49ers’ linemen driven to be better

TRAINING CAMP

Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

Alex Boone strolled through Levi’s Stadium in a tank top with his large, tattooed arms on full display.

“You don’t see very many fat guys walking around here anymore,” he quipped. “That’s for a reason.”

High-intensity, fast-paced practices early in training camp certainly help that cause.

The 49ers left guard and his offensive linemates are taking their fitness more seriously in order to do their jobs more effectively from Day 1, fully aware they are considered one of the biggest question marks surrounding San Francisco’s roster going into the season.

Right tackle Anthony Davis announced his surprising retirement at age 25 two months ago following a concussion last year, and left guard Mike Iupati departed for the division rival Arizona Cardinals as a free agent. Those losses were a huge hit to a line that had been a model of stability in recent seasons. Davis and Iupati were both first-round picks in the 2010 draft and became immediate NFL starters.

San Francisco’s offensive line is out to prove something after a disappointing year in which quarterback Colin Kaepernick took 52 sacks, second most in the league behind the 55 on Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles, and the offense struggled with regular clock problems.

So far in camp, the defensive front has appeared dominant.

“No, I do not have any concern right now,” coach Jim Tomsula said Tuesday of the O-line. “Are there things we’re looking at? Yeah. Am I excited about the guys in the mix, with our inside two there, yeah, I’m excited about them.”

As the 49ers prepared for their first practice in pads Tuesday afternoon, Boone was hoping for a little contact with new defensive tackle Darnell Dockett given their “old-time rivalry” during Dockett’s time with the Cardinals.

Boone has moved from right guard to left guard, where he now works alongside veteran left tackle Joe Staley. These two will be counted on for their experience and leadership on a new-look line.

“It’s different,” Boone said. “I think the one thing people forget is that when you play next to somebody, especially in such tight quarters like we do, you have to know that person really well. You have to know what they’re thinking at all times. There has been some miscommunication and things like that, but at the end of the day we’re cleaning it up. It’s just part of the process. We’ve got to keep playing together. ... It’s coming along pretty well.”

San Francisco was forced to use timeouts with the clock winding down last season.

The Niners were penalized at times, too, for failing to get a play called in time.

“It took a long time last year to get plays off. That was a problem, and I think everybody knew that was a problem,” Boone said.