There's nothing like having a player who can step right in and solidify a position.
That is what the San Francisco 49ers have in veteran offensive lineman Jon Feliciano. He's been able to fill in at both left and right guard positions with the injuries to Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford this season. And Feliciano has proven to be as good if not better than the two starters he's filled in for.
"You get these guys, these veterans, they understand the game. They understand the positions. They've had a career of starting at left guard, right guard, center," said offensive line coach Chris Foerster.
"So, it doesn't trip them out when all of a sudden one week you're at right guard, one week at your left guard, the next week you're at center, you go in and end the game at center. They've done all that stuff before. So, it's invaluable and yet at the same time, they can start and play, it's cool. It's really good."
Feliciano has proven to be invaluable for the 49ers. Since Week 10, which is where he started to see playing time, Pro Football Focus has him ranked No. 22 out of 57 guards in pass pro and No. 4 out of 57 guards in run blocking. When the season is all said and done, his addition to the 49ers in free agency will be looked at as one of the best signings they made. A weakness on the 49ers is easily their offensive line.
Outside of Trent Williams, everyone on the offensive line is questionable. And it gets more questionable when you go from left to right of that offensive line. Burford, who has been the starter at right guard, has been average at best. Feliciano has shown to be an upgrade there. If there is one thing the 49ers desperately need is solidification on the right side of the offensive line. Right tackle Colton McKivitz is already a liability, so the 49ers cannot afford to have right guard tagalong as a liability as well.
This is where having a veteran offensive lineman like Feliciano is pivotal. The 49ers brought him in to be that potential band aid. That is what Daniel Brunskill was for them when they platooned him and Burford last year. Now, it looks like Feliciano may have a handle on that going forward with him giving the offensive line a needed boost.
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