49ers’ offensive line has become a stumbling block

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, October 05, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Even in the San Francisco 49ers' 20-17 victory over Arizona in the Week 1, the warning signs were there. The offensive line struggled in pass protection at times, especially on the right side manned by Justin Smiley and rookie tackle Joe Staley; and quarterback Alex Smith was sacked three times.

Who cared? Who worried? The next week, Mike Nolan's team was 2-0.

It was in Pittsburgh in Week 3 that it all began to unravel. The line was unable to open up any cracks in the Steelers' three-man front, Frank Gore was corked like a lightning bug in a child's jar, and Smith was repeatedly forced out of the pocket.

Then came the Seattle game, which ended with six sacks (one of which knocked Smith out of the game), and seven offensive line penalties. The unit which was considered to be one of the team's strong points was devolving.

Which brings us to this week, when the Baltimore Ravens bring one of the most aggressive defenses in the league to Monster Park. How bad could it get? The 49ers this week re-signed Patrick Estes, a tackle whom they had cut earlier, and will be without starting left tackle Jonas Jennings, who has been excused to tend to a "personal matter."

That makes it a personal matter for backup quarterback Trent Dilfer -- he doesn't want to be killed. Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata are proven QB hunters, and the Ravens like to bring a lot of pressure from unlikely and unpredictable places.

This is going to be a stout test for the 49er coaches, who have to devise a way to win in spite of the O-line rather than because of it.

Perhaps bringing Kwame Harris, beaten out by Staley in the preseason, back into the starting lineup would help. Staley has enormous potential, but he's a rookie facing things every week that he's never seen before. Harris, who could fill in for Jennings, at least has experience.

"The blocks have been there," Staley said before the Seattle game. "We just have to finish them."

The frustrated Gore, meanwhile, contributed a phrase to the Hall of Obvious Sports Quotes: "On the offense, when everybody is making mistakes, we aren't going to play well."

No, Frank, you aren't.
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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
9erfanNdallas		11:25 AM
10/05/2007
after a phenomenon year with Gore winning the NFC rushing title and Smith improving dramatically in his touchdown to interception...
No.2
warron		11:30 AM
10/05/2007
Well we should have seen it coming, off to a weak start on offence, new coach there and the players not buying in on what he has...
No.3
sl		11:58 AM
10/05/2007
goog post, thats not what wahop thinks. He said everything was fine in the first 3 games. (guess his standard is pretty low)
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