San Francisco 49ers offensive line is a hot mess
Teams usually attempt to get something going with their first-team offense in the third preseason game. Unfortunately for the 49ers, their offensive line did not give Colin Kaepernick and company an opportunity to do this. Under duress throughout the game, Kaepernick led the 49ers to its initial completed pass during the final drive of the first half. This came on the heels of a game earlier in the preseason that saw the 49ers enter the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys with more points than passing yards. Just think about that for a second.
None of this is on Kaepernick. Instead, the team’s offensive line has been among the worst in the NFL this summer. The likes of Erik Pears at right tackle and rookie guard Ian Silberman have been beyond atrocious, Saturday night against the Broncos included.
If Kaepernick doesn’t get better protection during the regular season, any progress he’s made on the field really won’t matter. It’s also important to note that San Francisco is running a completely new scheme. Without improved offensive line play, that won’t lead to a better overall performance from a unit that has struggled over the past couple years.