Offensive lines are becoming black dominated in the NFL in spite of the strong evidence that smaller, more athletic lines -- often white dominated such as those of Indianapolis, New England, San Diego, Cleveland, and Green Bay -- are often better than ones dominated by slow-footed, sumo-sized blacks. The 49ers appear to be bucking the trend, as this year's team starts four whites on the line.
Left tackle Joe Staley was a first round draft pick in 2007 out of Central Michigan and is already a good one.
Starting left guard Adam Snyder was a second rounder in '05. Center Eric Heitmann is in his seventh season out of Stanford. Tony Wragge is the right guard.
Veterans Barry Sims is a backup at both tackle spots and David Baas (another second round pick in '05) is a backup guard. Rookie Cody Wallace backs up Heitmann.
Billy Bajema is a backup tight end.
Uber-journeyman J. T. O'Sullivan begins the season as the starting QB, promoted over Alex Smith, the first overall pick of the 2005 draft. Smith is battling a shoulder injury again and may be finished in San Francisco, where he was never able to get untracked playing with some awful offenses. O'Sullivan is familiar with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz's scheme from when both were with the Lions. Not as many white quarterbacks get the opportunities they used to due to the NFL's fanatical mission to blacken the position, a mission that continues to be a notable failure, and O'Sullivan may surprise in 2008. Then again, given the receivers he has to work with, maybe he won't.
Shaun Hill, another journeyman who showed well while starting games at the end of the 2007 season, is O'Sullivan's backup with Smith injured.
Zac Keasy is the starting offensive lineman in the backfield (aka fullback). The over/under on the number of carries Keasey will get for the entire season is currently 2.
The 49ers appear to have made a shrewd signing over the offseason by bringing Justin Smith to the team. Smith was a consistent but not great sacker with Cincinnati, but was always among the elite defensive ends when it came to tackles. Like so many white defensive players he was under-rated and under-appreciated. San Francisco plans to use Smith as a pass rushing end and as a roving linebacker, so he may make more big plays than he did with the Bengals.
Jeff Ulbrich, the veteran out of Hawaii, won back one of the inside linebacking jobs and is the 49ers second white starter on defense.
Second year linebacker Jay Moore from Nebraskais the only other white defensive player on the 49ers besides Smith and Ulbrich.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 8
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 16
GRADE: D
Edited by: Don Wassall
Left tackle Joe Staley was a first round draft pick in 2007 out of Central Michigan and is already a good one.
Starting left guard Adam Snyder was a second rounder in '05. Center Eric Heitmann is in his seventh season out of Stanford. Tony Wragge is the right guard.
Veterans Barry Sims is a backup at both tackle spots and David Baas (another second round pick in '05) is a backup guard. Rookie Cody Wallace backs up Heitmann.
Billy Bajema is a backup tight end.
Uber-journeyman J. T. O'Sullivan begins the season as the starting QB, promoted over Alex Smith, the first overall pick of the 2005 draft. Smith is battling a shoulder injury again and may be finished in San Francisco, where he was never able to get untracked playing with some awful offenses. O'Sullivan is familiar with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz's scheme from when both were with the Lions. Not as many white quarterbacks get the opportunities they used to due to the NFL's fanatical mission to blacken the position, a mission that continues to be a notable failure, and O'Sullivan may surprise in 2008. Then again, given the receivers he has to work with, maybe he won't.
Shaun Hill, another journeyman who showed well while starting games at the end of the 2007 season, is O'Sullivan's backup with Smith injured.
Zac Keasy is the starting offensive lineman in the backfield (aka fullback). The over/under on the number of carries Keasey will get for the entire season is currently 2.
The 49ers appear to have made a shrewd signing over the offseason by bringing Justin Smith to the team. Smith was a consistent but not great sacker with Cincinnati, but was always among the elite defensive ends when it came to tackles. Like so many white defensive players he was under-rated and under-appreciated. San Francisco plans to use Smith as a pass rushing end and as a roving linebacker, so he may make more big plays than he did with the Bengals.
Jeff Ulbrich, the veteran out of Hawaii, won back one of the inside linebacking jobs and is the 49ers second white starter on defense.
Second year linebacker Jay Moore from Nebraskais the only other white defensive player on the 49ers besides Smith and Ulbrich.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 8
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 16
GRADE: D
Edited by: Don Wassall
