Highlighting studs, duds from 49ers’ Week 6 loss to Falcons
By Peter Panacy
49ers dud: Center Jake Brendel
The 49ers knew they were taking a risk by inserting perennial reserve offensive lineman Jake Brendel into the starting center job following Pro Bowler Alex Mack’s offseason retirement.
And while Brendel hasn’t been an astonishing liability all year long, he hasn’t been particularly great.
Sunday’s tilt revealed that in full.
True, Brendel was modestly effective in pass protection. And the entirety of the Niners’ offensive line wasn’t exactly potent in run support, as the team gained just 50 yards on the ground and averaged 3.1 yards per carry, so it’s hard to pin those woes solely on Brendel.
However, Brendel was flagged four times for various penalties, three of which were accepted while the other was an offset.
It would be one thing if four penalties on one player took place early in the season when the proverbial “rust” needs to be knocked off.
But Brendel is entering the middle of his first year as a full-time starter, and those gaffes should have been cleaned up long ago.