The 49ers came into training camp knowing their offensive line was a work in progress.
With the departure of left guard Mike Iupati, an injury to center Daniel Kilgore and the retirement of right tackle Anthony Davis, the Niners had some questions to answer.
For most of this training camp, former right guard Alex Boone has manned Iupati’s old spot, Joe Looney has been at center and Marcus Martin has been at right guard, alongside Erik Pears.
But after two preseason games, that lineup is looking shaky as a pass-protection unit. The 49ers are blocking well for the run, but not the pass.
Against the Cowboys Sunday, Martin gave up a pressure that led to a sack and Pears allowed a defensive lineman to get by on his inside, forcing quarterback Colin Kaepernick to throw the ball away.
When the starting unit has been on the field, Kaepernick has been under pressure. And, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee noted this week, the pressure primarily has come from the right side against Martin and Pears.
But head coach Jim Tomsula told reporters this week that the makeup of the starting offensive line is still to be determined. The coaching staff still wants to plug in players at various positions to see how they do.
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“I like where they’re going, but I don’t want to tell anybody we’re settled,” Tomsula said Monday.
Martin will still get a shot to play center and Brandon Thomas, Joe Tiller, Ian Silberman and Jordan Devey (recently acquired from the Patriots) remain in the mix for a guard spot.
Said Tomsula: “We are not settled there (on the line). We’re getting closer. But you saw some guys, as we played there with the first two groups – even the third group.”
The 49ers will continue their shifting and experimenting on the line this week as they prepare for their third exhibition game, a matchup with the Broncos in Denver Saturday night.
