Tweet

According to 49ers Head Coach Mike Singletary, 2010 1st round picks Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati have been named starters on the offensive line. Davis is expected to start at right tackle, and Iupati at left guard. Iupati took over the left guard spot after David Baas went down with a concussion and has held the spot since with an impressive camp.

In addition to Davis and Iupati being named starters, the 49ers lost their starting Center when Eric Heitmann broke his left leg (left fibula) and is expected to miss about 8 weeks. Baas, the 2004 Rimington Trophy winner (awarded to college football's best center), is expected to start in his place, with competition from Tony Wragge.

From a physicality standpoint, the offensive line has actually upgraded, as Heitmann has struggled throughout his career handling bigger players in both run and pass blocking. Moving the much bigger and stronger Iupati and Baas into the lineup should theoretically give Frank Gore a nice boost in interior running. However with Iupati's inexperience and questionable pass blocking skill, Chilo Rachal's history as one of the league's worst pass blockers, and Baas playing center for the first time as a professional, it may lead to miscommunication with the QB as well as increased struggles with interior pass blocking. It does help that Baas is a very smart guy, having posted an excellent 37 Wonderlic score at the NFL Combine, and when he's been rarely healthy has typically been one of the bright spots amongst a dismal offensive line over the past 5 years.

Linebacker Ahmad Brooks will miss at least two weeks after suffering a lacerated kidney during one of the practices.

Also the 49ers have waived undrafted returner LeRoy Vann, who had struggled with handling punts early in camp but had been improving but with injuries to the offensive line and linebacker corps piling up, roster spots needed to be opened up.