Do You Want Alex Boone Competing With Anthony Davis? If So, How Soon?
by James Brady on Dec 10, 2011 2:00 PM PST
in 49ers Roster
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PrintThis isn't some in-depth breakdown or statistical analysis of offensive linemen. It's true that the o-line is my favorite part of football (especially now that kickoffs lack any excitement whatsoever), and I have quite a few opinions of what I think should be done with the offensive line, to be sure. I'm actually quite happy with the line, short of a bit of a question mark at one position and two others under-performing, but they're things I believe can be corrected.
But the opinions of this offensive line vary greatly. First, let's establish what I think we can all probably agree on. First, Mike Iupati is an absolute stud, despite maybe three bad games as a pro thus far. Two, Joe Staley is too consistent as a left tackle, but the 49ers could do a helluva lot worse. Three, Jonathan Goodwin terrified the hell out of me when he strung together a bad game or two at the beginning of the season, but has since solidified.
So of course, we come to the other two spots. Personally, I've been a fan of Adam Snyder for years so we're going to skip past that. We come to Anthony Davis at the right tackle position. With the 49ers recently signing Alex Boone to a long-term extension, could he be in the thick of things battling it out next season? What about this season?
Davis has struggled, to be sure. But he's also put together some very solid games. This year, I'd say he's been about half and half. The reason I ask about Boone is because there have been people already saying that he's unquestionably better than Davis. Personally, I feel those people are off their rocker, how could you say that without really having seen much of Boone? That being aside, there's a reason to like what Boone brings to the table and if you'd rather see what he has to offer, then that's a different story.
Are things at a point where the 49ers need to bench Davis now and see what Boone can do? Or is that something you'd rather see happen in the preseason next year? Or, perhaps, do you think a different scenario is in play - one where Staley is perhaps benched, or even one of the tackle playing guard? I'll save you the trouble now - neither Staley nor Boone would fit at guard, and I question Davis' ability to play their as well, but let your imaginations run wild. Eager to see what you all think.
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Davis is only in his 2nd year and he was drafted knowing he was raw but had upside.
No point pulling the cord now knowing that you drafted him as a project. It’s obvious that the weakest link on the line was Chilo. Chilo in, Davis struggled. Chilo out, Davis did well. I’m fine moving on with Staley, Iupati, Goodwin, Snyder, Davis.
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NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer
by afrikabamboodle on Dec 10, 2011 2:10 PM PST reply actions 3 recs
totally agree
Davis is just 22 years old he still had a lot to learn but with his size and speed he has a lot of upside. He does seem to struggle more with Chilo. Why not let them battle it out next spring.
by IHavIssues on Dec 10, 2011 3:08 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
He only has straight forward speed. No lateral movement which you need as a tackle
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 3:44 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah he definitely could use more lateral agility,
but I’m just not sure Boone brings that to the table. I honestly I would be very surprised if Boone was actually quicker than Davis in that aspect. But hey, if Boone is in fact better than Davis, which I highly highly doubt, then he should definitely get the starting spot. I just don’t believe that’s the case.
Affectionately,
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer
by afrikabamboodle on Dec 10, 2011 5:41 PM PST up reply actions
Davis should be playing guard. I'd rather have a fantastic guard and an OT that's just as bad pass blocking
and slightly worse run blocking….
Then a guard that stinks Chilo/Snyder and a tackle that stinks. At least if our guard position was shored up we could direct the back or the TE to help with the 1 weak position, instead of having 2 weak positions that amplify each other.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 5:47 PM PST up reply actions
It had more to do with who was across from Davis than who was next to him.
Davis gets annihilated and embarrassed by speed rushers or guys with good moves and balance.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 3:43 PM PST up reply actions
Davis gets annihilated and embarrassed by speed rushers or guys with good moves and balance.
so a.k.a., good pass rushers
by The Licensed Pessimist on Dec 10, 2011 4:00 PM PST up reply actions
Pretty much.
Babin, Long and Suggs all embarrassed him. We were lucky the Giants didn’t do their homework. They had Tuck go up against Davis since they thought we’d have to run 1000 times instead of letting Alex pass. Had they instead turned JPP loose on Davis he’d have probably racked up 3 or 4 sacks against him.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 4:18 PM PST up reply actions
Agree.
ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE
"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh
What we really need next year is a RG in the draft. Snyder can stay for an extra year or so while the new guy developes.
Boone was extended for the purpose of being the swing T, not take over for Davis. Davis has had some really solid games this year. His bad games have come from Chilo being next to him.
I'd rather sign someone in FA that can be a long term answer.
Davis has shown that he can be a good T when the G next to him is at least decent. He needs a guy next to him that can recognize the complex blitzes and takes on his man allowing Davis to stick to his man rather than deciding who he’s going to block because Rachal doesn’t know who to block. If we do draft a G he’s got to be able to pick up the blitz schemes quickly or else we will have 2 holes on the OL with both being on the right side.
We already have two new Guards in Kilgore (who can also play Tackle) and Person.
They are doing exactly what CK is doing at QB. They are learning from the meetings and practices and growing. Next offseason I can see one of them as a potential new RG and the other as the backup G.
Also, The way Harbaugh handles those on the practice squad is the same as those that are on the 53. They get the meetings, training, practices and go to the games. I can see them working Beeler as a potential long term replacement at Center.
Yes they could draft a new G or C in the first 4 rounds this coming draft, but these 3 have the experience with the team that helps a player grow.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
Boone vs. Davis
I’m curious how many people that are pumped about Boone are more simply intrigued by the less known quantity as opposed to specifically Boone.
Tend to agree with this
But, Boone had a lot of hype coming out of college before his troubles with the law- a lot of raw talent, and he’s had the opportunity to learn slowly with the Niners. I don’t think we have seen nearly enough of him to evaluate, but I AM optimistic that he could be good.
AD has progressed a lot, still has a ways to go, and as mentioned, does MUCH better playing next to Snyder than he does Rachal. If he can keep improving, he could be really solid. Actually, I would say thus far that Staley has been the most questionable; we could do worse, but we could also do better at such a crucial position.
So, I’m good with where things are at, I think we absolutely need to draft another guard, and I think the Chilo experiment has officially failed. The Davis one continues…I wish he had gotten a full off-season to prepare for this year.
"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will
by lottwasgangsta on Dec 10, 2011 2:40 PM PST up reply actions
Definitely a possibility
People always seem to think the grass is greener on the other side.
by IHavIssues on Dec 10, 2011 3:12 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I agree
Everybody loves the backup
"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."
Norm Sloan
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."
Weldon Drew
Not really
Boone has the athleticism that Davis is never going to have.
But right now Davis is better. Boone bends at the waist and as a result he’s always off balance. Sometimes (this is from pre-season tape not the Arizona game) he starts out with good technique and then loses his knee bend when he starts getting tired. As a result he has not only issues with balance but with high hand placement and reaching on his punch.
If Boone fixes those technical flaws and works on maybe getting more power into his punch he’ll be better than Davis. Until then he is interesting potential that I’d like to see progress on.
Every time Jamie Dukes says something enlightening and informative about football Jerry Rice and I mount up on our flying grizzly bears and claim pirate treasure from the moon. That's how often it happens.
I love Alex smith
MOON LANDING? BEAR GRYLLS!
by Anonymous1337 on Dec 10, 2011 2:36 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I loving Alex too
But we talking about Boone and Davis stop trying to get the haters agitated
by IHavIssues on Dec 10, 2011 3:14 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Lol what?
Stop accusing me of things that I am not even remotely trying to do.
MOON LANDING? BEAR GRYLLS!
by Anonymous1337 on Dec 10, 2011 3:25 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
he does kinda have a point...
why the random post about Smith in a thread strictly about the OL?
I love carpet... I love desk...
ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE
"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh
Snyder
I don’t think that Adam Snyder is going to be hanging around, waiting for Boone to replace him, Ericalan. Doubtful the niners will get him for less than a five year deal for big bucks.
Nobody wants Snyder or Chilo.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 3:46 PM PST up reply actions
COMPETITION
I would like to see everyone compete during a real training camp. Also, the 49ers have spent so much time to build continuity and a team it would be unwise to see it crumble because of a few posts. Which will not happen because coaches will make the right decision and put the best team out on the field. Both Davis and Boone are young and still need to develop. So far both players are signed long term.
Boone is obviously the best OT on the team
just like Nate Davis was the best QB and Kory Sheets is the best RB ever.
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
Magic number For bye week (4 for Saints 2 for Cowboys) For NFC West division title 0 (NFC WEST CHAMPIONS)
by manraj7 on Dec 10, 2011 3:21 PM PST reply actions 3 recs
KSWOF!
ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE
"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh
Thread over
Everyone else needs to pipe down.
Proud adoptee of Dick Tidrow the mastermind behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Buster Posey and many more. Also known as "The Reason".
Davis improved a lot this year from last year
and that is without an offseason, I think next year he takes an even bigger leap and becomes a very good OT.
He still has the exact same weakness and it hasn't improved at all.
Every speed rusher (And Chris Long) he’s faced game long has straight butt raped him. Babin, Suggs, Long. We’re lucky that Tuck was lining up on Davis cause if JPP had gone up against him every play eventually he’d have beaten him too.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 3:52 PM PST up reply actions
Honestly I think that Davis has to move over to the left in the next year...
He’s shown me some really good flashes and Joe Staley can’t physically hang with the top rushers. Joe would be better off on the right…
"Whoever said WAR is HELL must have been talking about Aaron Rowand" - McCoven faithful
So the guy that can't move fast enough laterally to even lay a hand on a speed rusher can do that on Alex's blind side?
smh
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 4:19 PM PST up reply actions
Actually Staley is the one who gets beat on the outside.. Davis does when Rachal is at RG
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
Cuz Davis is worried that the guy is just going to shoot in through the inside.
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
Magic number For bye week (4 for Saints 2 for Cowboys) For NFC West division title 0 (NFC WEST CHAMPIONS)
Meh.
To be frank, Boone was super cheap.
He is also young which is good for that OT/TE spot he lines up in for pure run. Good sign for a backup offensive lineman.
"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they’re bigger than everybody else, and that’s what makes them the biggest guys on the field." ~ John Madden
by 49erfannm on Dec 10, 2011 4:24 PM PST via mobile reply actions
With all of this Davis bashing, we forget that Staley gets equally as abused
Staley is a LT and gets paid like a LT, but SHOULD BE a RT. The two best players on our line are Iupati and sadly, the backup Snyder.
[only built for cuban linx]
Backup?
ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE
"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh
Um... LOL
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Staley isn’t great but at least he gets in front of his guys. He gets beat by power rushes but doesn’t allow untouched sacks. And Snyder played guard for us. He got benched. That’s why he got moved to guard. He’s barely NFL caliber at tackle and he’s certainly not starting caliber. At guard he’s barely serviceable. We could replace him with a rookie 3rd to 4th round OT and immediately improve.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 5:15 PM PST up reply actions
I don't think Staley is "equally" as abused. Not by a long shot.
I think we can all agree that Staley should be far beyond where he is at this point.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
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I think Staley just needs to find his right playing weight
If I remember right he wanted to come into the season lighter to better deal with speed but now he is more susceptible to the bullrush.
And you are right — he’s nowhere near to being abused as much as Davis but he’s got some work to do.
Every time Jamie Dukes says something enlightening and informative about football Jerry Rice and I mount up on our flying grizzly bears and claim pirate treasure from the moon. That's how often it happens.
No one hands a guy 1.5 milion dollars
If they don’t think the guy is ever going to see the football field. I’d like to see Boone push anyone for the tackle position. How does Boone earn the job other than by being better at it?
"Hey look over there. Isn't that John Candy?"
In my opinion
The line should be Staley-Iaputi-Goodwin-Snyder-Davis. It’s stupid to bench a young project, even if he’s struggling (and will someone PLEASE tell that to the Giants about Brandon Belt?). However, in the event that Snyder or Iaputi is injured, I think that either Boone or Davis should slide to guard and the other should play tackle, which I think is what will eventually happen with Davis at RG and either Snyder or Goodwin at C. Please, no more Chilo.
I'm just a simple Giants fan trying to make my way in the universe.
by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Dec 10, 2011 5:14 PM PST reply actions
If your "young prospect" has a high probability of getting your QB seriously injured you bench his ass.
Davis still has a high probability of getting Alex hurt because he sucks so hard. He got Alex hurt last year and he’s still making the same mistakes.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 5:17 PM PST up reply actions
You dont make sense. You trust Harbaugh and the staff on everything but one position?
Makes zero sense.
"What the hell are you mixing in that look-aid"
I just don't think they are ready to take bold action at the position. I don't know what but that's what it comes down to.
Davis should be playing guard where he’d actually be NOT JUST GOOD. But quite possibly VERY GOOD. And then let Boone be our weakest link… If he really turned out to be.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 5:35 PM PST up reply actions
I don't know why (not what) but that's
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 5:36 PM PST up reply actions
Here is a good offensive line
Staley – Iupati – Goodwin – Peter Konz – Davis or Even better…
Staley – Iupati – Goodwin – Davis – Nate Potter/Brandon Mosley/Andrew Datko
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 5:25 PM PST up reply actions
Or Boone if he could play RT.
As it is Davis should be playing guard at some point because he just isn’t equipped to play tackle at this point. His feet are too slow. And its not the type of thing that will just get better as he gets older.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 5:40 PM PST up reply actions
Isn't Boone a tackle?
I'm just a simple Giants fan trying to make my way in the universe.
by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Dec 10, 2011 10:00 PM PST up reply actions
If Boone was better he’d be starting, kinda like Snyder taking over for Rachal. If you claim to trust Harbaugh you can’t decide you don’t over one position.
"What the hell are you mixing in that look-aid"
If Boone was better he’d be starting
If only it were that simple.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter
Why wouldnt it be, its not the blind side, and if Davis is such a turnstyle, you make the change.
Chilo started and was supplanted, I would think they’d make that same.decision with Davis if Boone was better.
"What the hell are you mixing in that look-aid"
Davis has been a turnstyle against a certain type of pass rusher.
That’s not to saay Boone is better or anything, but it means that Davis may struggle against that type for a long time. I like the idea (not this season of course) of trying to move him to RG during preseason to see how he does there.
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Niners should trade up in next years draft, pick Jonathan Martin OT Stanford. Move Staley to right side, kick Davis over to RT G Oline problems should then be solved. I ’d bet that would give the Niners the best Oline in football.
by bmcrae83@yahoo.com on Dec 10, 2011 8:43 PM PST reply actions
Staley can't play the right side...
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
Magic number For bye week (4 for Saints 2 for Cowboys) For NFC West division title 0 (NFC WEST CHAMPIONS)
While we're at it lets draft all Stanford guys.
I mean, Stanford is the greatest and all, and everyone on the team are future Hall Of Famers in the NFL.
ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE
"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh
No no
Only Luck, Martin, DeCastro, Thomas, Skov, Taylor, Owusu, Fleener, Ertz, Toilolo, Vaughters, Howell, Masafilo, and Lyons are hall of famers. The rest will probably be solid NFL starters or All-Stars.
I'm just a simple Giants fan trying to make my way in the universe.
by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Dec 11, 2011 2:20 AM PST up reply actions
More importantly
The Niners are going to be playing playoff football. It’s going to be so nice to feel that again!
I’d say ride Davis out. He’s young and needs as much experience as he can get in pressure situations. When we all learn how to walk, we would fall flat on our faces from time to time. Back when your parents drafted you, you had a lot of raw skills and we all said “Give it time, he’ll learn, he’s wired right.” Look at you now, walking around like some fancy king. Good thing we took a risk on you.
Honorary parent of Duane Kuiper, beloved solar powered broadcaster and power hitting coach for the Giants.
JaWalrus, as the entire interior o-line
Defensive linesmen would need to take two cabs and a 5 minute walk just to get around his enormous ass [Not sure if ass is forbidden by the decorum clause. It’s okay on TV, but St. Louis Rams football is okay on TV too, so I could be very, very wrong]
"I got two hard rules I live by, pop. I don't [site decorum] with the devil, and I never do tag teams with blood relatives" -Kenny Powers
by TryAndCatchVD on Dec 11, 2011 12:39 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Shameless self-rec
For 1:1 joke to sentence ratio.
Is that how you bag on several things at once? Yes it is, other Chris. Yes it is.
"I got two hard rules I live by, pop. I don't [site decorum] with the devil, and I never do tag teams with blood relatives" -Kenny Powers
by TryAndCatchVD on Dec 11, 2011 12:40 AM PST up reply actions
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