Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The trenches make or break a season — and right now, there's a lot to unpack for the San Francisco 49ers up front. Former 13-year NFL offensive lineman Ephraim Salaam joined Willard and Dibs to break down whether this Niners offensive line is actually a problem, why Trent Williams turning 38 changes the equation, and what it'll take for the defense to finally get after the quarterback again. Ephraim doesn't hold back — he explains why he hates rotating offensive linemen, why continuity up front matters more than fans realize, and why he still believes Trent Williams can out-think defenders even as the physical tools fade a little. Then the conversation shifts to the run game, where the Niners were shockingly 30th in the league in yards per carry last season despite winning 12 games — and how Christian McCaffrey's usage tells a very different story than the stat sheet. Things get spicy when the topic turns to the pass rush. With Nick Bosa's health still a question mark, Ephraim explains why the Niners need "special players to be special," and breaks down exactly why 70% of a healthy Aaron Donald is still better than 90% of the league.
Topics discussed include:
Trent Williams turning 38 and what it means for the Niners' line
Why rotating offensive linemen is a bad idea
The Niners' run game struggles despite a 12-win season
Christian McCaffrey's real impact beyond the box score
Nick Bosa's health and the pass rush outlook
Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett as generational forces
Whether the Rams can finally break the 0-for-20 Super Bowl trend
Do you think the Niners' offensive line is a real problem this year, or is Trent Williams still enough to hold it together? Let us know in the comments.
0:00 – O-Line Continuity and Experience
2:01 – The Problem With Rotating Linemen
3:00 – Trent Williams Turns 38
5:56 – Why the Run Game Struggled Last Year
8:22 – Bosa's Health and the Pass Rush Outlook
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The trenches make or break a season — and right now, there's a lot to unpack for the San Francisco 49ers up front. Former 13-year NFL offensive lineman Ephraim Salaam joined Willard and Dibs to break down whether this Niners offensive line is actually a problem, why Trent Williams turning 38 changes the equation, and what it'll take for the defense to finally get after the quarterback again. Ephraim doesn't hold back — he explains why he hates rotating offensive linemen, why continuity up front matters more than fans realize, and why he still believes Trent Williams can out-think defenders even as the physical tools fade a little. Then the conversation shifts to the run game, where the Niners were shockingly 30th in the league in yards per carry last season despite winning 12 games — and how Christian McCaffrey's usage tells a very different story than the stat sheet. Things get spicy when the topic turns to the pass rush. With Nick Bosa's health still a question mark, Ephraim explains why the Niners need "special players to be special," and breaks down exactly why 70% of a healthy Aaron Donald is still better than 90% of the league.
Topics discussed include:
Trent Williams turning 38 and what it means for the Niners' line
Why rotating offensive linemen is a bad idea
The Niners' run game struggles despite a 12-win season
Christian McCaffrey's real impact beyond the box score
Nick Bosa's health and the pass rush outlook
Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett as generational forces
Whether the Rams can finally break the 0-for-20 Super Bowl trend
Do you think the Niners' offensive line is a real problem this year, or is Trent Williams still enough to hold it together? Let us know in the comments.
0:00 – O-Line Continuity and Experience
2:01 – The Problem With Rotating Linemen
3:00 – Trent Williams Turns 38
5:56 – Why the Run Game Struggled Last Year
8:22 – Bosa's Health and the Pass Rush Outlook
Download the Audacy app to never miss any of your favorite 957 The Game content:
go.audacy.com/y-listen-live-957thegame
Listen live: audacy.com/957thegame/listen
Visit our website: 957thegame.com
Subscribe on Twitch: twitch.tv/957thegame
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/957thegame
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/957thegame
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/957thegame
Join our Newsletter: audacy.com/957thegame/join-our-clubs/mvp-club
