Niner Noise
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3 depth players who need to step up for 49ers in 2020 playoffs

By Robert Morrison

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Ben Garland #63 San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Ben Garland #63 San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Center Ben Garland

When the 49ers lost starting center Weston Richburg for the season during the whirlwind victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 14, it felt like a difficult loss for the team to overcome. Even though they had previously lost tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey for a period in the middle of the season, losing the center, who so key to head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, this one felt like too much.

Richburg wasn’t necessarily playing like a top-10 center, which according to Over The Cap is what his contract average suggests he is. But he was proving an effective snapper of the football and a consistent piece in the middle of the offensive line.

His Pro Football Focus grades tell a similar story, with an overall grade of 62.5 on the season, including 75.1 as a pass blocker, and 57.3 in run blocking. The combined grade is 28th in the NFL among qualified players, while his pass blocking is 12th, and the run blocking just 37th (all out of 50 players).

The replacement the 49ers had lined up was swing interior lineman and former Falcon and AAF player Ben Garland, who had played sporadically leading up to the Saints game (29 snaps in four games), but was asked to step in as the team’s center since, and played 207 snaps during that time frame.

His PFF grading has been more or less in line with where Richburg was when he went down with his injury, with a 59.1 overall, 62.8 in pass protection and 59.3 as a run blocker. However it should be noted Garland’s 29 snaps before taking over as the starter do factor into those numbers.

The 49ers were a highly functional offense with Richburg in place, even if he wasn’t always offering top play for his position. Logically, they would need the same from Garland as they move throughout the playoffs and they should be able to remain successful.

Technically Garland isn’t a depth piece anymore, but his ability to step into the center role in Richburg’s absence was pivotal in the 49ers finishing out the regular season so strongly.

He’ll need to continue to do so to help Niners maintain that into the postseason.