49ers training camp: 1 key battle to watch at each position

49ers training camp battle: Identifying the starting right guard

For one of the starting positions fully open heading into 49ers training camp, it’s pretty clear what the Niners would like to happen, but it’s another to fully state what’ll actually take place.

In an ideal world, San Francisco’s second-round draft pick, offensive lineman Aaron Banks, wins out over the veteran lineman, Daniel Brunskill, to start at right guard. This would maximize the 49ers’ recent draft investment while allowing Brunskill to revert to a less-glorious but equally important backup role, supporting essentially every spot along the offensive line.

Banks, a prolific collegiate pass-blocker, is more of a power-run lineman, and it might take him some time to adequately acclimate to the Niners’ zone-heavy offense.

And that could delay his ascent into a true starting role.

This isn’t necessarily bad, though, as Brunskill proved to be more than adequate starting at right guard early last season before being asked to move to center in the wake of numerous injuries.

Nevertheless, figuring out who winds up landing the lone open starting job along the offensive line will be an unheralded-yet-important battle to watch during camp.