No. 5: 49ers’ Investments in the Offensive Line
If you’re of the mindset an offense’s success or failure all starts up front, then it makes sense why all the Niners’ offensive line investments will play a crucial role in Jimmy Garoppolo’s improvement this season.
The 49ers O-line will look completely different than it did Week 1 a year ago.
To get an idea, just check this out from The Athletic’s David Lombardi:
49ers week 1 starting OL, 2017: LT Staley, LG Beadles, C Kilgore, RG Fusco, RT Brown
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 7, 2018
Projected week 1 starting OL, 2018: LT Staley, LG Tomlinson/Garnett, C Richburg, RG Cooper, RT McGlinchey
Only 1 name will be the same. The unit got overhauled this offseason. https://t.co/xIFcaVanzN
The only returnee to the starting lineup from early last year is veteran left tackle Joe Staley. San Francisco drafted former Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, traded off Trent Brown, swapped out Daniel Kilgore for Weston Richburg and have a three-way former first-round draft pick competition for the two guard spots.
A year ago, the Niners ranked 18th in pass protection, according to Football Outsiders. While Garoppolo’s pocket presence helped improve this metric late in the season, it’s important to note his passer rating under pressure was still only 63.3, per Pro Football Focus.
If all those offseason investments wind up meaning less pressure on Garoppolo, well, it’s not hard to figure out why he’ll improve here.