Golden Nuggets: Offensive Line Shaping Up

The San Francisco 49ers have 2 remaining games this preseason to help decide their roster spots. Colin Kaepernick will likely play his 1st game this preseason against the Green Bay Packers. The coaching staff have not named a starter for the regular season because they want Colin to have a shot to play in an actual game situation before they make a decision. He is behind Blaine Gabbert at this point, but he can make some noise if he has a great game against the Packers.

Vance McDonald has been a revelation for the 49ers so far this offseason. After being a 2nd round pick in 2013, he was expected to replace Delanie Walker, but never came close to accomplishing that. He had a total of 10 catches in his 1st 2 seasons. He finally scored his 1st career TD and ended up scoring 3 total once Blaine Gabbert became the starter last season. He has received much of the work this offseason as the #1 TE. He is entering a contract year and will get a lot of work in Chip Kelly’s offense if he wins the starting job.

There has been steady competition on the offensive line. The line struggled last season, but with rookies and Anthony Davis returning from retirement, the line could be set for a big improvement. On Tuesday, Anthony Davis worked at right guard and rookie Joshua Garnett split time at left guard with free agent signing Zane Beadles. Anthony is moving from right tackle to guard and he said he will be reaching out to former 49er Mike Iupati for tips on playing the position. The coaching staff said the best 5 players will play on the line and it looks like the staff is close to finding the 5 best.

49ers Links

49ers Cheat Sheet (Kosko)

A welcome new mentality | New Mentality For Vance (Maiocco)

Roster Projections (Maiocco)

Playing really well | Ronald Blair Proving Himself (Williams)

Bruce In The Slot (Price)

New WR (49ers Staff)

Aaron Rodgers Expected To Play (Gantt)

Dres Anderson Wants To Build On Sunday’s TD (Fann)

Ryan Whalen Signs (Biderman)

Former Stanford WR Signed (CSN Staff)

The move everyone expected | AD And Joshua Garnett With The Starters (Biderman)

Practice Notes (Barrows)

Needs a real good performance | Time For Kap To Play (Biderman)

He needs to play well | Vance’s Time (Inman)

Davis To Get Work At Right Guard Friday (McDonald)

Will need to earn it | Ray-Ray Wants Starting Job (Barrows)

The new NFL | Remote-Controlled Dummies At Practice (Biderman)

AD is flexible on the line | Look At Right Guard (Maiocco)

A big problem so far for the RBs | Ball Control Emphasized (Biderman)

Waiting On Kap (Maiocco)

2016 Season On Baalke (Kawakami)

Vance Finds Perspective (Inman)

AD On O-Line (Biderman)

Close to announcing starters | The Line Is Taking Shape (McDonald)

CB Reaser Competing (Fann)

New Version Of Vance (Biderman)

Learning New Position (Maiocco)

May the best player in win | Platoon At ILB (Biderman)

No, no, no | 5 Trades (Cohn)

Notebook (Price)

Didn’t take too long | Garnett Works With Starters (Maiocco)

Back To The 2011 Draft (Kugelmas)

49ers Video

They could excel | Defense Ready To Exceed (Scott)

QB Battle (NFL Video)

Football Dummies (Sacramento Bee Video)

Chip Mic’d Up (49ers Video)