San Francisco 49ers: Predicting Risers & Fallers in Chip Kelly’s Offense
By Peter Panacy
Faller: Offensive Tackle Joe Staley
This is purely speculation and could easily be the opposite of what happens. Let’s hope that is the case, but it’s reasonable to assume left tackle Joe Staley won’t be a riser in head coach Chip Kelly’s offense.
Staley was the 49ers’ top-ranked offensive lineman last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and graded out with a plus-21.5 overall mark. His efforts earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl, and Staley remains San Francisco’s best O-lineman entering 2016.
But Staley enters his 10th season and, at 31 years old, could be hitting that questionable phase where NFL players’ careers start to decline.
Add to that Kelly’s physically demanding approach — both on the field and in practice — and it’s possible Staley’s age begins to catch up with him.
“Everybody hears stories, players kind of tell you how they were,” Staley said, via Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News, when asked about Kelly’s offensive approach. “My whole advice to everybody is go in with an open mind and form your own opinions about the whole situation. Just work as hard as you can. That’s what’s going to get us over the season we just had last year, everybody rededicating themselves and recommitting themselves to this football team and doing everything we can to make sure that last season doesn’t happen again.”
Again, it’s totally reasonable to think Staley picks up right where he left off. But Father Time is ticking, and he always wins out.
Next: Riser: Jarryd Hayne