Super Bowl XLVII: Joe Staley says his job didn’t change with quarterback swap

“I think Colin presents different things as far as how athletic he is, the things he can do with his feet and the read-option. ... But as far as my job changing, my job’s still to create holes in the running game and maintain a clean pocket so the quarterback can make clean passes. That’s all part of football and I don’t think that’ll ever change regardless of who’s back there.”

Staley, 28, was a first round pick of the 49ers in the 2007 NFL Draft and anchored an offensive line that paved the way for an offense that averaged 5.1 yards per rush in 2012. The 49ers were one of only five teams that finished the regular season with a rating of over 100 for their quarterback.

Originally a tight end when he arrived at Central Michigan, Staley talked to Petros and Money about his transition to offensive tackle and the need to add weight for the position:

“It was actually kind of like, once I decided I was going to be an offensive lineman and I had to gain a ton of weight and I was always bloated and always forcing myself to eat way too much food, and terrible food for myself. I think I took it upon myself to kind of be proud of getting a belly and getting big, because I wanted to kind of fit in and look like a lineman. And once I started getting that I actually kind of enjoyed it. Now I’ve got a nice little gut.”

After arriving to Central Michigan at about 230 pounds, Staley accumulated over 80 pounds and is now listed on the 49ers roster as 315 pounds. In his rookie season, Staley played at the right tackle spot before moving over to left tackle in 2008 where he has remained since. Staley earned Pro Bowl recognition for his play during both the 2011 and 2012 seasons.