The San Francisco 49ers had a rough Week 5 loss, but they had some standout players. Most notably, rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey earned a spot on the Pro Football Focus team of the week for Week 5. PFF had this to say about his inclusion:
The second rookie on the offensive line of our Team of the Week this week, McGlinchey had the best game of his career so far despite the loss to the Cardinals. From 64 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just one hurry, with no sacks or hits, and delivered some nice blocks in the running game on his way to an 86.5 run-blocking grade.
McGlinchey has had a lot of ups and downs this season as a pass blocker, but he is showing signs of progress. 64 pass-blocking snaps was by far the highest this week, and the 49ers offensive line did a good job keeping things in front of them vs. the Cardinals solid pass rush. Quarterback C.J. Beathard was twice stripped of the ball, but that came in part due to not stepping up with his blockers. The 49ers offensive line as a whole ranked second in pass protection, according to PFF’s pass blocking efficiency stat.
Through five weeks, McGlinchey is on track for an all-rookie selection. Whether or not you completely buy into PFF’s grading system, he ranks No. 1 among all offensive linemen in run blocking. He is No. 14 among all linemen in overall grade, and No. 9 among tackles. His overall grade takes a hit because of his pass blocking. He ranks No. 121 in pass blocking among all offensive linemen, and No. 50 among tackles.
If McGlinchey can get his pass protection even into the top half of the league, it will be a step forward for him. There’s little positive to take away from losing Jimmy Garoppolo for the season, but the slightest of silver linings is that when he returns next year, Garoppolo will have a more seasoned right tackle. If the 49ers can find some consistency on the interior of the line the next 11 weeks, it could be a huge boon for next season.