Often overlooked and regularly scrutinized, there might not be a more thankless job in the world of football than that of an offensive lineman. Play well, and there’s not much in the way of praise. Make a mistake or two over the course of a 60-minute game, and you’re subjected to front page condemnation that erases the 95% of snaps you played at a high level.
It’s a tough reality to exist in, but the warriors who man the trenches week after week don’t have time to be concerned with looking for empathy. They are far too busy fighting to stave off the gargantuan human beings lined up on the other side of the line of scrimmage, which the 49ers have collectively done at an elite rate over the last two seasons.