Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 players poised for breakouts in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Mike McGlinchey #69 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 25: Mike McGlinchey #69 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Offensive Tackle Mike McGlinchey

It’s hard to truly quantify how an offensive lineman will break out, so to say second-year pro offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey is poised for such a year is a bit tougher to describe.

That said, there are reasons to assume he’ll be one of the more solid bookends in the NFC West this season.

Last year, McGlinchey was regularly one of Pro Football Focus‘ top rookie linemen in the league, only being overshadowed by his former teammate at Notre Dame, Indianapolis Colts offensive guard Quenton Nelson:

One of the reasons, perhaps, McGlinchey didn’t finish at the very top here was due to his pass protection. He allowed a team-high five sacks in 2018, and pass protection wasn’t exactly his forte in college.

But like pass coverage for defensive backs, it’s not uncommon to see first-year O-line players struggle in the passing game while adequately handling run-blocking duties. Therefore, one should assume McGlinchey is able to polish up this aspect of his game a lot more in comparison to a year ago.

By doing so, it wouldn’t be a shock to see McGlinchey in the discussion for a Pro Bowl nod by the end of 2019.

That would constitute a breakout, wouldn’t it?