Do you have faith in Brandon Thomas & Marcus Martin to step it up?

IDK... Most seem to say we need to let the players we have in Martin and Thomas develop. I agree they need time, but you also have to balance the whole team. It's all about getting to the post-season(sorry Jed). If you win your division it is an automatic trip to the dance. If not you have to hope for a wild card but we have seen how hard it is having a good team try to run the table as a wild card. It's better to win your division and have home games or a week off.

With that said... the longer we wait for players to develop, we waste the other players who are in their prime or just starting to get it together. Like Boldin, the longer we wait, we will just have to replace him in a year or 2. Then we will wait for someone to help out Torrey, etc...

The Oline is the one area that I feel like you shouldn't mess around. I think Kilgore and Thomas and Martin are all ????? They might turn out to all be studs but that's saying that we will hit on all 3. If we don't, and say Martin turns out to be ok, we will probably blow another season, maybe 8-8 or 9-7 or even 10-6. But in our division, that's not good enough. So the following year we will be right back at trying to replace Martin or someone else from injury or poor play. And Boone is in a contract year.

I know people want to draft other spots. But a good Oline allows you to have a successful season. You can win a lot of games and still make a run in the playoffs. Kap getting sacked a ton or the line not dominating will not get us there.

I say if there is a problem with the line, you fix it now and the whole team benefits. We won't have to worry about it this year or next. Even if we drafted Leo Williams and had a dominate D, what would that do for us? We had a top 5 D last year and we couldn't win. 5 int's against the Giants and we scored 16 or 13?

Originally posted by jacklegniner:
IDK... Most seem to say we need to let the players we have in Martin and Thomas develop. I agree they need time, but you also have to balance the whole team. It's all about getting to the post-season(sorry Jed). If you win your division it is an automatic trip to the dance. If not you have to hope for a wild card but we have seen how hard it is having a good team try to run the table as a wild card. It's better to win your division and have home games or a week off.

With that said... the longer we wait for players to develop, we waste the other players who are in their prime or just starting to get it together. Like Boldin, the longer we wait, we will just have to replace him in a year or 2. Then we will wait for someone to help out Torrey, etc...

The Oline is the one area that I feel like you shouldn't mess around. I think Kilgore and Thomas and Martin are all ????? They might turn out to all be studs but that's saying that we will hit on all 3. If we don't, and say Martin turns out to be ok, we will probably blow another season, maybe 8-8 or 9-7 or even 10-6. But in our division, that's not good enough. So the following year we will be right back at trying to replace Martin or someone else from injury or poor play. And Boone is in a contract year.

I know people want to draft other spots. But a good Oline allows you to have a successful season. You can win a lot of games and still make a run in the playoffs. Kap getting sacked a ton or the line not dominating will not get us there.

I say if there is a problem with the line, you fix it now and the whole team benefits. We won't have to worry about it this year or next. Even if we drafted Leo Williams and had a dominate D, what would that do for us? We had a top 5 D last year and we couldn't win. 5 int's against the Giants and we scored 16 or 13?

I'd rather take the chances of those 3 young guys we have turning out to be really good than drafting Scherff or Collins.

Yes I have faith both Brandon Thomas and Marcus Martin will step it up this year. I think that the 49ers have a couple of pretty good players in these two.

Originally posted by 9moon:
Kilgore is overrated.. he's best suited as a backup interior linement..

not a starter in my opinion..

He started last year and was the 2nd highest rated lineman before being injured. Stalely was rated higher and Iupati was rated higher for run blocking, but Kilgore is definitely better than you believe. Staying healthy is the issue. If you go by last year, M Martin is the 4th best center on the niners! Both Looney and Farrell were rated higher. Kilgore was rated 13th of 70 centers.

should I have faith in them ?

Thomas and Martin were both rated highly coming out of college and playing time in their second year will be crucial. No need to panic and waste high draft slots on minimal need

Originally posted by NinerTy:
Thomas and Martin were both rated highly coming out of college and playing time in their second year will be crucial. No need to panic and waste high draft slots on minimal need

True but I would control expectations for both of them. Thomas would be making a position change to G from T. Its gonna take time for him to adjust to the change. But I believe he has the potential to be a really good player. I just think there is going to be an adjustment period for him. Martin was a boy among men last season. He needs to get stronger and better in pass protection. I felt he got pushed back way too often last season. I think if he gets stronger it will pay dividends for him.He also has a bright future but I think Thomas will be the better player of the two in the long run.

Oh do I ever have faith in Thomas. I really don't think people realize just how good this guy is going to be. He's nasty in the run game and a very good in pass protection. If he injured knee is healthy, he shouldn't lose the LG job to anyone.

Thomas will be an upgrade in pass pro and a downgrade in run blocking. However, due to the bigger concerns in the passing game......our offense will improve more if we have better pass pro than run blocking.

Originally posted by ElephantHaley:
Both guys are an upgrade from Iupati. I never felt Iupati was that good. Iupati was decent in run blocking but absolutely ATROCIUOS in pass blocking. These guys are an upgrade NO DOUBT in my mind so long as they both can stay healthy.

Agree 110% on Iupati, although I think it's too early to say if either will for sure be an upgrade. But ya, Iupati was terrible in pass pro, and I'll go as far as to say he was overrated as a run blocker as well. Tough, crafty LB's would get under his pads negate him too often.

The presence of Martin, Kilgore and Thomas drives me CRAZY that people insist we need to draft a G early. The only time it was ever a good idea to draft a G in the 1st was when the Seahawks took Hutchinson.

Originally posted by jacklegniner:
IDK... Most seem to say we need to let the players we have in Martin and Thomas develop. I agree they need time, but you also have to balance the whole team. It's all about getting to the post-season(sorry Jed). If you win your division it is an automatic trip to the dance. If not you have to hope for a wild card but we have seen how hard it is having a good team try to run the table as a wild card. It's better to win your division and have home games or a week off.

With that said... the longer we wait for players to develop, we waste the other players who are in their prime or just starting to get it together. Like Boldin, the longer we wait, we will just have to replace him in a year or 2. Then we will wait for someone to help out Torrey, etc...

The Oline is the one area that I feel like you shouldn't mess around. I think Kilgore and Thomas and Martin are all ????? They might turn out to all be studs but that's saying that we will hit on all 3. If we don't, and say Martin turns out to be ok, we will probably blow another season, maybe 8-8 or 9-7 or even 10-6. But in our division, that's not good enough. So the following year we will be right back at trying to replace Martin or someone else from injury or poor play. And Boone is in a contract year.

I know people want to draft other spots. But a good Oline allows you to have a successful season. You can win a lot of games and still make a run in the playoffs. Kap getting sacked a ton or the line not dominating will not get us there.

I say if there is a problem with the line, you fix it now and the whole team benefits. We won't have to worry about it this year or next. Even if we drafted Leo Williams and had a dominate D, what would that do for us? We had a top 5 D last year and we couldn't win. 5 int's against the Giants and we scored 16 or 13?

Why are you assuming there is a problem with how Martin or Thomas will fare next year?

Or the assumption that over-drafting a G in the 1st round will mean they are any better than Martin or Thomas?

Part in bold... you're a little late to the party, even though you're right. Baalke did EXACTLY that last year- he addressed the interior OL 1 year before we needed to(when Iupati was still under contract)... for the very purpose that we don't have to worry about it this year.

Between Thomas, Martin and Looney we should have a pretty good starter at LG and possibly at RG if Boone leaves after this year. As for center between Kilgore and Martin (if not starting LG) I'm good with that. Heck if Martin wins the starting LG spot would it be a crazy thought to have Thomas spend some time at center and maybe be the backup C? Either way hopefully Pears isn't starting. He should be our new Adam Snyder. Can probably play every spot minus C but we don't want him starting at all. Also, hopefully with new OL coaches our guys stop regressing and being complacent and actually get better. Back to the draft I would be fine if we didn't take an OL in the first 3 rounds. Maybe a 3rd tackle or a G/T but at 1.5 mil a season Pears better be that guy. Side note I'm seeing some mock a OT to the 9ers in the first. The only way that makes sense to me is if we make Davis LG or RG, Boone or LG and then throw a rookie at starting RT which makes no sense. I'd take guard before tackle and even that I dont want especially in round 1. I'd much rather have WR, CB, DL and possibly OLB, ILB before a guard.

Kilgore is overrated? Oh boy, our OL started to fall apart once he got injured.

Staley Thomas Kilgore Boone Davis

That should be our starting OL and it is a DAMN good one. Then after Boone leaves, Martin steps right in.

Originally posted by elguapo:
Thomas will be an upgrade in pass pro and a downgrade in run blocking. However, due to the bigger concerns in the passing game......our offense will improve more if we have better pass pro than run blocking.

He's only a downgrade in run blocking if we stick with the Power scheme. Iupati had some massive down blocks and pulls on power/counter/KIK, but he sucked in zone, and I think we're looking at a lot more zone this year.

Originally posted by LowerTheBoom:

Agree 110% on Iupati, although I think it's too early to say if either will for sure be an upgrade. But ya, Iupati was terrible in pass pro, and I'll go as far as to say he was overrated as a run blocker as well. Tough, crafty LB's would get under his pads negate him too often.

The presence of Martin, Kilgore and Thomas drives me CRAZY that people insist we need to draft a G early. The only time it was ever a good idea to draft a G in the 1st was when the Seahawks took Hutchinson.

I used to agree with this; however, just look at last season and the Cowboys picked up an All-Pro rookie that transformed their Oline into something dominant. Murray was usually 5 yds down field before anyone had a shot at tackling him.

I remember watching Priest Holmes and Emmitt running behind Olines that we're so dominant and anchored by HOF LGs.

If there's a guy at 15 that Baalke feels can be an elite LG, then draft him. I think Thomas might have been drafted for that very reason. Next season we'll be looking for Boone's replacement. If we can get it this year in the form of an elite prospect at #15 we could be looking at scary-good Oline if Thomas (and the rookie) play to the level they were drafted at. As a run-based offense, that's what you dream of. A dominant Oline and deep threats to keep safeties back is going to lead to more points and better time of possession.

The huge trade off thought is zone blocking. A Kubiak offense can thrive running the ball without the elite prospects on the Oline. Does anyone really believe Forsett is really that good? There's a reason teams weren't jumping at the chance to sign him.