49ers Offensive Line: Focusing In On Alex Boone vs. Barry Sims

Yesterday afternoon Ninjames took a look at the 49ers offensive line in 2010 and a brief look ahead to 2011. The discussion in the comments bounced around between the various offensive linemen with Anthony Davis and Alex Boone garnering much of the attention.

Although we had some discussion yesterday, I wanted to revisit the subject of the offensive line focusing in on Alex Boone and Barry Sims specifically. As we move through the offseason and into the 2011 season, these two will be somewhat intertwined. If free agency ever gets going, the 49ers have to decide whether or not to bring back the 36 year old offensive tackle. Two years ago Sims was quite solid in place of the injured Joe Staley. This past year when Staley went down again, Sims had his struggles.

Then we've got a guy like Alex Boone who a lot of folks are incredibly high on. Personal issues hurt his draft stock to the point that he fell completely out of the draft. After spending his first season on the practice squad, Boone got himself into better shape and eventually got onto the field late in 2010. As the team moves forward under its new coaching staff, what do people expect from Boone in 2011? I've added a poll question and you're more than welcome to factor in any injury concerns. So, for example, if you think Joe Staley will get hurt again and miss the end of the regular season you can use that as justification for voting that Boone will be starting at left tackle. Please clarify that in the comments.

I've paired Boone and Sims in part because if Boone were to fill any particular role on the team it would be in that swingman role behind Joe Staley and Anthony Davis. If you think something big is going to happen in training camp or during the season that will result in Boone ending up in the starting lineup, let's hear why you think that.