The 49ers Offensive Line Which, by the Way, Doesn't Suck

Second question – it appears all our o-linemen are very good, but how would YOU rank them on their own team, best to worse,including the main 2 back -ups:

Tackles: Staley-Davis-Boone
Guards: Snyder-Iupati-Rachal
Center: Goodwin

I think we did see effects of the lockout in the first 3 games. Many teams had the same problems, though, so it balanced out. Dockett isn’t really being used properly in Arizona. I’m guessing he’d look better on the Raiders, Tampa Bay, someplace where they’re playing more of a straight 4-3. They should trade him, but they won’t.

At the end of last year I had three main concerns going into this year. They were the O-Line, Safeties and Corners and the Pass Rush. After the Dallas game I was still concerned with the O-Line and even though I saw a big improvement in the D-Back play, they still weren’t sticking with their assignments at times.

After that game the O-Line has really solidified. Yes they get beat occasionally but they are playing really well which gives Smith time and our running game lanes to motor through.

With the pass heavy nature of this years version of the NFL we have seen the D-Back give up a few big plays but for the most part theose are more than offset by lots of int’s and great pass defenses.

It looks like the lockout did have a big impact in some areas. In fact it seems like almost every week the coaching staff breaks out a few new things for the team to work on, almost like it’s still training camp.

Can’t wait until they really gel!

You cited Valinor! Major cred.

Chilo and Moran were garbage and it’s not a coincidence that the entire offense started playing better once both were removed from the starting lineup. Us Niners fans have been asking for both to go for years and we finally got our wishes granted.

But I had the up most faith in our niners this year and mostly right after singletary was removed I saw our team own that next game and I said to myself all we need is a offensive minded coach. I then read that we got Jim and I was telling everyone this was going to be our year. I already had faith in our defense and now everything is unfolding just as I invisioned. I knew our GM was going to get us the right peices in free agency. He after all was head of scouting for us. And i’m pretty sure he already knew what he was getting with rogers, whitner, and Bowman. I just want to take this post to show thanks to our owner jed york for actually doing his job and getting us the right pieces himself we have Balke and Harbaugh because of him. And we have our current team with those additions. I love my niners and am very excited for our futer.

That having been said, and only because you already write so well, I have a suggestion for improvement… In the last line of the next to the next to the last paragraph, you state “…on like every run play…”, and this is far below the quality of the rest of your writing (it sounds pretty 13 year oldish). I’d suggest something of the nature of “on almost every run play” or “on nearly every run play”… alternatives abound. I hope that you accept this in the manner in which it was offered, to be constructive.

Also, I agree very much with the main premise of your post. After our 3rd or 4th game, I made the comment that “we will go as far as the O line will carry us”. You know what “they” say about great minds….

Keep up the good work. It’s truly a pleasure to read well thought out, well crafted posts…