49ers Offensive Line

If we can get RT figured out without having to move Boone -- we will be just fine.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Exciting to hear folks so positive about the interior linemen. Boone, Kilgore, Martin, Thomas, Farrell, Looney and Tiller seem to all be competitive and capable. Now they need to move Boone to RT, or LT with Staley switching to RT, in order to solidify the OT position.

Moving Staley away from the blind side?

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Exciting to hear folks so positive about the interior linemen. Boone, Kilgore, Martin, Thomas, Farrell, Looney and Tiller seem to all be competitive and capable. Now they need to move Boone to RT, or LT with Staley switching to RT, in order to solidify the OT position.

Moving Staley away from the blind side?

Yeah, I really don't get this. A lot of zoners are in a hurry to push Staley to the right side, in preparation for his trip to the rest home. Make no mistake, he's still our best OL, by a WIDE margin. Kilgore missed less blocks last year, but Staley had MUCH harder assignents on every play. Our offense leans incredibly heavily on Staley. He's the man. He's got at LEAST 3 more years at LT, at an elite level.

What boggles my mind is that Zoners are gnashing their teeth and screaming in the streets to get Mathis, who'll be 34 this season, but they're prepping for the retirement of Staley, who is much younger.

Originally posted by WRATHman44:

Originally posted by thl408:
WRATH, what do you think of Joe Looney? I was not too impressed with him, but he's only 24 so I'm not closing the book on him. Was wondering if you've watched him closely.

He was inconsistent in the first game. Lots of correctable issues: false steps, high pad level, passive hands. He fixed alot of that in the next two starts. I like his nasty streak, and he has good feet for his size. If his improvement continued after Boone took back over, he should be able to do the job. He got a bad rap by writers and zoners from their first impressions in PS and week 1, but the guy is much better than the casual consensus on him, and he should be in contention for a starting spot. If Martin can't pull it together and Thomas knee is still on the way back, I wouldn't be worried if Looney starts. I'm equally confident with him holding down Center if Kilgore is out, provided that he can make the right calls. I have no insight into that.

edit: to add, he was a consistent pulling G on power, who rarely missed his guy, but never blew him up (complete opposite of Iupati). he was a little slow/hesitant on his drive blocks and occasionally got beaten accross his face on his down block when he was on the front side of power. Occasionally struggled with stunts in pass pro, but was pretty good when he was manned up.

Thanks Wrath--Looney is a vet who has been bashed at times and yet hasn't had the consistent playing time to develop. The negatives came, as you state, from early games at RG when he was playing next to J Martin and with inexperienced centers. I thought he was more consistent than Boone last year (due to the latter's holdout), while playing center and guard. Not sure he has the upside of Martin or Thomas but he can be part of a line that once jelled could be really good for years to come. People should remember that Looney is two years younger than Boone and at 24 is a very young guy just coming into his adult strength and maturity. I thought he may have played at too high a weight under JH trying to be a power line guy, while he is much better lighter when he can be more mobile. We'll see this year!

PFF had three games rated as very subpar, the rest were OK. The subpar games being against Dallas, Denver and Seattle makes sense.

So if AD tries to make a come back in 2016, I assume we still have his rights? It would be stupid just to release him. We should either pawn him before he changes his mind, or keep him at a reduced salary.

For all we know he's just saying he's coming back so we dont draft someone next year. Once its over, he'll screw us again.

Is there any possible chance this was really about money and we are witnessing a hold out?

Originally posted by WRATHman44:

Originally posted by 49erphan:
When I have been thinking about the move of Boone to left guard, I have tended to focus on what that means for the "strength" (weakness) of the right side of the line - especially in pass protection. But this morning I remembered that at the presser announcing Tomsula as head coach, there was stress on the 9ers running the ball and that got me to thinking that the stress on running might be a significant factor in why they moved Boone to left guard. If I remember correctly, Hyde seems to run really well to the left side. With McDonald as a blocking end along the line with Staley and Boone and Miller (fullback) leading the way, I think defenses may have a hard time limiting runs to the left side to small gains.

Good point. The balance of zone and power will be interesting to keep track of once the PS games start.

I agree and that's a great point/perspective.

Originally posted by WRATHman44:

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Exciting to hear folks so positive about the interior linemen. Boone, Kilgore, Martin, Thomas, Farrell, Looney and Tiller seem to all be competitive and capable. Now they need to move Boone to RT, or LT with Staley switching to RT, in order to solidify the OT position.

Moving Staley away from the blind side?

Yeah, I really don't get this. A lot of zoners are in a hurry to push Staley to the right side, in preparation for his trip to the rest home. Make no mistake, he's still our best OL, by a WIDE margin. Kilgore missed less blocks last year, but Staley had MUCH harder assignents on every play. Our offense leans incredibly heavily on Staley. He's the man. He's got at LEAST 3 more years at LT, at an elite level.

What boggles my mind is that Zoners are gnashing their teeth and screaming in the streets to get Mathis, who'll be 34 this season, but they're prepping for the retirement of Staley, who is much younger.

Hmmm. Excellent points as always WRATH.

I was a fan of moving Boone out to LT now to work him into the long-term future as part of the inevitable transition plan (easier to find a RT than LT) and b/c Staley is our best edge-sealer and I envision many stretch runs off RT in the new ZBS. But as the poster above alluded too, having your two best linemen stacked next to each other along with an inline blocking TE, Hyde may be able to run left a lot easier and he certainly has the speed to bounce it off RT and beat everyone to the edge as well...so best of both worlds.

In the end, you're probably right on both accounts (Boone/Mathis).

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:

So if AD tries to make a come back in 2016, I assume we still have his rights? It would be stupid just to release him. We should either pawn him before he changes his mind, or keep him at a reduced salary.

For all we know he's just saying he's coming back so we dont draft someone next year. Once its over, he'll screw us again.

Is there any possible chance this was really about money and we are witnessing a hold out?

Yeah he's still signed for the next 5 years with SF and is pretty young.

He's paid pretty well for him play....I think he was just really banged up and took a year off, I'd be more than happy to have him back on the squad.

If we have a problem our O-line then we should looking for Cowboys O-line because they are good. Jerry Jones always love draft the O-line because they need protection for quarterback and help to Running Back make a successful. We Should sign for Cowboys O-line and steal them for us. Let's do it..

The whole Eric Pears thingy at RT scares the tarnations outta me. He is not quality, I wish the 49ers wold swing a trade or do something now early in camp before its too late.

I saw my friends from Cowboys fans and they don't need Murray because they don't want pay for Murray too much the moneys. They are Cowboys fans said that Cowboys O-line can make any RB famous?. Hmm. Interesting. They are ego with O-Line?! Then. We should sign them for Cowboys O-line and steal them to join us.

Originally posted by WRATHman44:

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Exciting to hear folks so positive about the interior linemen. Boone, Kilgore, Martin, Thomas, Farrell, Looney and Tiller seem to all be competitive and capable. Now they need to move Boone to RT, or LT with Staley switching to RT, in order to solidify the OT position.

Moving Staley away from the blind side?

Yeah, I really don't get this. A lot of zoners are in a hurry to push Staley to the right side, in preparation for his trip to the rest home. Make no mistake, he's still our best OL, by a WIDE margin. Kilgore missed less blocks last year, but Staley had MUCH harder assignents on every play. Our offense leans incredibly heavily on Staley. He's the man. He's got at LEAST 3 more years at LT, at an elite level.

What boggles my mind is that Zoners are gnashing their teeth and screaming in the streets to get Mathis, who'll be 34 this season, but they're prepping for the retirement of Staley, who is much younger.

Staley has been fairly healthy lately but has a back problem history...not a thing that gets better with age! I would like them to have a replacement ready and RT may not be as tough on his body. Problem is...now I don't trust Boone to stay or be as good. But he can get experience during TC for insurance.

Edit--I haven't pushed for Mathis due to age and all the young guys competing. Tackle is a bigger concern.

Originally posted by Orange01Purple:
I saw my friends from Cowboys fans and they don't need Murray because they don't want pay for Murray too much the moneys. They are Cowboys fans said that Cowboys O-line can make any RB famous?. Hmm. Interesting. They are ego with O-Line?! Then. We should sign them for Cowboys O-line and steal them to join us.

BuzZ?

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
BuzZ?

No...this is clear...probably English as a 2nd language. Buzz was...garbled.

Just sighn Mathis!! is right in front of Balkes eye's