The San Francisco 49ers are continuing through phase 2 of the offseason workout program this week, with OTAs set to begin in a week and a half. The first phase of the program involved strength and conditioning work, while phase 2 allows for individual player instruction and entire offense or entire defense on the field (but not offense vs. defense).
OTAs will bring some significant glimpses of the team’s depth chart, but phase 2 offers a chance for at least some overreactions!
The 49ers are posting pictures from each day of phase 2 (May 7, May 8, May 9). Most of them are individual players or some basic workouts. However, Jed08 spotted this picture showing four of the five members of the offensive line working through a unit drill. From left to right, we have tackle Darrell Williams (maybe Gilliam, see below), guard Joshua Garnett, center Weston Richburg, and guard Laken Tomlinson.
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This picture is from the team’s May 7th photo gallery, and yes, I think it is entirely reasonable to read way too much into what the depth chart suggests. Mike McGlinchey is almost assuredly going to be the starting right tackle in September, but in this case, we see Williams on the right side over Garry Gilliam (Fooch’s update: I can’t quite tell if this is Gilliam (pictures) or Williams (pictures). The team extended Gilliam and released Zane Beadles, but there should be a significant competition between Gilliam and Williams for the swing tackle role.
Additionally, we see Garnett and Tomlinson at the two guard spots, with Jonathan Cooper not getting reps with this group. Maybe that means Garnett has the edge on Cooper for the time being. (Fooch’s update: I forgot about Cooper getting MCL surgery earlier this offseason)
In reality, it’s mostly guess-work at this point. But that won’t stop us from overreacting to a single picture with zero context!