The San Francisco 49ers expect to have a much-improved offensive line this season. A lot of that will depend on staying healthy and not repeating last season's misfortunes. It will also help not rotating players in and out of the lineup at center. The team didn't just re-sign eight-time Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams. It added six-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack.
Williams is excited about the addition and feels Mack's addition will pay big dividends in 2021.
"That gives us the brain trust. It's like finding that quarterback," Williams told Damon Bruce, Ray Ratto, and Matt Kolsky on 95.7 The Game. "We just found our quarterback on the front line. Obviously, [Weston Richburg] had his deals with the injuries, which is a misfortune. And his case, and we're praying for him, that he gets a speedy recovery, but to have a guy like Alex Mack come in and just to kind of fill in that void, he's an All-Pro. Everything that you would ask for in a center—he is."
The two signings were impressive, given the 49ers looked to be up against the salary cap as they entered the offseason. Some cap-space gymnastics helped San Francisco keep much of its roster together. The maneuvering impressed the veteran tackle.
"I think we're so lucky," Williams continued. "I don't even know how we did it, but like I said, I think everybody around here is getting used to the magic that front office works every offseason. I still get amazed, though. Even though I expect it, it still amazes me that they continue to bring in high-caliber players, to continue to add pieces to the puzzle, and to [build to] be back in that big dance. I think Alex Mack is a huge piece of that puzzle."
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Williams' return and Mack's addition will be quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who missed 10 games last season due to ankle injuries. In Williams's mind, there is no doubt what the offensive line's goal is this season—keep Garoppolo on the football field.
"I think that's one of the things, as an offensive line, we take squarely on our shoulders," Williams said, "and we need to take squarely on our shoulders, just to help Jimmy G, our quarterback. Obviously, when he's under center, we win a lot more of the games than we lose. So, I think that has to be the main focus, is protecting Jimmy this season, and letting everybody see the kind of quarterback he is."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Williams below.