tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9311787837526355.post5885592857696431137..comments2023-10-16T05:12:31.101-04:00Comments on It's Boris Diaw Time!: 2012 NFL Preview: NFC Training Camp BattlesJon Landrumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06285647002396519452noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9311787837526355.post-30573494983637685332012-08-03T12:17:41.108-04:002012-08-03T12:17:41.108-04:00Since you didn't do the 9ers (understandably -...Since you didn't do the 9ers (understandably - most of their starters return), but there is actually an interesting battle forming recently.<br /><br />If you know anything about the few personnel changes the 49ers did have this offseason, lots of it revolved around RG. They allowed both Adam Snyder and crappy Chilo Rachal to walk in free agency. Then they snatched up Joe Looney on great value in the draft because of a foot injury he had just sustained, and they also started training their backup T Alex Boone to transition over to RG. The assumption had been for some time that Boone would transition smoothly (which all reports say he has) and get the job. The problem for him? Looney's foot is actually recovering much more quickly than anticipated. In fact, he has begun practicing already this week. Looney is the clear long-term favorite in this position - he fits the guard profile more than Boone, who has always been a tackle, and he was being rumored as high as the 2nd round before getting injured, whereas Boone went undrafted in 2009. But it's still unclear whether Looney will be ready to go, eapecially as a rookie who missed some training camp time.<br /><br />What I Would Do: See if you can speed up the timetable and get Looney ready for opening day.<br />What SF Will Do: Give Boone a shot at it first since he is more experienced, and wait until Alex Smith gets murdered to realize that we should probably just put the better player out there if he's healthy.Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050213069636658568noreply@blogger.com