49ers: Who is San Francisco's offensive guard Zane Beadles?

In Niner Noise’s next installment of our “Who Is?” series on 49ers players in 2017, we take a look at offensive guard Zane Beadles and project what’s on tap for the upcoming season.

San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Zane Beadles was among the worst starters in 2016, at least according to Pro Football Focus.

Per PFF, Beadles posted a lowly 40.2 overall grade — 43.3 in run support and 43.8 in pass blocking — which was the lowest mark among all Niners starting O-linemen from Week 1.

PFF also classified Beadles as the worst center out of 38 qualifiers at this position.

San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Yet the Niners would have been in trouble last season had Beadles, a free-agent pickup from earlier that year, not been on the roster.

San Francisco lost center Daniel Kilgore to a season-ending injury. The same happened to his primary backup, Marcus Martin. In addition, veteran left tackle Joe Staley missed three games late in the year, forcing Beadles to bump out to this position.

Beadles’ versatility certainly helped. But it wasn’t as if the 49ers’ offensive line was particularly great last year.

Because of this, general manager John Lynch brought in some competition to help along the line.

Newcomers Jeremy Zuttah, Tim Barnes, Garry Gilliam and Brandon Fusco make Beadles’ long-term future with the team a little more precarious.

So what happens in 2017?

Why He’ll Improve

It would be hard for Beadles to post a more disappointing season after what happened last year.

But that doesn’t exactly suggest he’ll make some notable strides to earn a starting job either.

If there is some hope, it’s the fact Beadles had some of his better years while operating in a zone-blocking system similar to what head coach Kyle Shanahan will use in 2017.

Just check out what PFF’s Jeff Deeney had to say in these two tweets:

Zane Beadles best year was 2012 when he ranked 16th of 81 guards with a +17.1 grade. Has had most success in zone-blocking scheme....
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) March 17, 2016

Beadles had a shaky two years in JAX, but played every snap. +1.5 overall grade in 2014 dropped to -14.6 in 2015 with move away from ZBS.
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) March 17, 2016

At the same time, former head coach Chip Kelly also operated a zone scheme last season, albeit an inside zone.

Beadles wasn’t particularly effective here either, but the outside-zone approach could open up some doors for improvement.

And it’s possible the added competition puts a little heat behind Beadles, as he tries to stay in a starter’s role. Tack on Zuttah — a 2016 Pro Bowler — likely starting this year, and at least Beadles will be nestled in between two Pro Bowl-caliber linemen, assuming he starts at left guard.

Why He’ll Regress

Beadles, 30 years old, has always been durable. He’s started every single game dating back to 2011, so that’s good.

Yet Beadles hasn’t looked anything like the type of player he was back in 2012 — the lone year he was selected to the Pro Bowl. His 2014 and 2015 years with the Jacksonville Jaguars were bad. And even if this was largely due to a move away from a zone-blocking scheme, last year’s issues don’t inspire a lot of confidence moving forward.

It’s possible, perhaps likely, this is the trajectory Beadles is on. At his age, it’s no guarantee he starts on another upward swing.

What to Expect in 2017

The 49ers signed Beadles to a three-year deal prior to the 2016 season, meaning he’s under contract through next year.

Should the Niners cut him, they’d be on the hook for over $1.75 million in dead money.

San Francisco isn’t in any sort of cap hell, so cutting him won’t be a problem.

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An educated guess states Beadles makes the 53-man roster this season. Even if he doesn’t start, the flexibility to play guard, center and tackle makes him a better-than-average option to reinforce the line if someone suffers an elongated injury.

Fusco’s addition — combined with the plausibility of either Kilgore or Zuttah bumping out to guard — makes Beadles’ candidacy to start less likely.

Next: Previewing NFL teams' strengths, weaknesses and X-factors in 2017

He’ll have to earn that job in training camp, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him relegated to a backup role this season.

San Francisco 49ers: Who is offensive guard Zane Beadles

By Peter Panacy | May 13, 2017