49ers Offensive Line

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Just theorizing here but I wonder if the coaching staff is slowly installing the playbook for Boone by giving him the easier of the ZBS's and playbook at LG...as he learns more, works more in at T like Tomsula already stated he'd do.

Well, the would be the smart thing to do so I think you are right. Tomsula has impressed me very much with his practices and blend of marginal players with the first squad so they can get a true perspective of how they fit in with the regulars. Boone will be able to play RG, LG or either tackle better with this practice. I'm anxious to see how good Thomas is! Does he leapfrog Martin and Looney for the other G position? Or will he have a year as a back up?

Another thing I like hearing is that the young WRs are giving the DBs a lot of good work. Will help both positions...starters and depth!

I believe it's generally more difficult to be a ZBS Guard than Tackle when specifically talking about run blocking. Guards are almost always combo blocking as they take on DTs who are the bullish run stoppers, then hunt down LBs after combo blocking. Guards are always tasked with an important assignment whether they are the backside or the playside guard in ZBS.

It's the Tackles playing the backside that often have an 'easy' 1v1 block with no post-snap reads. The difficulty of run blocking as a tackle comes when having to perform reach blocks that seal the edge as the playside Tackle on outside zone plays.

I believe the notions that Boone at LG is so he can act as the pull guard when running the Power play and other Power blocking runs is truth, as well as the "LG can sub for LT" aspect. With ADavis and Iupati gone, Boone is now their best mauler so it makes sense to put him at LG to help the Power run game.

Well there goes that theory. LOL

Here's an example of Boone as the pull guard on a Power play. This is a good reason for him to move to LG to now act as the pull guard when running Power right. (play below is Power left). Iupati made his money acting as the pull guard for Power right all these years.

Originally posted by thl408:

Here's an example of Boone as the pull guard on a Power play. This is a good reason for him to move to LG to now act as the pull guard when running Power right. (play below is Power left). Iupati made his money acting as the pull guard for Power right all these years.

How are "stretch" run plays ran? Is there a Guard that pulls?

If you can find a "stretch" play to post, it would be greatly appreciated.

Originally posted by InsertNameHere:
How are "stretch" run plays ran? Is there a Guard that pulls?

If you can find a "stretch" play to post, it would be greatly appreciated.

From the 'Concepts' thread that I'm currently working on.
Outside zone (stretch left run)
Combo blocks in red.


Entire OLine flows left. Combo blocks are made by the playside TE + LT, and the LG + C.


Reads are made on the fly to determine which of the four players engaged in a combo block will move to the 2nd level while which will stay to sustain the block.The playside TE and the LG will move to the second level while the LT and C stay engaged with their blocks.


Second level blocks in yellow. RB chooses a lane and attacks it.




There are ZBS plays where an Olineman will use the 'pin and pull' technique to gain an advantage with blocking angles, but this is not like the pulling shown above (post #264) in the Power play where the pulling guard practically pulls across the formation. Pin and pull is used to move just one gap over, not across the formation.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Just theorizing here but I wonder if the coaching staff is slowly installing the playbook for Boone by giving him the easier of the ZBS's and playbook at LG...as he learns more, works more in at T like Tomsula already stated he'd do.

Well, the would be the smart thing to do so I think you are right. Tomsula has impressed me very much with his practices and blend of marginal players with the first squad so they can get a true perspective of how they fit in with the regulars. Boone will be able to play RG, LG or either tackle better with this practice. I'm anxious to see how good Thomas is! Does he leapfrog Martin and Looney for the other G position? Or will he have a year as a back up?

Another thing I like hearing is that the young WRs are giving the DBs a lot of good work. Will help both positions...starters and depth!

I believe it's generally more difficult to be a ZBS Guard than Tackle when specifically talking about run blocking. Guards are almost always combo blocking as they take on DTs who are the bullish run stoppers, then hunt down LBs after combo blocking. Guards are always tasked with an important assignment whether they are the backside or the playside guard in ZBS.

It's the Tackles playing the backside that often have an 'easy' 1v1 block with no post-snap reads. The difficulty of run blocking as a tackle comes when having to perform reach blocks that seal the edge as the playside Tackle on outside zone plays.

I believe the notions that Boone at LG is so he can act as the pull guard when running the Power play and other Power blocking runs is truth, as well as the "LG can sub for LT" aspect. With ADavis and Iupati gone, Boone is now their best mauler so it makes sense to put him at LG to help the Power run game.

Well there goes that theory. LOL

No, I think both can be correct and Boone is likely the first to replace Staley at LT if need be. Also agree that Boone is the best mauler to replace Iupati but it depends on how others develop.

I need to get over my irritation with Boone! LOL! It skews the way I look at the line. As Tomsula has said, they will not play ZBS all the time but will be mixing it up.

Still think the most under rated aspect of the line is communication. Guys have to adjust to a changing defense...something the OL hasn't been able to do the past few years. I still have visions of Suggs coming from behind the DE position to stunt up the middle...untouched!

It makes sense to kick Boone out to RT and extend him. He is still at least two years from 30 and in my opinion is a better T than G. We can draft a G anywhere T not so easy. With him playing T it should be easier for Baalke to give him a big deal. Then if Staley falls off you can move him over to LT. It just makes sense unless he just wants a stupid fat deal. If we don't sign him that better be the reason. I don't like players holding out but he came to the madatory camp this year if we make him a T will deserve the money. Not everyone is as professional as Boldin. Again the only way I don't see us extending him is if Brown looks awesome or Boone wants way to much for a RT. If we don't move him to RT and let him go that just creates two positions to fill with no guarantee of drafting or signing a better player. The last 7 or 8 games last yr. Boone did not allow a sack and allowed only one QB hit.

Where Thomas and Martin play will determine everything.

If we are implementing this new zone scheme, Martin isn't a good fit at C anymore.

Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
Where Thomas and Martin play will determine everything.

If we are implementing this new zone scheme, Martin isn't a good fit at C anymore.

Please elaborate. I think he'd do very well at any of the interior three positions in a ZBS, as they aren't terribly different from one another.

Originally posted by SofaKing:
I'm cool with that. Staley and Boone would make a very good left side. One of the young guys is bound to step up and claim the RG spot.

We're in decent shape. Just read Evan Mathis was released by the Eagles. Arguably the best zone blocking guard in the league. The team could look into bringing him in. Depends on his salary demands. Sounds like he wants a big deal.

Love to have him but IMO - a big deal is out of the question.

Originally posted by NCommand:
Just theorizing here but I wonder if the coaching staff is slowly installing the playbook for Boone by giving him the easier of the ZBS's and playbook at LG...as he learns more, works more in at T like Tomsula already stated he'd do.

He's a very good tackle and I read that the footwork for the LG is the same as LT.

Maybe they know something about Staley we don't are doing it just in case??

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Just theorizing here but I wonder if the coaching staff is slowly installing the playbook for Boone by giving him the easier of the ZBS's and playbook at LG...as he learns more, works more in at T like Tomsula already stated he'd do.

He's a very good tackle and I read that the footwork for the LG is the same as LT.

Maybe they know something about Staley we don't are doing it just in case??

They've both shown they can protect the left edge. Staley's getting a little older, and he's been dinged up before, so it makes sense to have a backup ready to go. STill not completely sold on Pears as a RT, especially if we're gonna be pulling Boone from LG to run power right. At least he should be a more consistent pass protector than Davis.

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:

Originally posted by SofaKing:
I'm cool with that. Staley and Boone would make a very good left side. One of the young guys is bound to step up and claim the RG spot.

We're in decent shape. Just read Evan Mathis was released by the Eagles. Arguably the best zone blocking guard in the league. The team could look into bringing him in. Depends on his salary demands. Sounds like he wants a big deal.

Love to have him but IMO - a big deal is out of the question.

I always trust Baalke to make a sensible decision on salaries so it's more a matter of his being the best fit...or not!

Originally posted by WRATHman44:

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Just theorizing here but I wonder if the coaching staff is slowly installing the playbook for Boone by giving him the easier of the ZBS's and playbook at LG...as he learns more, works more in at T like Tomsula already stated he'd do.

He's a very good tackle and I read that the footwork for the LG is the same as LT.

Maybe they know something about Staley we don't are doing it just in case??

They've both shown they can protect the left edge. Staley's getting a little older, and he's been dinged up before, so it makes sense to have a backup ready to go. STill not completely sold on Pears as a RT, especially if we're gonna be pulling Boone from LG to run power right. At least he should be a more consistent pass protector than Davis.

It almost seems counter productive to put Boone at LG for power runs, then have Pears at RT. Based on how poorly Pears has graded as a run blocker at Guard (PFF), my guess is that he isn't a very strong guy. So why put Pears at RT where they plan to pull Boone towards to attack with power runs? I think Tomsula did mention something about Pears working on getting stronger, so it's something the team is addressing.

Pears getting stronger:

"That's what we've evaluated him most at," Tomsula said of Pears and the right tackle spot. "I liked the way he was moving. The biggest thing with Pears is since he's gotten here, with his weight room, he's bigger and stronger than he's ever been."

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article23595736.html

This group right here alone will truly make or break our season. It seems obvious, but seriously, if we can get average pass protection, our QB is easily top 10 with where he was last year. If Kaepernick has improved as a QB based on his offseason work and combined that with O-line improvement and the additions to our offense, we're talking top 5.