Here’s a wild thing from 49ers offensive line coach/run game coordinator Chris Foerster’s press conference Friday.
San Francisco added veteran offensive tackle Chris Hubbard over the offseason, presumably to add depth they lacked at a key position, but perhaps to also push Colton McKivitz for the starting right tackle job. Hubbard, a 10-year NFL veteran, has 58 starts across 94 games. Last season he started at right tackle all nine games he played for the Titans.
Hubbard during his time in Tennessee played alongside former 49ers offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill. That’s significant because San Francisco, according to Foerster, actually vetted Hubbard’s fit in their offense with Brunskill.
“Hubbard, you see it too because Tennessee did have some similarities,” Foerster said. “There were some similarities. You could see more of what we do in Hubbard. And then here’s the catchall, [Tennessee Titans OL Dan] Brunskill was there and Dan Brunskill is a [head coach] Kyle Shanahan favorite. And so, if Brunskill gave him the check and said, ‘This guy can do it for you guys.’ Kyle was like, ‘Yeah, well Brunskill says we can do it. I don’t care what you say, this guy’s playing for us.’ So Danny said the guy was actually really good at it. And he felt was a good transition. Even though he didn’t exactly coach him in Tennessee, like we coach him. Dan felt like the guy could make the transition. And so whatever I thought, went backseat to Brunskill, but we think the guy can do it.”
Foerster is likely having some fun here and making it seem like his input didn’t count. It’s hard to imagine the 49ers would’ve chosen the assessment of a former player over that of their coach if Foerster had staunch anti-Hubbard opinions.
If Brunskill is right and Hubbard thrives with the 49ers they might have to consider a job for him in their front office someday.