Analytics sites like Pro Football Focus have not been kind to San Francisco 49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz. His 56.4 pass-blocking grade ranked fifth among the team's offensive linemen, and his 65.1 overall grade also ranked fifth. However, offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster believes McKivitz's strength lies in his run-blocking.
"I won't put him quite in [former 49ers tackle Mike] McGlinchey's category as a run blocker," Foerster said on Saturday. "Mike was an elite run blocker. Colton's not quite at that level, although he's getting there. He's really worked hard. Colton takes so much pride in everything he does. He gets better at everything."
McKivitz, who surrendered a team-high 59 pressures last season, including the playoffs, has heard the criticism from fans, and for a while, it impacted him.
"Last year, I think I let it get to my head a little bit," McKivitz admitted. "It's hard to hear bad things [said] about you and how people rag. But I think, at the end of the day, I'm the one coming to work every day. I'm the one going out there every day to play on Sundays, and it's just got to be kind of my world.
"People are going to say things regardless. That's just how it is. But my play will speak for itself down the road. That's kind of the big thing. So, not giving people permission to say things like that, to drag you, and then also, not letting yourself feed into that and see that.
"So, I think it's just been a huge mind shift for me this offseason with my mindset and how I'm going to approach this year. And I focus more on the mind this year than I have in the past. So, a different way of thinking, and really excited for the season."
McKivitz also faces the challenge of playing opposite one of the best offensive linemen ever, Trent Williams. Opposing defenses might shift their best pass rusher away from Williams' side, forcing McKivitz to deal with them. He surrendered a team-high nine regular-season sacks last season but didn't give up any in the playoffs.
"By the end of the year, in the playoffs, I was thinking I was playing some of the best ball of my career," McKivitz declared. "... I just look at this as another year to really take a huge step in my game, in my career, and it could set me up for the future. ... I think there's a whole other level of game that I'm ready to leap into."
McKivitz believes that his best football is yet to come, and fans can expect good things from him this season.
"There's a lot of talk about left tackle and run and how great Trent is," McKivitz added. "Obviously, he'll be the best, but there's going to be some good football coming from the right this year."