http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2008/12/11/689453/a-closer-look-at-the-balti

Finally, it’s worth noting that the Baltimore Ravens changed offensive line coaches. Gone is Chris Foerster, who served as the team’s offensive line coach since 2005. The Ravens line was miserable in ’05, better in ’06, and not very good in ’07. In 2004, his last year in Miami, his line surrendered the second most sacks in the league (52) and tied for last in yards per rush (3.5). Foerster was hired by San Francisco this year, and I suppose it should surprise no one that the 49ers are 25th in rushing yards, and 3rd worst in sacks allowed (45).

Also I feel you neglected to mention that Baas has been a weak spot at LG as well, which imo is a critical issue because having such weak guard play hurts Heitmann as well, because I’ve seen a few plays this year where he was too indecisive with double teaming, which I feel is a direct consequence of sucky play on both sides of him.

Our options are limited but I would go with:

Staley – Wragge – Heitmann – Snyder – Pashos

Staley and Pashos have proven durability so I don’t think tackle depth is too much of a concern. Wragge has filled in nicely before, and Snyder has always been more suited to playing guard.

Since 2006 season, the 49ers brass has had to fully rebuild this offensive line and results have been putrid.

The 49ers essentially turned to the Raven’s blueprint of an offensive line. That was probably their first mistake because the Ravens spent the better part of the decade with a horrible offensive line. Essentially their philosophy calls for big, bulky offensive linemen who you can overlook having slow feet. This type of line should be a powerful, straight ahead run blocking unit but be so-so in pass protection. At least that is suppose to be theory. The Ravens couldn’t even block worth a {site decorum} the year they won the SB.

The teams invested a large number of high draft picks in the offensive line: Staley (1st Round), Baas (2nd, #33 pick so 1st round according to Brendan’s math), Rachal (2nd), Snyder (3rd) and Cody Wallace (4th). Although they are young, they should show signs of being an above average offensive line. Other teams are getting far better play from undrafted free agent lineman. For the most part this unit isn’t even showing hints of talent, which according to their draft slots they should possess.

After Sunday, it’s easy to say this unit really is close to the worst offensive line in the league. They are built to push teams around and they got whipped by an incredibly small Falcon defensive front playing nickel coverage! The very type of team they are constructed to crush, and Falcons even took a defender out of the box.

When the results are this bad it’s time to re-evaluate everything. It’s either management and their philosophy of evaluating and finding talent or it’s the coach who cannot get it out them.

Thanks to znk916 research we might have the answer. We brought over the Raven’s bad coach with the bad Raven’s philosophy. Possibly both need to go. At the very least, hire a high priced consultant to bring some new ideas about offensive line play into the organization. 3 years and this experiment is still and utter and complete failure. Huge investment and very little return.

As for the immediate fixes I also agree with znk916. Promote Wragge just because the guard play has been so bad it’s common sense to make a switch. Move Snyder back to guard. He’s actually improved each week at RT but he’s probably needed more at guard at this point. Switching Pathos for Snyder at RT probably won’t make much of a difference. I’m already yearning for the days of the 2008 season where the RT was turnstile but at least the offensive line could occasionally open some holes in the run game.

A lot of people on this board are probably too young to remember it, but this season so far is giving me flashbacks to 1980—that is, the season BEFORE we got good. That year, too, we started with a bang, 3-0, and the team came out of nowhere to become a league darling in the early going. After years of playing punching bag, the Niners had a (relatively) new rich-kid owner, and an ambitious, control-freak second-year coach, and a blue-collar quarterback (Steve DeBerg) who managed to consistently play over his head and win ballgames, even if nobody knew exactly how. Then reality set in, most clearly with a 59-14 by the Cowboys in Week 6 that was part of a gruesome 8-game slide. Let me tell you, that Cowboys game was eye-opening (or groin-kicking) in the same way the Falcons game was on Sunday. Let’s just hope next year is 1981 all over again. My question: who’s our new Joe Montana?

Picked up a DL kaliff mitchel, again. but we are turning him into a OT

Fooch could we get a update on the full PS??? i can’t find one that is up to date.

he has been inconsistent for St Louis, but has played Left and Right Tackle for them.
My solution is to trade with the Rams for Barron, maybe a 4th round draft choice. That is a lot to give up for a Right Tackle in a contract year, but considering what the 49ers have at stake this year, it isn’t a huge overpay.
then tell Pashos and Snyder to lose about 15 pounds each. make them both the starting guards.
NOw you have:
Staley, Snyder, Heitman, Pashos, and Barron.
That line could run block and pass block.

but this year, they suck and blow, and Barron is a free agent at the end of the year, who will probably leave anyway. If the Niners give up a pick, they get something for nothing. Plus, they’ve got a guy they want to play in his position anyway, so it gives them a chance to try him out.

   Chilo Rachel is a turnstile. He is not getting the job done period. I would go so far to say that the Niners might conciser Alex Boone at this point if he is sober and ready to play! Bary Sins should not be taken off the bench for any reason other than the other 5 starters are injured and they are one short on backups to fill out the line. In fact, the fact that Sims was kept and Boone let go to this day just amazes me. Sims is a proven quantity. In fact there is overwhelming evidence for the prosecution to reach the verdict of Accessory to assault the way he pass blocks.

    So I ask again, why not Boone? He is on the practice squad right? Just about now he seems like a mean and spirited young man that might be able to hold his own. Rachel as done NOTHING to earn his position and has done NOTHING to try and keep it. Way too many “OLE” blocks that allow free hits on Hill and the running back. I guess you can go with Wragge, but they you need a backup for Wragge. I say bring back Boone and let him compete with Wragge for the RT spot. What do we have to lose… Other than our skill players to injuries?

   Is it too late to trade for a RT? The deadline hasnt come yet, so we should be shopping hard for a RT to fill the gaping hole in our Oline. Just a guy who can get in the way and hold his ground for a SECOND would be nice. Put Rachel on the PS, I’m sure he would clear waivers at this point.. They are going to shake up the O-Line, that is for sure. How that is going to play out leaves room for much discussion.

   On a side note, I don’t feel like Bly’s apology was sincere. It sounded rehearsed and he was still making excuses even as he was apologizing. I truly hope we do not see any more celebrating when we are down 25 points. That is the sign of a loser club. Act like you have been there before. An 11 year vet should know better. I really hope that Coach was sincere when he said Bly came to him. It doesn’t matter much now that it is over and done with, but I’d like to believe that Bly saw the replays and realized he was being a bonehead all on his own. I was sickened when he got stripped. The only way he could make it worse is if he kept “Neon Derion High Stepping” to the endzone without the ball!!

   I have seen a lot of criticism of Hil after that loss. I was critical of Hill after the loss too. But after watching the game again, I have to say for as little time Hill had to work with, he did a pretty good job of not getting sacked or fumbling the ball. Hill has Z E R O time to peddle back and read the defense. The D-Linemen of the Falcons got in the backfield faster than Hill could take his drop! And that is not an allstar D-Line. They got one good pass rusher and the other players are just good. They ran stunts and blitzes that were aimed at the weak spot on the Niner O-line at RT.

   I think that Singletary will get them back to playing good ball after the Bye. I REALLY hope that Crabtree becomes a scoring threat to help take the burden off of Gore and Davis. The Niner wide receiving corps just stinks to high H3LL! If Crabtree can even be a fast decoy running go routes, it would help the offense. I believe the RT position will be fixes by the time we play Houston, somehow or someway. We get our offense back and I hope Gore is 110% healthy and ready to rumble, I think Davis, after watching the lowlights film study will be more attentive to the play calls and his role in the offense. If Crabby can draw some attention, that might create some one on one opportunities for other players. Just give Hill a 3 count will ya??? Hill needs a CHANCE to succeed !!! GO NINERS !

 This act has been going on for years. To think that you can move Linemen around and expect Major improvement. Wishful Thinking! I’m Pissed because I wanted OL in the FA Market and wanted to draft 2 Linemen. But NO….. ! Then to top it all off, we lose Sheets to Miami !
 Watch out McC, Your Day is coming sooner than I Hope !!!!!!
 Those who read my comments, you know I don’t like McC.

I love the niners and I love the new ethos, but we’ve matched someone who has a long-term track record as mediocre OC (when you’ve been an OC for years and people point to the fact that you had a great tight end once as your highlight…) with someone who has a long-term track record as a ‘fair to poor’ performing line coach (thanks for the stats Danny) is there any surprise we aren’t a force on the LOL? I think I agree with LVNiner that moving around the guys we have with the same system and same coaching isn’t going to gain us much. How often have you seen new coaches go in with a new system and make guys that looked average before look like all-stars (ala Elvis Dubervil). Make a coaching change now, before its too late!

he played really well so something has changed and I’ll speculate that maybe he’s being asked to do things that he’s not confident in doing…maybe with the protection schemes or something. Somehow he is off kilter and I wish I knew how he came off the tracks. However, I do think he is fix-able.

Chilo has been getting beat and beaten badly and often. I am surprised they have stuck with him this long. He is getting beat off the ball and pushed back even on running plays. I don’t know what the problem with him is but if it were me I would bring in someone else. Chilo is young and has talent but he isnt ready to be a starter. Many people don;t realize how complicated being an offensive lineman is. You have to know who you are going after and make the right first step everytime. Sounds simple but it isn’t. You have to get off the ball first. Chilo looks like he is bewildered out there and still trying to figure out who he should block when the ball is snapped. The offensive line lost Larry Allen and Justin Smiley at the guard spots. Larry Allen is hall of fame material that retired and Justin Smiley now is starting for the Miami Dolphins after being lost to free agency. Baas has shown signs of improvement, Staley seems stable at left tackle and Heitman is our best offensive lineman. I don’t think the 49ers should give up on Rachal but should drop him down on the depth chart and give someone else a shot at the job.