The 49ers Should Start Jaylon Moore at Right Tackle
49ers starting right tackle Colton McKivitz injured his ankle and knee Sunday against the Jaguars and is day to day. Which means he might play this Sunday against the Buccaneers. But he shouldn’t.
This is a perfect opportunity for the 49ers to sit McKivitz for a week or longer and see what Jaylon Moore can do at right tackle.
McKivitz is one of the worst starters on the 49ers. He’s not good at run blocking and he’s not good at pass protection, either. He’s a tough guy who doesn’t typically miss time. But now that he’s injured, it would be smart to take a look at a young offensive lineman who’s much more gifted and talented than McKivitz.
Moore has the foot quickness to play left tackle — McKivitz doesn’t. So why can’t Moore play right tackle? The only reason would be if the 49ers haven’t cross trained him at both positions. I was at every day of training camp, and I don’t remember ever seeing Moore practice at right tackle — he was strictly a left tackle. Maybe that has changed since the season started and practices became closed to the media.
It would be a shame if the 49ers haven’t prepared Moore to play right tackle, because they need to get their five best offensive linemen on the field, and McKivitz isn’t one of them. They also need to bench right guard Spencer Burford and replace him with Jon Feliciano, who currently is playing left guard while starter Aaron Banks is out with turf toe, but that’s another matter for another day.
Start Moore at right tackle for Pete’s sake.
