49ers preseason: 5 players to watch in Week 3

The 49ers Offensive Line

I know. I know. I am cheating a bit by not having just one player in this slide. But as bad as the offensive line has looked in run-blocking, the entire group deserves to be called out.

This is a unit that struggled in this same category in 2016, finishing last in the league, per Football Outsiders. And although they have made wholesale changes since last year, their inability to run the ball so far this preseason against the opposition’s first-team defense has been pretty evident.

Against the Broncos, who were without seven defensive starters, the 49ers managed just 37 yards rushing.

With a new offense, quarterback, receivers and an influx of new offensive linemen, an adjustment period was to be expected. However, the holes for the running backs have been few and far between. Again, perhaps a vanilla game plan and simple formations contributed to the underwhelming performance, but it is non the less an area of concern until it is not.

The group, with Joe Staley, Trent Brown, Daniel Kilgore, Brandon Fusco and Zane Beadles (until Josh Garnett returns from injury) will have to step up by Week 1 of the regular season if the 49ers are to have any chance of beating Carolina.

Hoyer operates well using play action, so the passing game may struggle if the 49ers are not able to keep opposing defenses off balance using a combination of the running and passing games as well.

Shanahan may have to tinker some more with different combinations to define his starters for the 2017 season. This will be a major area to watch on Sunday against the Vikings.