49ers stock watch: Who’s up and down after preseason win over Chiefs?
By Peter Panacy
The Offensive Line
One of the major themes during 49ers training camp has been how badly the offensive line has looked against San Francisco’s revamped defensive front.
Yet Kansas City boasts a pretty impressive defensive line as well, and this mismatch was on full display throughout the course of the game.
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With second-year guard Joshua Garnett (knee) out for at least a month, the Niners are going to be pressed to find adequate replacements to ensure interior protection is met. The team also parted ways with center Jeremy Zuttah not long ago, so that leaves this group a little shorthanded.
Two of the three sacks the O-line allowed could be attributed to Niners quarterbacks. But second-year tackle John Theus whiffed on a block, and that doesn’t bode well for his chances to make the roster.
Overall, San Francisco’s O-line performed better in pass protection early on than run blocking. It’s an issue, however, as head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense relies heavily on the ability to properly execute his outside zone-blocking scheme.
Continued issues here could set back the 49ers offense all season and force the team to make some major changes during the upcoming offseason.