Newsletter

2009 Offensive Line Analysis - San Francisco 49ers

2009 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Joe Staley
Left Guard: David Baas
Center: Eric Heitmann
Right Guard: Chilo Rachal
Right Tackle: Marvel Smith

2008 Injuries:
T Jonas Jennings: Weeks 3 to 17

2008 Statistics:

ALY (Adjusted Line Yards): It is an alternate measure for yards per carry developed by Football Outsiders that takes into account various factors including down, distance, situation and opponent.
Source: www.footballoutsiders.com

Overview:
The 49ers had their best offensive season in yards and points scored since 2003 but they were still respectively 23rd and 22nd in those two categories. They were respectable in the running game with an average of 4.0 yards per carry but pass protection was a mess all year long as they allowed 55 sacks for a second consecutive season.

Starting at left tackle will be the former first round pick Joe Staley. Staley was very impressive last season at left tackle after spending his rookie year on the other side of the line. The 6’5” and 315 lbs lineman was a tight end in his freshman year in college and managed to become much stronger without losing much speed. He is a good pass blocking tackle because of his great footwork and quickness which is the main reason why he is a better fit on the left side. His run blocking is below average for an NFL tackle but he should improve in that area as he is a very hard worker willing to do anything in order to become a better player. On the other side of the line is the veteran Marvel Smith who spent the first nine season of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith started only 17 games in the past two seasons because of injuries but he should be a big help for the 49ers if he can stay healthy. He has struggled in pass protection in the last few years but the move to right tackle should help him extend his career a few more years. He has good strength which allows him to get a push in the running game and seal the corner pretty well. At 31 years old he is likely to start slowing down and remains average at best in pass protection but overall he is still an above average tackle. The top backup at tackle is the versatile Adam Snyder who started 13 games last year at left guard and at right tackle. The 34-year old Barry Sims started eight games last year but his career is coming to an end and is unlikely to see much playing time this year.

Former second round pick David Baas should get the start at left guard this season. Baas was supposed to be the starter from day one last season but he suffered an injury in the off-season and had to spend the first seven games of the season on the bench. Baas is a big and strong guard at 6’4” and 330 lbs and was a rock in pass protection last season not allowing a single sack in nine starts. He is solid in both run blocking and pass protection and although not a Pro Bowl caliber guard, he will be an asset for this offense if he can play all 16 games. At right guard is the 23-year old Chilo Rachal who was drafted in the second round last year and started six games in his rookie year. Rachal will struggle against quicker defensive linemen but he can still hold his own in pass protection and is quite good in run blocking. Rachal still has to improve his technique, especially when pulling to the outside to block. Adding depth is the versatile Tony Wragge who started 10 games last season but is better suited as a backup.

Eric Heitmann will return as the starting center for a fourth consecutive season after playing at guard in his first few NFL seasons. Heitmann suffered a broken leg at the end of the 2006 season which seemed to bother him throughout the 2007 season but he looked much better last year. He is a below average center who will open up holes in the running game but his lack of mobility make him a weakness for this line in pass protection. Last season, he ranked 27th amongst centers with 4.0 sacks allowed in 16 starts. The 49ers drafted Cody Wallace out of Texas A&M in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft probably because they were worried about Heitmann. Wallace is a very smart player with decent size but his slow footwork could cause him problems against much faster NFL defensive linemen. Heitmann will retain his starting job but Wallace will push him and could win the job in a few years.

2009 Outlook:
This offensive line was very inconsistent last year and used a number of starters at every position. After Baas took over at left guard, the 49ers averaged 3.8 yards per carry and allowed 26 sacks over the final nine games of the regular season. Those games were played with various combinations of Wragge, Rachal, Sims and Snyder on the right side, all players who will be back this year. Things can only get better this year especially with Marvel Smith at right tackle who will be a pretty big upgrade over Sims and Snyder. Overall, the 49ers should be slightly better in run blocking than they were last year but the biggest improvement will be in pass protection and we would not be surprised if the Niners allowed less than 40 sacks this year.

See all of our 2009 Offensive Line Analysis Articles