Buzz By The Bay

With just one day left before the dawn of the preseason, there have been some big changes along the offensive line since training camp began. First, the good news: Both 1st round draft choices — RT Anthony Davis and LG Mike Iupati — were officially named starters for the season by 49ers coach Mike Singletary this past week. The fact that both rookies have been slated to start is surely a positive, as it is a testament to the inherent talent of both players, as well as to their individual work ethics (especially Davis’, whose determination to improve was a concern among teams on draft day). It also suggests a degree of mastery of Jimmy Raye’s complex blocking schemes by both players, which came at a fairly quick pace. Though the two might not be ready for the season just yet, Singletary made it clear that it was important both rookies receive first team snaps the rest of the way, and play a large portion of the four preseason games. While there are sure to be some growing pains early on — which will result in increased literal pain for quarterback Alex Smith — the sooner the duo takes the reigns of the Niner trenches the better.

The bad news: Eric Heitman — one of the NFL’s better centers and a Sunday warrior who has not missed a start since late in the 2006 season — will be out 6-8 weeks with a broken fibula. David Bass, the guard that Iupati dethroned this offseason, will take over duties at center until Heitman returns. That makes three of the five offensive line positions filled out by new players. Not the most assuring statistic to be sure, but its one that will have to do for the near future.

Since it might take some time for Smith to learn to operate behind his newly tooled line, expect much of the early workload to fall on star running back Frank Gore, especially with backup Glenn Coffee’s departure from football on Friday. Make sure to watch the first two games of the preseason against the Colts and Vikings — who employ two of the best defensive lines in football — as they should prove a good barometer of how ready the two lineman truly are. For now, here's a peak into how the team has looked thus far.