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

Originally posted by SFL49ER:
If Baalke was so high on Kilgore, and Looney to back him up at center, then why draft Martin in the third round? Food for thought. We will see who wins the job. I like Kilgore but I'm not too high on him being the anchor that I think Martin can be... and I believe was drafted to be.

Because most of his time at USC, Martin played guard. You can put him anywhere on the interior. Iupati had one year left on his deal and Boone's deal is up after this season, pretty sure all of that played into his line of thinking. I don't think the 49ers signed Kilgore to a 3 year extension because they figured he couldn't handle being a starter.

Originally posted by crake49:

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:
Boone won't be on the bench unless he's stinking it up.

You're probably right, but I still think his natural position is tackle. I think Thomas and Martin would make a better guard duo.

This AND he's the only guy currently on the team that can move into either tackle position and play at an effective level,

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by SFL49ER:
If Baalke was so high on Kilgore, and Looney to back him up at center, then why draft Martin in the third round? Food for thought. We will see who wins the job. I like Kilgore but I'm not too high on him being the anchor that I think Martin can be... and I believe was drafted to be.

Because most of his time at USC, Martin played guard. You can put him anywhere on the interior. Iupati had one year left on his deal and Boone's deal is up after this season, pretty sure all of that played into his line of thinking. I don't think the 49ers signed Kilgore to a 3 year extension because they figured he couldn't handle being a starter.

This

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by SFL49ER:
If Baalke was so high on Kilgore, and Looney to back him up at center, then why draft Martin in the third round? Food for thought. We will see who wins the job. I like Kilgore but I'm not too high on him being the anchor that I think Martin can be... and I believe was drafted to be.

Because most of his time at USC, Martin played guard. You can put him anywhere on the interior. Iupati had one year left on his deal and Boone's deal is up after this season, pretty sure all of that played into his line of thinking. I don't think the 49ers signed Kilgore to a 3 year extension because they figured he couldn't handle being a starter.

Baalke always is looking at long range plans. He decides how much a particular player is likely to command in FA, whether or not he thinks the player will be worth that amount to the Team, and takes appropriate plans. Either extend them to a Cap-friendly number or look elsewhere. He's not just drafting for this year.

It's a trade off (this year's needs vs long term), but usually prevents a Team from slipping out of the playoff picture for very long.

VERY good article on Thomas and worth reading.

Bolstered my confidence and another reason we won't be going OLine in the first round as many talking heads have predicted.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2428794-why-brandon-thomas-is-the-san-francisco-49ers-most-overlooked-2015-starter?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=san-francisco-49ers

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
VERY good article on Thomas and worth reading.

Bolstered my confidence and another reason we won't be going OLine in the first round as many talking heads have predicted.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2428794-why-brandon-thomas-is-the-san-francisco-49ers-most-overlooked-2015-starter?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=san-francisco-49ers

he is my marlon moore man crush this year! .. i think i will be more on the money about this kid then i was on marlon

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
VERY good article on Thomas and worth reading.

Bolstered my confidence and another reason we won't be going OLine in the first round as many talking heads have predicted.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2428794-why-brandon-thomas-is-the-san-francisco-49ers-most-overlooked-2015-starter?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=san-francisco-49ers

he is my marlon moore man crush this year! .. i think i will be more on the money about this kid then i was on marlon

I think the only way he won't start is if he's not completely healthy! Looney has had a few years to win a spot and hasn't been able to do so and M Martin needs to concentrate on C unless they need him to replace Boone...MM will be a great C down the road. He's big enough to hold his own and take the beating.

If they go to a ZBS he will start! Oops...making absolute predictions in April!

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
I think the only way he won't start is if he's not completely healthy! Looney has had a few years to win a spot and hasn't been able to do so and M Martin needs to concentrate on C unless they need him to replace Boone...MM will be a great C down the road. He's big enough to hold his own and take the beating.

If they go to a ZBS he will start! Oops...making absolute predictions in April!

i agree,, i really do think looney will be a good back up guy for us on the line? certainly better than jonathan martin was last year,, or do you think i am wrong?

Originally posted by cciowa:
i agree,, i really do think looney will be a good back up guy for us on the line? certainly better than jonathan martin was last year,, or do you think i am wrong?

No, Looney is close to starter caliber while J Martin was...Kwamish.

I see Kilgore as the starting Center and playing at a very high level for the whole season.

The draft may show what direction the niners line is going. If they draft an OL in the first couple of rounds then Boone could be on his way out...at least by the end of the year. I'm hoping they are building a flexible line with players who can play multiple spots and be effective. Right now they have four or perhaps five players who can fill in at center, numerous guys at guard and several at tackle...assuming Thomas can play there as he did in college. Eight guys who can play almost any position would certainly help overcome injuries.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by SFL49ER:

I bet Marcus Martin beats out Kilgore for the starting Center position. Remember Martin was highly rated coming get out and has more upside than Kilgore. He looked like a sound technician at times too as a rookie.

Yeah, people said all this same stuff last season too and then were crying for Kilgore after he went down. I'm still perplexed at why Kilgore is so underrated. Yes, he was picked in the 5th round, yes he comes from a small school, but he's continually shown that he can play at the NFL level and comes with the necessary aggressiveness already built in.


Once you're in the NFL, what you were rated as coming out of college goes completely out the window. Or would you rather have Aaron Curry over NaVorro Bowman.


Kilgore played well, very well, at a higher level than Goodwin did the previous year. Center in particular isn't just about the physicality but also the cerebral aspect, being able to call out what the defense is doing, make adjustments. Kilgore did a very good job of that, he was pretty damn good when he was out there and it was his first year as a starter to boot.

Martin is a tremendous prospect with a lot of potential who came in very raw but unless Kilgore is suffering lingering effects from his injury, I don't see him losing his starting job in anyway, shape or form.

Nicely said!!! I agree Phoenix. I would of said the same thing. Kilgore is probably around top 10 in the league and m Martin is a good backup at center and maybe a good starter. The safe money is on m Martin starting at RG next year if Boone leaves and Thomas at LG.

Originally posted by crake49:
The line I'm hoping for is Staley - Thomas - Kilgore - Martin - Davis, with Boone as the swing tackle backup.

Mine might be: Boone - Thomas - Martin - Davis - Staley

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by crake49:
The line I'm hoping for is Staley - Thomas - Kilgore - Martin - Davis, with Boone as the swing tackle backup.

Mine might be: Boone - Thomas - Martin - Davis - Staley

Now this is an intense O-Line

Originally posted by NCommand:
Mine might be: Boone - Thomas - Martin - Davis - Staley

Watching video of these guys it seems Davis has better feet than Boone for pass protection. Boone has good size to keep guys from getting around him but I do wonder if he can handle speed rushers over time. As Wrath mentioned, his success has been as a fill in with little tape for opponents to study in preparation. Davis needs to control his weight better or he is in danger as well. I'm expecting some major changes on the OL in the next couple of years.