The San Francisco 49ers spent the first two weeks of training camp working with the same front five on the starting offensive line. Other players got into the mix on occasion, but for the most part, the starting offensive line consisted of Joe Staley, Alex Boone, Joe Looney, Marcus Martin and Erik Pears. However, after Saturday's game, head coach Jim Tomsula suggested the team would look at some combinations this week.
Brandon Thomas is one guy who might see his opportunities increase in the coming days. Matt Maiocco initially wrote that Thomas was likely to see more work with the starters this week. Grant Cohn thinks it is only a matter of time before Thomas is named a starter. Thomas is coming off a strong performance against the Texans in the preseason opener. The 49ers have three more practices this week, so we'll see if he starts getting more than just a few snaps with the first team.
On playing for first time in over a year:
It felt really good. It's been a long time coming. I was excited to get back out there and show what I can actually do. It just felt good. The first hit kind of took me into the game, and then I was like, "OK, I can do this."
On making transition to right guard from left side:
It's basically the same thing, just opposite techniques. That's how you have to look at it. Definitely, playing offensive line, you have to know both sides, every position. That's how you have to look at it. You have to know all the techniques and everything.
On how he feels physically:
I feel good. I feel real good.
On not feeling all there during the offseason workout program:
Well you know, all summer I worked with the strength staff, Uyi and Kurt and the guys. We knew it was gonna be a process. Early on, you could tell, everyone could tell I was playing straight-legged. I needed to work on changing direction stuff. But as time moved on I felt like I got better. And still, it's still a long way to go, but I feel like I've gotten better in the process. You have to understand the process, and I think we all understand it.
On point in camp when he felt it was coming back:
Actually, it was In OTAs, I felt like it's coming back, I can do this, it's gonna gonna take some time. But year, it was during OTAs.
Being straight-legged because legs were underdeveloped from having dealt with the knee injury or sub-consciously trying to protect the knee:
I'm not sure what it was. I just know it was probably a comfort thing. Getting back in the stance, standing in stance, that whole time standing, and staying bent at the waist and playing that low, again.
On if he feels like he is competing for a starting job:
I feel like everybody's competing for a starting job. I mena, this is the NFL. It's training camp. Everybody wants to play, everybody wants to make the 53. So I feel like everybody's playing to try and play.
One play he was proud of from Saturday:
I can't recall one play, but I know a couple plays I was proud of, I actually, a couple pass sets I was happy with. I saw the games they were bringing and I was pretty proud of it. A couple run plays that we had, the combination blocks looked pretty good.
On redirecting a linebacker to the interior as he came up the middle:
I do remember that play. The linebacker was coming in the A-gap. It was a five-man protection, and I redirected him across the lane so he could open up...
On if it was intentional to get the lane open:
I was keying the guy the whole time. That's just part of our blocking scheme.
On addition of new OL Jordan Devey adding competition, changing the environment:
I don't think it will change the environment at all. Like you said, it's the NFL, the program, the organization, they felt like it's the right thing to do. I just feel like he's coming in to try to work for a spot, just like everyone else. So, he'll have a chance. I don't think they'll look to him more than any other guy that's been here. But everyone has a fighting chance.
On help of mental reps last year:
Well it definitely helped being in the film room, studying with the guys, having camaraderie with all the other guys. I mean, that's a big part of it, especially film study. That's a big part in everything you do around here, is film study. Yea, being in the film room, being with the guys, really helped me along for this year. They know who I am, I know who they are, so we can play better if we know each other.
On relationship with Bradley Pinion (both went to Clemson):
Oh yea, we talk all the time. After the game, we sat down, we talked about how he did, how I did, what he's gonna look now to work on, what I'm gonna work on. So yea, we talk all the time.
On whether first team work might increase this week:
Well, I'm not sure. I leave that to the coaching staff. Whatever they tell me to do, I do it. They tell me to go with the first-team, second-team, third-team, I'll hop out there.
On if he's done much work at tackle:
It's been primarily guard, but if they want me to play tackle I could.