49ers’ 2019 ‘Who Is?’ series: Offensive guard Laken Tomlinson
By Peter Panacy
San Francisco 49ers offensive guard Laken Tomlinson might have shed the bust label after joining the Niners. But he still has room for improvement in 2019.
The San Francisco 49ers picked up former Detroit Lions offensive guard Laken Tomlinson in a pinch early in 2017 just ahead of Week 1 that year, prompted by a season-ending knee injury to fellow guard Joshua Garnett.
Tomlinson managed to start all but one game with the Niners his first year with the team. And while he struggled early after coming to San Francisco, Tomlinson’s play gradually got better with time.
After all, Tomlinson was learning head coach Kyle Shanahan’s playbook on the spot, not having been afforded the time to absorb in during training camp and offseason activities.
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By 2018, Tomlinson cemented himself as a bona fide starter, filling the same role all the way into Week 17 where he suffered a torn MCL against the Los Angeles Rams.
Fully recovered from his injury, Tomlinson will look to bounce back from what was a so-so campaign in 2018, ensuring San Francisco’s continuity along the offensive line stays put this upcoming season.
Why Laken Tomlinson Improves in 2019
According to Pro Football Focus, Tomlinson suffered a slight regression in 2018 and posted a 64.2 grade on the year, down from 66.4 the previous season.
There might be an odd correlation here, though. Tomlinson also struggled for a good chunk of his first season with San Francisco. But once quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took over late in 2017, Tomlinson’s performance increased significantly.
Laken Tomlinson had a season-long pass-blocking efficiency rating of 95.2 last year, per @PFF -- 49th out of 61 players graded. With Jimmy Garoppolo, Tomlinson's PBE jumped to 97.4 -- 20th out of 58 players graded.
— Peter Panacy (@PeterPanacy) June 22, 2018
Niners liked the way LT finished in 2017. #49ers #49wz
Garoppolo missed the vast majority of 2018 with his torn ACL, of course. But with Jimmy G back and healthy, Tomlinson could stand to benefit from a signal-caller posing much better poise within the pocket.
It also doesn’t hurt there should be continuity along the O-line, with all five starters poised to reclaim their same roles from last year.
Why Laken Tomlinson Regresses
Interestingly enough, Tomlinson’s pass blocking was actually better in 2018 than it was in 2017. It was his run blocking which took a hit, dropping from 64.5 to 59.8 between the two seasons, per PFF.
Maybe it’s just a slight issue. The Niners did, after all, suffer quite the number of injuries at running back, and that could have carried some weight here.
Still, there’s also the possibility Tomlinson is merely a decent player, fortunate enough to play alongside one of the better linemen in the NFL, left tackle Joe Staley, whose support ultimately benefits Tomlinson.
Projected Role with the 49ers in 2019
Tomlinson all but has the left guard spot locked down heading into the regular season, barring injury or a complete meltdown in training camp.
Shanahan’s blocking scheme is predicated more on tackle and center play, and the Niners have managed to get by with average guards over the past two seasons. That could mean the pressure on Tomlinson to exceed won’t be too overwhelming. And as long as he’s serviceable, that might be good enough.
It would be helpful to see Tomlinson bounce back in the run-blocking department, especially considering San Francisco spent considerable effort reinforcing its tailbacks during the offseason. And if Garoppolo’s return boosts Tomlinson’s stock, it’s only an added bonus.
Either way, Tomlinson isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and he remains a key part of the team’s O-line heading into 2019.
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