The San Francisco 49ers spent their offseason wondering who would start at left guard after Ben Bartch and Spencer Burford departed in free agency. Truthfully, since Aaron Banks departed for Green Bay, the left guard position has been a revolving door. Last season, as a rookie, Connor Colby got some run, but earned a mixed bag of results. The 49ers drafted Carver Willis and signed Robert Jones to add to the competition, but Colby got the nod in Australia, and his play was very solid.
Overreacting
to one week of football isn’t wise, but the 49ers have been ranked as a top-ten offensive line group this offseason nearly everywhere, and a great showing against the Rams only supports that thinking. Pro Football Focus ranks the 49ers seventh after Week 1.
The 49ers’ offensive line had a strong showing in the win over the LosAngeles Rams in Melbourne. Connor Colby got the start at left guard and was the only player in the group to produce a PFF Pass Block Win Rate below 90.0%, while no member of the unit allowed more than two pressures. The 49ers were solid as run-blockers, too. Colby had the highest negatively graded play rate in the group at 35.7%, but he also had the highest positively graded play rate as a run-blocker at 21.4%.
Much has been made about PFF and its grading system, but SIS Data Hub believes the 49ers offensive line was excellent. Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, and Colby all have a zero percent blown-block rate, with Colton McKivitz and Trent Williams drawing two blown blocks each, one pass block and one run block. The trio of Brendel, Puni, and Colby is also in the top 12 for total points earned.
Now, the Rams were neutralized, and Myles Garrett was injured, but the 49ers should expect performances like this when the game plan is to get the ball out quickly and establish the running game. The bump in run blocking is a welcome sight and comes in addition to the new “dash” or “banana” motion, whichever you prefer, helping to create new window dressing and angles.
It remains to be seen if this will continue for the 49ers offensive line, but they are a top-ten unit. The hope is that continuity will build and cohesion will come at the right time, especially against the NFL’s top defensive units.
