49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster has around 15 OL competing for probably 9 roster spots with IOL the most competitive. With Brendel aging and ailing from tendinitis, an opportunity presents itself for a player like Nugent or Bartch, who Foerster seems to like. Feliciano has played center as well but I think he should be the first player off the bench given his durability concerns. Ideally you'd like to see Puni win the RG job and have Feliciano in case of injury or struggles. As for Kingston, he was a favorite of Foerster, who is famously picky about which prospects he likes in the draft. I don't think anyone takes McKivitz's job and the real competition is for that swing OT role. Moore could be the odd one out. I'll predict the starting OL shakes out with:
Williams/Banks/Nugent/Puni/McKivitz and the Niners move on from Brendel.
I see the OL starters Williams/Banks/Brendel/Feliciano/McKivitz. Hubbard will be the swing Tackle. Puni may replace Brendel or Banks by mid season. I think Nugent will need 2 years in a NFL strength and conditioning program before he is ready to start for a NFL team. Kingston will compete for a starting OG spot in 25. imho
ReplyDeleteOldCoach
DeleteI would think starting 2 rookies on the O-Line (Nugent at C and Puni at OG), is NOT something a SB contender should do?
The 9ers had to have known that Brendel was aging and ailing from tendinitis, yet they failed to address the position in either the draft or signing a free agent?
Where did OC say he thought two rookies should start?
DeleteScooter
DeleteOC didn't, Razor did. (Nugent & Puni)
My post was agreeing with OC that Brendel & Feliciano will start.
I agree starting two rookies is not the norm around here but I think both players have the talent. They just have to prove it and I'm betting they do. Brendel doesn't give them much in the running game and Feliciano's body is on it's final year in football.
DeleteAh, I see, thanks GEEP.
DeleteI agree, I don't think Nugent will start as a rookie.
Scooter
Delete👍🎯
Not much confidence starting an UDFA (Nugent) at center, on an NFL team with Super Bowl aspirations! Especially a rookie that's only 6ft 1& 1/2 inches and weight 298 pounds.
ReplyDeleteBen Barch is 6'5 3/4" X 309 OG the 9ers signed to their active roster off of the Jaguars' practice squad 11/21/2023.
Bartch entered the 2022 season as the Jaguars starting left OG. He suffered a dislocated knee in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2022.
Bartch returned as the starting left guard in 2023, but was benched in Week 4. He was waived on 10/31/2023, after the Jaguars traded for Ezra Cleveland On November 3, Bartch was re-signed to the practice squad.
Bartch's only experience playing Center: He had time playing center in both of the 9ers 2023 playoff games.
Yeah, I'm little leary over a 6'1 Center. While he could have good leverage as a blocker, putting a tall IDL at the A gap could pose issues for Purdy throwing over the middle. I see Feliciano cover the C until Bredal is ready.
ReplyDeleteIt's a longshot but I feel like Nugent is capable of winning that Center job. He's smart and the most experienced at the position of any player on the roster not named Brendel.
ReplyDeleteRazor
DeleteAre you saying you think Nugent will start week one, or later in the season....Like after the Bye?
Week 1
DeleteMy guess is that if Brendel isn't the starting center then it will be Feliciano or Puni. But personally I think Brendel will be the starter.
ReplyDeleteNugent I suspect will be on the PS.
I'm still not ruling out Puni being the long term center option.
Jake Brendel was a no-show at practice on Tuesday. Afterward, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Brendel has knee tendonitis and will miss all of OTAs. "He could tough through it but we're going to be smart with him on it," Shanahan said.
ReplyDelete* KS statement suggests the 9ers are being cautious with Brendel's tendonitis condition. And rather than participating in OTA's, his knee can be rehabbed with rest and physical therapy, allowing him to be
capable of playing in pre season.
*NOTE: Should Brendel's knee not respond to rest and physical therapy, Corticosteroid injections into the sheath around the patellar tendon, platelet-rich plasma injections, or oscillating needle procedure using local anesthesia will help relieve pain and should NOT prevent Brendel from playing this season.
This gives Feliciano, Puni and others an opportunity to practice at C. But if Brendal is ready on day one, I believe he's the starter. Feliciano should be ready to go if Brendal has a setback.
ReplyDeleteAES
DeleteEven if Brendal is good to play this season, the 9ers are going to need to replace him. If not this season, then next year. it could be Feliciano, Puni or someone they trade for? But Razor makes a valid point, Brendel is aging (he'll turn 32 on 9/10/2024). His body is no longer reliable or capable of playing at a high level for an entire season.
What I find troubling is, as we all know, the center is a critical position in the offense because he's responsible for setting the protection schemes at the line of scrimmage before the snap. In the Super Bowl, the 49ers gave up 9 unblocked rushers, which means Brendel and the O-Line didn't do so well.....yet the 9ers DID NOT draft a Center?
As I said above, I am not ruling out Puni as the long term center.
DeleteWhat we know for sure is the 49ers made bringing in athletic interior OL a priority during the draft/ UDFA. The team clearly sees an emerging if not immediate need for new blood inside.
Early OTA results for following 9er rookies, are positive:
ReplyDelete* 9ers UDFA Anderson drawing early D.J. Jones comparison from Kocurek
* 9ers rookie RB Guerendo turning heads early with intangible traits
* Why DB coach Daniel Bullocks views rookie Green as ‘upgrade' to 49ers' secondary
What do you guys think about Moore? Seems like he's a LT only and that might work against him making the team this year.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side for him he has the knowledge of the system and they didn't draft an OT. But he will need to prove he's better than Parker and Hubbard to stick around.
DeleteRazor
DeleteI agree with Scooter that Moore has the experience and the knowledge of the system.
* The 9ers O-Line took a hit during the 2023 offseason after losing ROT Mike McGlinchey in free agency to Denver.
* Losing backup Daniel Brunskill as a FA to the Titans was also
a problem because he was the back up for both OT positions.
* The swing tackle job was supposably going to fall to Moore.
but he will have to earn the job...The question is, CAN HE?
Simple. If Moore is a LT only, he better show-out in TC. I see this TC as Moore's "hail-mary" with the 49ers.
ReplyDeletemost efficient QBs vs 2-high
ReplyDelete1. C.J. Stroud
2. Brock Purdy
3. Jordan Love
4. Geno Smith
5. Tua Tagovailoa
6. Matthew Stafford
7. Joe Burrow
8. Josh Allen
9. Will Levis
10. Jalen Hurts
Mahomes conspicuously absent.
Delete2-high and taking out Kelce is the way to beat the Chiefs then.
Easier said than done....still hurting from the SB loss. :) We'll see if Staley makes a difference.
The NFLPA wants to get rid of OTAs and mini camp. They want to start training camp in late June or early July. Kind of sounds like the old days without the 2 a days 5 to 6 days a week. Their concern is with not enough down time between the end of the season/playoffs and the start of OTAs and too little time in training camp. They believe that it is leading to too many injuries.
ReplyDeleteMug,
DeleteI think there will be quite a few changes when they go to 18 games. 2 byes and 2 preseason games will likely be the first changes. I would love to see them get rid of Thurs (other than T-giving) games but that will never happen, too much money for owners and players. If they get rid of OTAs and start camp early I would guess that the first week would be conditioning only. I also could see 2 scrimmages per team.
Won't happen, but the discussion around potentially trading Aiyuk for Wirfs would be a great get for the 49ers.
ReplyDeleteTrading 9er WR Aiyuk for TB OT Tristan Wirfs:
Delete* Wirfs is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will make $18.6M from his 5th yr. option. The 25 YO helped the Bucs win a SB in his rookie season. He also earned a 1st team All-Pro selection in 2021 and a 2nd team selection in 2022.
* Aiyuk is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will make $14.1M from his 5th yr. option. he was named 2nd team All-Pro.
* Both Aiyuk and Wirfs skipping OTA's and seeking a new contract exceeding $25M P/Y.
* Wirfs has played both ROT and LOT. IMO, he'd play ROT until TW retires, then switch to LOT.
That's a good conversation, but first we need to know if Pearsall is ready before trading a known talent like Aiyuk. Wirfs is great, but Aiyuk is just entering his prime. That's a tough one for me.
ReplyDeleteTo me it'd be a no brainer. Wirfs is great at a more important position that the 49ers currently lack depth and need to find an eventual successor to Trent.
DeleteScooter
DeleteIf the 9ers have a problem paying Aiyuk $25+ Mil P/Y, do you believe they'd be willing to pay Wirfs?
Would TW have to retire to free up his back loaded contract?
https://overthecap.com/player/trent-williams/1466
As with Aiyuk/ WR, where if they sign Aiyuk they would almost certainly move Deebo on in the next year or two, if they made the trade for Wirfs it would be under the assumption that Williams moves on in a year or two.
DeleteBut they can afford either player until then by keeping early year cap hits low.
I saw the Krueger/Bruce interview on this and Larry mentioned throwing in either Mitchell or Mason and even McKivitz as part of the deal. If I'm the Bucs, I wouldn't ask for anything less than a number 1 pick to go with Aiyuk. I don't see this trade happening. But, stranger things have happened.
ReplyDeleteAES
Delete* " If I'm the Bucs, I wouldn't ask for anything less than a number 1 pick to go with Aiyuk."
While I agree with Scooter, trading Aiyuk for Wirfs would be a no brainer. If JL Gave TB Aiyuk and an additional 1st rd draft pick, Jed would fire him!
AES, that's why I started with it won't happen. I can't imagine the Bucs agreeing to such a trade.
DeleteI know Scooter. I just wanted to start a short conversation. It was Kreug and Bruce that brought this trade to light. But, they were just projecting an idea.
ReplyDelete