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**RoyWilliams** · 08-30-2007, 11:13 AM

Staley to start for 49ers - rookie takes job from flag-magnet Harris

Quote:

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Mike Nolan was undecided as to his starting right tackle for the regular season. It was a close training camp and preseason slog between incumbent Kwame Harris and first-round draft pick Joe Staley.

About four hours later, after meeting with both players, the 49ers' coach had his man.

"Joe Staley has been named the starting right tackle today," Nolan said in a statement released by the team late in the afternoon. "Starting positions on our team are earned. Nobody is handed a starting role."

True enough. It took Patrick Willis, the first of San Francisco's two picks in the first round, 22 days to earn a starting job at inside linebacker. It took Staley 31 days to earn his.

"Just like the linebacker spot with Patrick, this decision had more to do with what Joe has done," Nolan explained. "Both Joe and Kwame had outstanding camps. It was a very close competition. Joe was more consistent. That is the reason for the decision."

San Francisco's starting offensive and defensive players are scheduled to be on the field for 12 plays or the entire first quarter, whichever comes first, in Thursday night's final preseason game at San Diego. Staley presumably will join the starting unit for those plays.

Staley, the 28th pick in the first round from Central Michigan, has been impressive from Day 1 in training camp. Watching him work in pass-blocking drills and in his playing time through three exhibition games, it was obvious Staley is a natural at the right tackle position.

One member of the 49ers' front office said it looked as though this were Staley's third or fourth NFL training camp instead of his first.

"Joe earned the starting position based on his production on the football field both in practice and in the games," Nolan said.

The 49ers practiced from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, after which Nolan met with all of his coaches on the field for about 15 minutes. At that time, he said he was undecided at right tackle.

Over the next few hours, however, Nolan made up his mind. He met with Harris alone to tell him of his decision, then Nolan and offensive line coach George Warhop gave the happy news to Staley.

Neither Harris nor Staley was available for comment at the time Nolan announced his decision.

Harris' future with the 49ers is murky, as this is the last year of his contract. It's uncertain if Nolan will keep him this season as a backup or release him and give the four-year veteran from Stanford a chance to join another NFL team.

Harris, 6-foot-7 and 322 pounds, started the last 32 regular-season games for the 49ers at right tackle. He started seven games at left tackle in 2004 and played in seven others. As a rookie in 2003, he started five games at left tackle.

During his tenure with the 49ers, Harris has been a perplexing player. He is an outstanding run blocker but comes up lacking in pass protection. Though he manages to lock his huge frame onto a defender and push him out of the way, Harris frequently is out of position on passing plays when he goes against speedy defensive ends.

In Harris' defense as a run blocker, look at the season Frank Gore had in 2006: He did not rush for nearly 1,700 yards without somebody blocking for him.

Nevertheless, Staley is the future - as well as the present. Whether this move happened now, next week or several games into the season, he was going to be the 49ers' right tackle.

Staley, 6-5 and 306 pounds, looks to be the type of lineman on whom teams rely for 10-12 years, perhaps longer. If that proves to be the case, Staley had better start worrying about job security ... sometime in 2019 or so.