When was the last time Sims’ body felt this good in mid-November?

“The offseason,” he said, smiling.

• QB Alex Smith has been medically cleared to play. He will serve as the backup quarterback Sunday. CB Will James (concussion) is doubtful. Staley and K Joe Nedney are out.

• Not to kick a guy when he’s down on the depth chart, but I came across this obscure nugget in the Niners media guide.

Travis LaBoy, then with the Titans, recorded his first career forced
fumble on Oct. 29, 2006. He got his first (and only) career interception
on Nov. 4, 2007.

His victim on both occasions: David Carr.

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