Free agent G Chester Pitts to visit 49ers next week

by David Fucillo on Mar 12, 2010 7:01 AM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

Thanks to nocal81 for getting a FanShot up on this, but I wanted to expand a bit on the issue. Reports have surfaced that guard Chester Pitts will be visiting the 49ers later next week. He's visiting the Lions on Wednesday, and will follow that with a visit to the 49ers. While the 49ers have Chilo Rachal over at right guard, and arguably David Baas at left guard (depending on getting him re-signed), the guard position is not settled long-term. Whether the team goes after MIke Iupati (always a chance he's switched over to OT), or goes through free agency, I'd imagine there will be another guard in camp come the end of July.

In the meantime, I'd imagine we all would like a little more info in advance of Pitts' visit to Santa Clara. As nocal81 pointed out, feel free to check out his player bio at the Texans website. For those looking for more details, Scouts Inc. had the following details in their scouting report on the 30-year old guard:

He has excellent size, agility and body control for the position and above average speed when pulling. He is a decent knee bender who works hard to try and leverage his blocks with a good pad level and understands blocking angles as well as hand use. He is not a bulldozer but can hold his own on the line when drive blocking and has the ability to sink his hips to bow up against some of the better bull rushers. He more of a finesse blocker than an overpowering one but he will flash the ability to cave things in with a down block. He is a quality starter who won't be the weakest link on this offensive line.

Given the Lions offensive line woes, I'd imagine Pitts might think he'll have a better shot at a starting job if he heads to the Motor City. However, given the 49ers own offensive line issues, it will be interesting to see if they can convince him it's worth rolling the dice.

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Interesting

He has OT as well as OG experience. Recent injuries are a bit of a worry.

Balanced draft with offensive emphasis. Pick 13 CJ Spiller 17 to Chargers 28 DI/DET Jared Odrick 48 WR Demaryius Thomas 60 S Reshad Jones
79 Jared Valdheer 110 OG Marshall Newhouse 141 CB Akwasi Owusu Ansah 172 OLB O'Brien Schoffield 208 FB Manase Tonga (He and Britt Miller can swap off and one play blocking TE and one FB)

by ChesapeakeBay9er on Mar 12, 2010 7:17 AM PST reply actions

Yeah

he played LT for a bit. Definitely better suited as a guard.

by TexansDC on Mar 12, 2010 9:41 AM PST up reply actions

I say take him.

If you can sign him for relatively cheap or at least a moderate contract, then I’d take a shot at him. He was incredibly consistent before the MCL, and could bounce back to be a quality player. Baas is gone after this year anyway and this would allow you to take a G in the late rounds and groom for a few years. Even at that point, he could be a great depth player and fill in along the line better than Snyder does.

by 9thevolution on Mar 12, 2010 7:50 AM PST reply actions

I’ll say it again..what about Lilja? Younger and possibly better

by 49er4life on Mar 12, 2010 9:04 AM PST reply actions

Lilja isn't better

and he’s a small guard to

Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010

by smileyman on Mar 12, 2010 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

I would take either or. I think Pitts is better than Baas

"If you're not first, you're last" -Reese Bobby.

by Drew Kerr on Mar 12, 2010 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

He would be a good fit for a year or two, while we draft and develop someone else… assuming we can develop a guy to play guard. It sure hasn’t worked out for Rachal or Baas yet. Why is that? Do they have the same excuse that Alex Smith gets, by having a new O-coordinator every year?

I just hope they find a couple guys to make the line respectable this year.

by aBulldog on Mar 12, 2010 9:23 AM PST reply actions