Mike McGlinchey's pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus (59.6) is the San Francisco 49ers tackle's lowest during his three NFL seasons. Along with the entire right side of the offensive line from the center on, he has seemingly struggled mightily. Although, McGlinchey has been quick to criticize those who analyze his play based on a few clips here and there on Twitter.
Keep in mind that the 49ers used the No. 9 overall pick in 2018 to select McGlinchey, hoping the Notre Dame product would anchor the offensive line for years to come. With that comes the expectation of consistency, so every mistake is going to be over-analyzed.
Respected NFL analyst Brian Baldinger joined 95.7 The Game on Monday morning and was asked how he would evaluate McGlinchey's performance this season, and his response is interesting.
.@WashingtonNFL @_sweat9 helps to finish the game out when the TEAM needed him most. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/gFTtFMXJdc
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 14, 2020
"Look, he ran into some really good players in Chase Young and Montez Sweat," Baldy explained on The Morning Roast, "and he knows he just got beat on the holding call, ducked his head, and overextended. It's a technique thing right there. But I think when things around him aren't going like they were a year ago, when they're not running the ball with the same ferocity and the same production that they had a year ago, then it falls on the passing game.
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"When you don't get play-action passes and some really easy looks — the run game really sets up the pass — when you've got to just line up and protect your quarterback on third downs and second-and-longs, and the situations they were in yesterday and throughout the season, he's not holding up right now.
"Maybe that's what he's always been, but when the season went like it did last year, when the defense was dominant, and the run game was dominant, and the play-action pass was really productive, it can kind of hide some of those flaws a little bit."
That led to a question about McGlinchey's future and a choice the 49ers will need to make about the young offensive lineman. Do general manager John Lynch and company choose to pick up McGlinchey's fifth-year option?
Said Baldy: "That's up to John Lynch, but if it was up to me, I would keep him because I still think he's a quality person, and I think that everybody can improve technique."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Baldinger below.
