Niner Noise
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5 Most Disappointing 49ers So Far in 2016

By Robert Smith

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly looks on in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly looks on in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Andrew Tiller (61) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Andrew Tiller (61) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4: Andrew Tiller

In the offseason, offensive guard Andrew Tiller was seen as a bright spot held over from the team’s disappointing 2015 season.

Toward the end of last season, he had really began to establish himself as a dominant, physical presence. He was playing strong and making great strides at the guard position.

However, with Chip Kelly’s zone-blocking scheme being implemented, Tiller’s less-than-average mobility has definitely not benefited him so far this year.

His run-blocking ability has not been particularly good, as his 74.4 grading shows, according to Pro Football Focus. And the offensive line’s overall struggles in run blocking has afforded Joshua Garnett, the Niners’ second first-round pick in the 2016 Draft, an opportunity to show some of the road-grading capabilities he displayed while at Stanford.

Garnett himself is a work-in-progress. But with the current state of the team, perhaps Kelly sees value in getting Garnett in there and getting him snaps. Doing so now gives him experience going forward, perhaps when the Niners decide to draft a QB of the future.

The way injuries pile up in the NFL, chances are Tiller will be getting more opportunities in the near future. It would behoove him to take a step back, refocus and be ready to go when called upon.