Ben Garland

Christmas in March

Originally posted by mayo49:
Good signing - he did a good job filling in for Richburg.

He sure did.

I was really impressed watching him blocking on the 2nd level on running plays.

I'm wondering if Ben can beat our Richburg in Training Camp? The best ability is *availability* -- I predict that if Richburg is out for a significant amount of time, I think the Center job will be Ben's at the end of the season. We shall see.

Originally posted by Giedi:

I'm wondering if Ben can beat our Richburg in Training Camp? The best ability is *availability* -- I predict that if Richburg is out for a significant amount of time, I think the Center job will be Ben's at the end of the season. We shall see.

Let's hope not. Haha. The Better Rivals podcast covered what I've been saying about guys like Coleman, Skule, Garland, McKivitz and maybe even Brunskill. There's a huge difference in talent with get-by-guys vs. 16 game starters with high upside who get better and better over time. But this pool is great for a few games here and there but if you have to rely on them for any extended period, you're going to have to do a lot of extra things to work around that, limiting your offense greatly (i.e. extra guys staying in vs. going out in routes like Juice, Kittle, RB, scheme away from that player, quicker-strike passing plays, less intermediate-deep passes, more running calls, etc.)

I'm not an expert just a diehard Niners fan, it appears to me Garland was pushed around at times and lacked the strength to handle the position.

Originally posted by RishikeshA:

I'm not an expert just a diehard Niners fan, it appears to me Garland was pushed around at times and lacked the strength to handle the position.

Destroyed in the Superbowl too.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by RishikeshA:
I'm not an expert just a diehard Niners fan, it appears to me Garland was pushed around at times and lacked the strength to handle the position.

Destroyed in the Superbowl too.

In Garlands defense it was Chris Jones though. Jones gives a lot of O-lineman trouble in the NFL. Thought was just the right match up on Andy Reid's behalf.

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by RishikeshA:
I'm not an expert just a diehard Niners fan, it appears to me Garland was pushed around at times and lacked the strength to handle the position.

Destroyed in the Superbowl too.

In Garlands defense it was Chris Jones though. Jones gives a lot of O-lineman trouble in the NFL. Thought was just the right match up on Andy Reid's behalf.

And it's not like Shanny could ask his guards to help and still be an effective offense.

I thought the same thing. That's where Shanahan should've adjusted. Garland was good as a back up starting a few games but asking him to block Jones one on one isn't walk in the park.

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by RishikeshA:

I'm not an expert just a diehard Niners fan, it appears to me Garland was pushed around at times and lacked the strength to handle the position.

Destroyed in the Superbowl too.

In Garlands defense it was Chris Jones though. Jones gives a lot of O-lineman trouble in the NFL. Thought was just the right match up on Andy Reid's behalf.

And it's not like Shanny could ask his guards to help and still be an effective offense.

I thought the same thing. That's where Shanahan should've adjusted. Garland was good as a back up starting a few games but asking him to block Jones one on one isn't walk in the park.

Yeah and I think they DC got them with a few LB blitzes too that came totally clean through. Taking advantage of a new C and line adjustment calls.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by RishikeshA:
I'm not an expert just a diehard Niners fan, it appears to me Garland was pushed around at times and lacked the strength to handle the position.

Destroyed in the Superbowl too.

In Garlands defense it was Chris Jones though. Jones gives a lot of O-lineman trouble in the NFL. Thought was just the right match up on Andy Reid's behalf.

And it's not like Shanny could ask his guards to help and still be an effective offense.

I thought the same thing. That's where Shanahan should've adjusted. Garland was good as a back up starting a few games but asking him to block Jones one on one isn't walk in the park.

Yeah and I think they DC got them with a few LB blitzes too that came totally clean through. Taking advantage of a new C and line adjustment calls.

I think that's the difference between Richburg and Garland. I believe Richburg would've helped a lot with those blitzes, making better reads and changing up the protection at the line.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Giedi:
I'm wondering if Ben can beat our Richburg in Training Camp? The best ability is *availability* -- I predict that if Richburg is out for a significant amount of time, I think the Center job will be Ben's at the end of the season. We shall see.

Let's hope not. Haha. The Better Rivals podcast covered what I've been saying about guys like Coleman, Skule, Garland, McKivitz and maybe even Brunskill. There's a huge difference in talent with get-by-guys vs. 16 game starters with high upside who get better and better over time. But this pool is great for a few games here and there but if you have to rely on them for any extended period, you're going to have to do a lot of extra things to work around that, limiting your offense greatly (i.e. extra guys staying in vs. going out in routes like Juice, Kittle, RB, scheme away from that player, quicker-strike passing plays, less intermediate-deep passes, more running calls, etc.)

You may be right with regards to Garland. I just checked his age, he's no youngster that can develop in the offseason that's for sure. I'm hoping Benton can do something with some of the younger players we have. As for Kyle, if we do lose Richburg again, I hope he and John are working on some alternative options. There is still a bit of time to see if there is a good free agent out there to be able to compete with Richburg and add some depth to the OLine, or at lease I hope so- before the season opens . Having said that, I think (and I hope) all the young OLinemen we have - have taken it upon themselves to get better and stronger in the offseason, so at least hopefully we have a shot at getting back to the super bowl. Once you are in the super bowl, it's a one game series that any team can win. I think we were like a half point underdog or something like that last year and we did hold onto a lead until the 4th quarter and it took some miracle plays by Mahomes to beat us.

Originally posted by NinerGM:
Agreed. Sometimes you just have to fight with the army you have. I am encouraged that there will be more competition at the guard position so hope abounds.

Agree.

when can he come back?

who takes his place?

I can't imagine the guy who takes his place is going to be much worse.