San Francisco 49ers: 5 biggest disappointments from 2018 season
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: Center Weston Richburg
Centers are important pieces for Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone blocking scheme, and it appeared as if the 49ers had a good one in Daniel Kilgore. That was, of course, until the Niners acquired former New York Giants center Weston Richburg in free agency earlier this year.
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco inked Richburg to a five-year, $47.5 million contract during the offseason, making him the third highest-paid center in the league. Kilgore was traded to the Miami Dolphins, and Richburg was handed the starting job.
Simply put, it hasn’t exactly gone well for Richburg his first year with the 49ers.
Pro Football Focus ranks Richburg No. 30 among 38 qualifying centers on the year, making the financial investment in him sting quite a bit.
In fairness to Richburg, he has been hampered by a knee injury for most of the season but has missed just one game. And Shanahan feels as if the team hasn’t yet enjoyed the full abilities the 27-year-old former second-round NFL Draft pick has to offer.
“I know that I’m happy with him,” Shanahan said of Richburg, via David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. “Doesn’t mean that there’s not room to grow. I think he could play better, too, especially the way he started out the year. We’ve got to find out a way to make that last throughout the whole year. But no, I think we’ve got a very good center who is only going to get better.”
Richburg has been a disappointment this season, yes. But if the above statements are true, there’s going to be plenty to build upon heading into 2019.