San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 10 most important players in 2017
By Peter Panacy
No. 8: Center Jeremy Zuttah
One might think left tackle Joe Staley would be the most important member of San Francisco’s offensive line this season.
Well, yes, but not for the reasons to qualify him on this list.
Instead, the nod goes to offseason-trade pickup, Jeremy Zuttah.
Zuttah still has to win out the camp competition with fellow centers Daniel Kilgore and Tim Barnes, the former being the incumbent. Yet it’s important to note Zuttah is likely the hand-picked guy from Kyle Shanahan for the job. That’s why Zuttah will wind up winning out.
As for why centers are important, well, just take a look at the Atlanta Falcons last year.
The Falcons picked up center Alex Mack prior to 2016, and he was a key part of Shanahan’s outside-zone scheme.
Here’s what The MMQB’s Albert Breer had to say in a conversation with quarterback Brian Hoyer about Mack and his injury back in 2014:
"Most of all, Hoyer recalls how the Browns offense crumbled after Alex Mack was injured in 2014, because Shanahan’s offense puts the ‘mike’ calls and the protections—responsibilities he had as the quarterback in New England and Houston—on the center. So Atlanta signed Mack in March."
Needless to say, centers are an integral part of a Shanahan offense, perhaps the most important along the O-line.
With San Francisco ranking 30th in pass protection and dead last in run support last year, according to Football Outsiders, it’s not hard to see why Zuttah will be so important this season.