SF 49ers: 5 biggest disappointments over first half of 2020

No. 3: How badly the SF 49ers offensive line has regressed

While there were some signs the SF 49ers offensive line was improving a bit after an abysmal start to the season, Week 8’s performance against a bad Seahawks defensive front all but eliminated the idea this unit was heading in the right direction.

Numerous changes up front likely prompted some setbacks. The Niners were inclined to swap out a retired left tackle, Joe Staley, for a perennial Pro Bowler in Trent Williams, which would have appeared to be an upgrade. Ben Garland was already in place at center for Weston Richburg, yet the former has now been replaced by third-stringer Hroniss Grasu. Daniel Brunskill is now in at right guard for the now-retired Mike Person, too.

But the unit, as a whole, has struggled. There’s no way around that.

Last year, San Francisco’s O-line finished 15th in pass protection and eighth in run blocking, according to Football Outsiders.

This year, the SF 49ers are ranked 20th and 14th in each respective category and are well on pace to eclipse last year’s 36 sacks allowed by surrendering 19 this season.

The uptick in pressure faced has forced Jimmy Garoppolo, and the Niners’ other quarterbacks for that matter, to react entirely different than what they were used to a season ago. And with the run game less effective, one can wonder if Kyle Shanahan’s entire offense has been thrown into problems it’s not accustomed to experiencing.

Perhaps it’s a small miracle San Francisco still owns the league’s 15th best scoring offense through eight weeks.