Williams boasts a respectable 86.0 offensive grade this year, ranking him 10th among all offensive linemen. However, this is his lowest grade since joining the 49ers. His 84.2 run-blocking grade also marks a decline over the past five seasons. Last season, Williams allowed 18 pressures (excluding the playoffs), and through just seven games this year, he has already given up 12, according to Pro Football Focus.
Williams missed all of training camp due to a contract dispute, only reporting to the team just before the first regular-season game. Given these factors and the fact that he's now 36 years old, it's reasonable to consider whether this slight decline is reflected in Pro Football Focus' analytics. However, one 49ers coach isn't convinced.
"Yes, he's fine," said run game coordinator and offensive line coach Chris Foerster. "He's been playing as well as he's ever played. There might be some protections, but I thought it was the same as last year. And some things are actually better than a year ago."
Regarding Pro Football Focus' analysis, Foerster commented, "Who knows what it is? I don't know their scales. At least it's consistent. So, whatever they grade him as, and however they do it, I'm not there to discuss theirs. But I know that, definitely, from our perspective, to me, he's playing the same as he played a year ago."
Foerster emphasized that he doesn't like to compare players, so he's not ready to declare Williams the best in the game. He concluded, "I'm not doing that, but I do know he's playing almost exactly the same as he played a year ago."
Tight end George Kittle echoed Foerster's assessment, stating, "I think Trent, on a bad day, is still better than 31 other teams' left tackles. So, I'm not saying that Trent has bad days, but Trent is still playing at a high level for us, which is awesome because we need that."
Following a disappointing Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Williams and the 49ers are preparing for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, aiming to climb out of the 3-4 hole they've dug themselves into.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers add potential Trent Williams successor in 3-round mock draft
LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell's arm length became a major talking point at last month's NFL Scouting Combine when it measured just under the commonly desired 33-inch minimum. Some speculated that this could impact his draft stock. However, concerns eased at LSU's Pro Day... -
49ers Named As Potential Trade Destination for All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson
As higher-profile contract talks continue between the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy, the team is still putting in plenty of time looking at ways to upgrade their defensive line, which (like the rest of the 49ers' defensive unit) struggled mightily in... -
Florio: Brock Purdy may never become a top QB, so why should the 49ers pay him like one?
Mike Florio's hot takes frequently spark debate among NFL fans, and his latest comments about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will probably be no exception. As the 49ers enter contract extension talks with Purdy—talks expected to make him one of the NFL's... -
49ers surpass Ravens for rushing records after NFL incorporates AAFC stats
The 2019 Baltimore Ravens rushed for an impressive 3,296 yards during the regular season, setting what was then the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single season—until now. This week, the NFL announced it would begin incorporating statistics from the All-America...