Alex Mack on 49ers offense: ‘It’s a system I can be really good in’
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers received an upgrade for their offensive line with Alex Mack, who recently broke down his fit in Kyle Shanahan’s system.
While the San Francisco 49ers‘ most crucial NFL free agency signing in 2021 was retaining eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, the pickup of former Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack shouldn’t be considered too far behind.
Mack, who inked a three-year deal to return to the West Coast (he played his college ball at Cal), is expected to immediately upgrade what was a void for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s roster last season.
Center Weston Richburg, who suffered a serious knee injury late in 2019, missed all of 2020 while recovering, and there’s a growing buzz he’ll retire. At any rate, the Niners are expected to move on.
“I know it’s a system I can be really good in. It’s an offense I know I can excel at.” – Alex Mack on 49ers offense
Mack, 35 years old, regressed a bit last year, according to Pro Football Focus. But amid what was yet another lost year with the Falcons and having lackluster talent around him, one can expect the six-time Pro Bowler to bounce back under Shanahan, the former offensive coordinator Mack worked with first with the Cleveland Browns before following Shanahan to Atlanta in 2016.
Now, Mack is following Shanahan one more time, this time with San Francisco.
Alex Mack describes why he chose the 49ers in NFL free agency
Shanahan puts great emphasis on his centers in an offensive system that is one of the most complex in the NFL.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise Shanahan prioritized bringing in Mack, and Mack seemed to want the same thing in return.
“I was looking for a team that was competitive,” Mack told reporters earlier this week. “And the 49ers, obviously there’s a connection with Kyle Shanahan, and him as the head coach and the offense that he runs, and that always has been something that I know it’s a system I can be really good in. It’s an offense I know I can excel at. So, it was, to me, a very good fit between a good team and a good spot, with a very good coaching staff, and someplace that I can be a good player in.”
Recently signed center Alex Mack meets with the media.
Posted by San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, March 18, 2021
Mack was one of Shanahan’s wants in 2016 when the Falcons made the Super Bowl on the back of one of the league’s most dynamic offenses.
And the veteran’s fit within the Niners’ outside-zone blocking scheme made things that much easier, decision-wise.
“I enjoy running the ball,” Mack added. “I also just know what goes into putting together an offense, and I’ve been part of. It’s just a system that I know I do well in, that outside-zone scheme. It’s just something that my body type — how I can move, the blocks that I’ve done before — it’s something that I’m comfortable with, I know I’m good at it, I’m confident in it, and I can do it well.”
Mack made the Pro Bowl that year with Shanahan in Atlanta, the fourth time overall and part of a string of four consecutive Pro Bowl nods.
Even though the veteran center is getting up there in age, one can figure he’ll be a massive upgrade over what San Francisco had in 2020 and should bounce back from any suggested regression he endured a year ago with the Falcons.
If so, the 49ers will have a vital cog in their offensive line for the next three year.
Next. Grading 49ers free agency additions, losses. dark
Hat tip to 49ers Webzone for the transcription.