SANTA CLARA, Calif. — No position group raises more questions this 49ers training camp than their offensive line.
Sure, quarterback Trey Lance draws the most hype, Deebo Samuel the most drama, and Jimmy Garoppolo the most bewildering existence, but offensive line is seen as this team’s weak link.
Is it?
“Our room has a bunch of athletes, guys who are not just big and can move people, but can actually move their own bodies into space,” left guard Aaron Banks said.
Ah, but who’ll snap the ball to Lance? How are the young guards, Banks and Spencer Burford? Is Mike McGlinchey all the way back?
Those answers will come in due time, including via Friday night’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium.
Banks gave a great response regarding his lead block for quarterback draws like Lance ran Friday: “I’m going to treat him the same way I would treat my (running) backs: block my ass off and make sure he doesn’t get hit.”
Here is a position-by-position update as camp, with the preseason opener looming Friday against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium:
LEFT TACKLE
Starter: Trent Williams
Backups: Colton McKivitz, Justin Skule, Sam Schlueler
Analysis: Williams is coming off an All-Pro season (his first) that helped justify paying him the NFL’s richest contract for an offensive lineman. He won’t get overworked this camp, but he needs to groom Banks and protect Lance. McKivitz is the frontrunner to be the No. 1 backup tackle as he carries over confidence from his fill-in start in Week 18 last season.
Player quote: “He’s the best player in the NFL. You’ve got to make some decisions when Trent’s coming out you, some business decisions.” – linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Coach quote: “(Williams) came in the other day and said, ‘Let me tell you want I think my plan is for camp for pass protection.’ I’ll say, ‘Yeah, do that, but also looking at your offseason cutups, you need to work on theses three things.’ … Trent Williams still has stuff to clean up and he knows it, and every guy does.” – Chris Foerster, the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator.
LEFT GUARD
Starter: Aaron Banks
Backups: Keaton Sutherland, Nick Zakelj
Analysis: This is Banks’ job to lose. He reshaped his body the past year while waiting to replace Laken Tomlinson, who signed with the New York Jets in March. If Banks struggles to anchor in pass protection? There isn’t a veteran option on the team and they’d likely just shift linemen from other spots.
Player quote: “I wanted to physically be a better player. I wanted to tighten up, be stronger, be faster, be quicker, be better overall.” – Banks.
Coach quote: “He’s done everything right, from the minute he got hurt (last preseason) to today. Now what he has to do is play. He’s a great guy with a really good skillset. At 330-something pounds, he can move, hit, strike, and do a ton of good things. But he’s still got to go do it.” – Foerster.
CENTER
Starter: Daniel Brunskill or Jake Brendel
Backups: See above; Dohnovan West
Analysis: Rotating first-team snaps every other day gives Brunskill and Brendel a chance to shine but not exactly settle into Alex Mack’s former role. Brunskill started eight games here in 2020, and if his snaps don’t get cleaner (he hasn’t been a disaster), they can revert him to right guard. Brendel hasn’t been a full-time center since his UCLA days (2012-15), and even if he has 2021 chemistry with Lance from the scout team, he’ll need to prove his worth the next three weeks.
Player quote: “It’s kind of the same thing as last season with Alex Mack. You have to take the opportunities you have and make the best of them, then play that role and hopefully the coaching staff and front office can establish who the best guy is to be out there.” – Brendel.
GM quote: “The one (offseason move) where we didn’t know the way it would fall was Alex Mack (retiring). We were hopeful that he’d come back but knew it was a decision, and Alex was up front with us that this was a one-year commitment (in 2021) and he’d see from there. Would you have loved Alex back? Sure. But we feel good about the guys there.” – General manager John Lynch.
RIGHT GUARD
Starter: Spencer Burford
Backups: Burford, if Brunskill starts; Jason Poe
Analysis: What is a rookie, fourth-round draft pick out of Texas-San Antonio doing at right guard every first-team snap? Well, Burford is holding his own and getting encouragement from veterans along the way. Brunskill’s experience at this spot means they can shift him back here if he’s beaten out by Brendel at center, unless Burford gets a stranglehold on the role in preseason action. Poe, a 6-foot-1 rookie is a fun watch, too.
Player quote: “(Burford’s) upside and talent level is just off charts. He’s got the frame for it, the size, a strong lower half, enormously long arms and all the scout mumbo jumbo you want to throw at him. But he’s a competitor, learning every day and has done a great job getting thrown into the fire.” – Right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
Coach quote: “Spencer, he’s done a gerat job. He’s got the skill set to do it. It’s about getting the reps and going agianst our D-line and doing it down in and down out. He’s got the ability to do it at this level.” – Shanahan.
RIGHT TACKLE
Starter: Mike McGlinchey
Backups: Justin Skule, Jaylon Moore, Jordan Mills, Alfredo Gutierrez
Analysis: McGlinchey enters his fifth season looking in great shape, though it took quadriceps surgery last season and tremendous work to get his frame (6-foot-8, 310 pounds) ready for his contract year. The 49ers’ reserves all gained experience in the past couple years, so the 49ers have desirable depth with Skule, Moore and McKivitz. Guiterrez, a Mexico native, remains an international project but is well liked entering his second year on the practice squad.
Player quote: “As much production as I got last year, I still felt I could do things better. I’m back to playing the weight I always played at before (2020), and that’s where I played my best football at since I was 18 or 19 years old. It’s going to get better and better.” — McGlinchey
Coach quote: “I never looked at him in the run game and said he was too light (in 2020). He was knocking people off and one of the premier run blockers in the NFL. More weight (in 2021) maybe hurt him when he jumped up. There’s a level a player has to feel comfortable, to compete, to play with strength.” – Foerster.
