Spencer Burford gives 49ers excellent problem on the offensive line

The San Francisco 49ers entered 2023 looking for several young players to take the leap, among them right guard Spencer Burford.

Burford, who split reps with Daniel Brunskill last season as a rookie, was handed the starting role full-time for his second season but, having seen predominantly inconsistent returns through the first eight weeks of the year, the 49ers were looking to return to a rotation at the position, with the former fourth-round pick set to share the spot with veteran Jon Feliciano.

Yet those plans may now have been shelved after Burford turned any disappointment over his performances in the first half of the season into intrigue about what he could do down the stretch with an excellent display as the 49ers ended a three-game losing streak with a 34-3 blowout of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Burford's bounce back

While the Jags are not a blitz-heavy defense, the variety defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell throws at opponents meant their deep front was always likely to provide a stern test for the 49ers' offensive line, and it is one they passed with eye-opening ease.

San Francisco allowed 10 quarterback pressures but only three quarterback hits and zero sacks, with Burford an unexpected standout in a dominant showing.

While All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams received praise for his unsurprisingly huge impact on the rushing attack, Burford was exemplary in both aspects of his game. He finished with a Pro Football Focus run blocking grade of 68.2, his third-highest of the campaign, as he helped open lanes for a ground game that went for 147 yards, excluding kneel downs.

In pass protection, Burford had an answer to everything the Jags threw at him, dealing with the creepers and stunts that are an integral part of the Jacksonville's defensive gameplan with a minimum of fuss.