San Francisco 49ers 2011: Power Ranking All 5 Starting Lineman

The 2011 San Francisco 49ers offensive line will look to turn what has been the weakest part of the offense into its biggest asset. The 49ers have invested more into their offensive line than any other team in the NFL.

With two first-round tackles, a first-round guard, the highest drafted tight end in league history and the addition of a former Pro Bowl center this offseason, it's not as though the 49ers haven't made improving the offensive line a priority.

Last season we saw two rookie lineman crack the starting lineup before Week 1. With a year under their belts, the overall success of the line could easily see a huge lift if they prove their growing pains are behind them.

Tight end Vernon Davis isn't on this list. If he were, he'd be No. 1 without question. This list is for the men tackle to tackle. The ones who will determine whether or not Jim Harbaugh's new offense is an immediate success and ultimately whether or not the 2011 season extends into the postseason.

Here are the 49ers starting lineman rankings from worst to first.

No. 5 Chilo Rachal

Chilo Rachal is the fourth best interior lineman on the roster. He's one of those players who has inexplicably regressed as time has gone on. He's got all of the physical tools, but it's just not clicking.

Right guard is one of the biggest holes on the team. It is the biggest liability offensively, more than the heavily scrutinized quarterback position.

Mike Singletary looked like a genius when he plugged in a raw, but powerful Rachal into the lineup. Rachal has a lot to prove to the new regime, as Adam Snyder and late-round guards are going to be pushing Rachal every step of the way.

No. 4 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis was under fire last year from the fan base. Some people see him as a wasted pick already, similar to Rashaun Woods and Kentwan Balmer. He's not that. He's just developing.

Keep in mind that Davis was drafted as a high-ceiling guy with a ton of potential. He was a late riser on draft day, the kind of guy Jim Harbaugh loves to target. He wasn't ready to be inserted into the lineup, but Singletary forced him in there and he wasn't able to excel under fire.

That's okay. He's 21. He can't be expected to overtake Joe Staley for the left tackle spot already, even though he has the body type to do so. Despite his first-year struggles, he's taken a bad wrap unnecessarily.

He took tremendous strides last season and got a full season under his belt. That's going to translate into next season. Even if he doesn't pick up the new offense right away—as the entire line will struggle to do—expect him to start showing flashes of why he was worthy of being selected No. 11 overall.

No. 3 Jonathan Goodwin

Jonathan Goodwin was a huge acquisition for the 49ers this offseason. It's one that has been overlooked, but will have a serious impact on the season and overall productivity of the offense as a whole.

This is a Pro Bowl caliber veteran who knows what it's like to anchor the line. He's been in a complex offense before and he won a Super Bowl with New Orleans.

Goodwin had to earn his spot over Adam Snyder, who fought valiantly for the role. He's a complete lineman and was a fantastic veteran addition to a young line.

No. 2 Joe Staley

Joe Staley would be the best right tackle in the NFL if he had stayed where the 49ers originally drafted him to be. He outperformed his role on the right side and moved to the blind side, where some believe he has failed.

Staley isn't ever going to be Walter Jones. He's not a perfect pass protector and he's not going to collapse an entire defense by himself, and that's okay.

He's still performs at a high level and needs to be given the credit he deserves. Staley has fallen victim to injury in recent years, but Staley doesn't deserve the bad wrap he's been given by some. Staley isn't the reason the 49ers offense has failed to produce by any means.

He's also the funniest guy on the team and if you've ever seen an episode of the Joe Show, you know he's a huge part of the locker room and the leader of the offensive line.

No. 1 Mike Iupati

Mike Iupati is everything you could ever want in a guard. He's huge, he's quick, he's disciplined and he's nasty. He is the kind of guy that will beat his opponent off the ball, demolish his soul and move onto the next level for more.

Iupati took his rookie year by storm. Though he fell victim to typical rookie mistakes at times, he established himself as a dominant lineman. When 2011 is said and done, he could be considered the standard at guard in the NFL.

Scouts had questions about Iupati and his tendency to grab too much cloth at times. Offensive line coach Mike Solari coached him up, Iupati ditched the habit and the 49ers hit a home run with their second first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.