Lions at 49ers: Here’s San Francisco’s biggest weakness
2. How concerned are you about the current state of the team’s offensive line?
CW: I’m significantly more concerned about the team’s offensive line than 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are. San Francisco’s offensive line played poorly for the vast majority of 2017 but showed stark improvement once Garoppolo was inserted into the lineup.
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Still, the interior offensive line was a major area of need entering this offseason. While the 49ers did make some personnel changes via free agency and the draft, the changes they made weren’t the ones that most analysts expected.
Historically, Shanahan places high value on the center position, and much lower value on the two guard positions, which was reflected in San Francisco’s personnel moves over the offseason.
Shanahan and Lynch paid top dollar for center Weston Richburg but allowed their top guard Brandon Fusco to walk in free agency while signing ex-Detroit guard Laken Tomlinson to an extension after a mediocre season.
The 49ers planned to have a fierce three-man competition at the other guard spot, which never came to fruition due to injury. Last week, both of the team’s unproven right guards were knocked out of the contest, which forced rookie right tackle, Mike McGlinchey, to finish the game at the position.
While McGlinchey played admirably, replacement swing tackle Garry Gilliam did not, which took a major toll on the 49ers’ offense. Garoppolo’s quick release and improvisational skills can make up for a sub-par offensive line, but not a poor offensive line facing off against a strong Vikings defensive front.