49ers roster: 3 players guaranteed to be better in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: 49ers Right Tackle Mike McGlinchey
Either San Francisco’s front office is clueless or it sees something in fourth-year right tackle Mike McGlinchey that many a fan doesn’t.
True, McGlinchey wasn’t good in pass protection last year, evidenced by his lowly 58.3 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade last year. But McGlinchey’s run-blocking grade remained well above an elite-level 90.0, and if the front office didn’t think he could improve upon the former, it wouldn’t have picked up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2022.
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McGlinchey needs to add weight and get better in pass protection, yes. There’s no getting around that.
But as was the case with both Javon Kinlaw and Arik Armstead, it’s important to acknowledge McGlinchey was dealing with a revolving door at the right guard spot directly next to him. Initially, this was supposed to be Daniel Brunskill. A slew of injuries at center, however, resulted in Brunskill being moved there, which forced another slew of reserve players like Tom Compton, Colton McKivitz and Justin Skule to be emergency fill-ins at right guard.
Few positions in football require more chemistry than offensive lines, and one could make a simple case the lack of consistency up front hindered McGlinchey’s efforts.
Now, with the 49ers drafting McGlinchey’s former teammate from Notre Dame, Aaron Banks, in Round 2, the hope is Banks will provide that much-needed consistency along the right side of the O-line.
All the while helping McGlinchey, too.