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But does this team have a weakness? If so, what is the biggest thing that could keep them from winning it all? For years, it was the secondary. But that's no longer a 49ers weakness.
If you were to ask Warren Sharp, of Sharp Football Analysis, he might say the 49ers offensive line is the weakness of the team. And I would be inclined to agree. Sharp recently ranked the NFL's best offensive lines, and he placed the 49ers at number 16, about the middle of the pack.
"The offensive line is the only 49ers position group to not crack the top 10, finishing at 16," Sharp wrote. "Despite turning 36 over the summer, Trent Williams remains the best left tackle in football, leading all tackles in ESPN's pass block win rate and allowing zero sacks all season."
Williams is at the top of the class among offensive linemen. But the rest of the offensive line leaves something to be desired. Left guard Aaron Banks is a decent starter, and right guard Jon Felciano is serviceable. But right tackle Colton McKivitz and center Jake Brendel aren't quite good enough for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Super Bowl LIV
The 49ers had a 10-point lead with about seven minutes left in the game. When Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs took the lead, and the 49ers had to score, the offensive line was unable to block Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who took over the game.
2021 NFC Championship Game
The 49ers blew another 10-point 4th-quarter lead and needed to score to win the game. This time, the offensive line couldn't block Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The Rams were able to hold off the 49ers and San Francisco experienced another heartbreaker.
2022 NFC Championship Game
Although the play that ended QB Brock Purdy's season was due to a missed block by a backup tight end, part of the issue on that play was a missed block by right tackle Mike McGlinchey. Once Purdy went down, the offensive line struggled to protect QB Josh Johnson, who also left the game with an injury.
Super Bowl LVIII
The 49ers had two big 3rd downs, one late in the 4th quarter, and one in overtime, in which Purdy had no time to find his receivers, forcing him to throw the ball away. The one in overtime was a result of a missed assignment by right guard Spencer Burford, who was playing in place of an injured Feliciano. The missed assignment allowed Jones to rush Purdy untouched. The missed opportunities ultimately cost the 49ers a championship.
One thing is for sure—if the 49ers give Purdy a new contract next offseason, they need to have a plan to protect him. Especially with Williams nearing the end of his career.
- Marc Adams
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Written by:Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
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