10 Areas of Hope, Concern for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016
By Peter Panacy
Right Side of the Offensive Line
The 49ers made efforts to upgrade what was a problematic offensive line during the offseason. San Francisco parted ways with guard Jordan Devey and let veteran guard Alex Boone walk via free agency.
In came free-agent guard Zane Beadles as well as rookies Joshua Garnett, Fahn Cooper and John Theus.
Last season, Pro Football Focus ranked the 49ers O-line No. 27 in the NFL. This standing should improve a bit in 2016, based on the offseason moves, but there is a gaping worry at the far right of the line.
Room for Hope
Veteran left tackle Joe Staley and center Daniel Kilgore should be just fine. Beadles, a 2012 Pro Bowler, should benefit from a zone scheme too.
And if Garnett, San Francisco’s second of two first-round draft picks this year, emerges as a top-tier run-blocking guard, the Niners’ run-blocking woes from last season shouldn’t carry over into 2016.
With retired right tackle Anthony Davis not likely to return, a four-way competition is underway for the starting job here. Second-year pro Trent Brown could win out, but he’ll be pressured by Cooper, Theus and veteran lineman Erik Pears.
Remember, competition breeds the best in players. It exists here.
Room for Concern
Perhaps Garnett’s pass protection — one of his weaknesses at Stanford — becomes a major liability in year one.
But more critically, the right tackle spot could be just as problematic as it was a year ago. In 2015, Pears finished his efforts with a minus-30.7 overall grade, per PFF. And he could wind up starting again, due to some offseason conditioning and scheme concerns with Brown.
These were laid out by Niner Noise’s Richard Madrid recently.
Will the 49ers O-line be better in 2016? Probably. Will there be vast improvement? That’s much harder to suggest.
Next: That Tough 2016 Schedule