49ers Offensive Line

We have a good season it depends on how the offensive line performance this season

Brandon Thomas is definitely in the teams plans, but it may not be this year. This is basically his rookie year. He spent all of last season rehabbing, and much of what he learned probably goes out the window since we're moving to a new blocking scheme. It would be great if he wins a starting job, but if not, that doesn't mean he's a bad pick. Again, for all intents and purposes the guy is a rookie.

People trashing Martin too need to ease up. The kid was barely 21 last year. He's got a lot of talent and smarts, and everything I read seems to indicate he works really hard. Got himself in great shape this year in preparation for the ZBS and faster tempo. I know this might come as a shock to some people, but players typically improve past their 21st birthday. Cheers.

Originally posted by SofaKing:
Brandon Thomas is definitely in the teams plans, but it may not be this year. This is basically his rookie year. He spent all of last season rehabbing, and much of what he learned probably goes out the window since we're moving to a new blocking scheme. It would be great if he wins a starting job, but if not, that doesn't mean he's a bad pick. Again, for all intents and purposes the guy is a rookie.

People trashing Martin too need to ease up. The kid was barely 21 last year. He's got a lot of talent and smarts, and everything I read seems to indicate he works really hard. Got himself in great shape this year in preparation for the ZBS and faster tempo. I know this might come as a shock to some people, but players typically improve past their 21st birthday. Cheers.

that was my thinking as well...but according to MB today...Thomas has moved himself right into the mix to start at RG. How much of that is based on MM's poor play and/or Thomas's improved play remains to be seen.

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:
that was my thinking as well...but according to MB today...Thomas has moved himself right into the mix to start at RG. How much of that is based on MM's poor play and/or Thomas's improved play remains to be seen.

Yup, he's getting reps with the 1st team at RG, which is great.

This is just speculation on my part, but I think the team is making it a priority to find the best spot for Martin first, be it C or RG. If he's best at C, Thomas will likely start at RG. If he's best at RG, Looney will be at C.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:
that was my thinking as well...but according to MB today...Thomas has moved himself right into the mix to start at RG. How much of that is based on MM's poor play and/or Thomas's improved play remains to be seen.

Yup, he's getting reps with the 1st team at RG, which is great.

This is just speculation on my part, but I think the team is making it a priority to find the best spot for Martin first, be it C or RG. If he's best at C, Thomas will likely start at RG. If he's best at RG, Looney will be at C.

When Thomas has come in at guard they have moved Martin to centre and taken Looney out. JT has mentioned this in his pressers

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:
that was my thinking as well...but according to MB today...Thomas has moved himself right into the mix to start at RG. How much of that is based on MM's poor play and/or Thomas's improved play remains to be seen.

Yup, he's getting reps with the 1st team at RG, which is great.

This is just speculation on my part, but I think the team is making it a priority to find the best spot for Martin first, be it C or RG. If he's best at C, Thomas will likely start at RG. If he's best at RG, Looney will be at C.

I can see that too. Thomas has naturally looked pretty rusty (think MM/JT said it's been 1.5 years since he put the pads on). So it's going to take a long while to get back into football shape WHILE adjusting to the NFL speed, new scheme, players next to him, etc.

People need to realize that Thomas played tackle in college, but was projected as a guard. Being hurt last year slowed his progress and he is getting the kinks out from not playing so long and learning a new position.

Martin has played better than Looney at center according to news accounts. That is probably going to be the looks of the OL as Kilgore might not even be ready when the season starts according to some press releases. so you are looking at a possible starting lineup of...
Joe, Alex, Marcus, Thomas, Pears, unless some major break thru occurs with Ian and Brown.

Originally posted by WildBill:
People need to realize that Thomas played tackle in college, but was projected as a guard. Being hurt last year slowed his progress and he is getting the kinks out from not playing so long and learning a new position.

Martin has played better than Looney at center according to news accounts. That is probably going to be the looks of the OL as Kilgore might not even make be ready when the season starts according to some press releases. so you are looking at a possible starting lineup of...
Joe, Alex, Marcus, Thomas, Pears, unless some major break thru occurs with Ian and Brown.

Agree. Interesting that Martin is outplaying Looney at C, I didn't know that. I'm all for playing Martin at his best position, be it C or RG. We can figure out the other starting spot once we get him settled. We need to properly develop him, he's a key player on the line going forward.

I'm excited about Thomas, but no need to rush him into action. Want to make sure he's ready, he's had a lot to overcome in a short time frame.

How much better would the line be if we acquired Evan Mathis on a one or two year deal? Would the O line even be better?

I think yes, by a decent margin. The only lineman I trust is Staley.

In emoticons, our O line is as follows......

Originally posted by theninermaniac:
How much better would the line be if we acquired Evan Mathis on a one or two year deal? Would the O line even be better?

I think yes, by a decent margin. The only lineman I trust is Staley.

In emoticons, our O line is as follows......

Mathis is intriguing, but there is a reason he hasn't signed yet. He's going to be 34 and wants a lot of money. Last I read, he wanted around $6 mil per. Closest team was the Dolphins who offered him half that. He's probably kicking himself for forcing his way out of Philly.

I think he could really improve our line, especially if some of the young guys aren't ready, but it's interesting that he's not being highly regarded as a free agent.

Just saw reported Dolphins ready to offer Mathis about $2 million per among several offers and he should be making his decision anytime now. Don't know why he would settle for that amount but hopefully it's just a smokescreen that means Trent already has something in the bag. He needs to offer 2.5 (which is still 3 mill less than he was making) and be done with it. However, Miami does use a very similar offensive system to Philly so that may be the clincher for him.

Originally posted by ninerjok:
Just saw reported Dolphins ready to offer Mathis about $2 million per among several offers and he should be making his decision anytime now. Don't know why he would settle for that amount but hopefully it's just a smokescreen that means Trent already has something in the bag. He needs to offer 2.5 (which is still 3 mill less than he was making) and be done with it. However, Miami does use a very similar offensive system to Philly so that may be the clincher for him.

I believe 2 mil in Florida is equal to 5 mil in California after taxes.

Originally posted by theninermaniac:
How much better would the line be if we acquired Evan Mathis on a one or two year deal? Would the O line even be better?

I think yes, by a decent margin. The only lineman I trust is Staley.

In emoticons, our O line is as follows......

I do think the team will be better, but I am sure there are a lot of thinking behind this, One is getting younger, say he signs for two years, then you have to replace him again. Thomas might be a notch below, but in the long term it will be better for the team, especially if Davis does come back next year. Plus any cap saved can be carried over to the next year, to sign some people that are going to be FA, VD being one of them, along with Boone, Boldin being another, or even going after a FA like we did with T. Smith this year.

Plus, as someone said, we would have to overpay to match other places. Since taxes and cost of living is ridiculous.

I anticipate the OL looking terrible on Saturday and posters coming unglued...but it would be fine with me. I want the team to go out and experiment and use variations that aren't smooth yet to see where they need to concentrate there renewed efforts. Teams that look great in pre season often fall on their faces during the season.

I just remember last year when the 49ers O-line hit a season low against the Rams, letting Kap get sacked 7 times. Ugh. Lets not have any repeats of that.