Dependable 49ers offensive linemen carry big load

Center Jonathan Goodwin can offer the line some advice about playing on the big stage. He won a Super Bowl with the Saints after the 2009 season, and realizes just how important the unity becomes for an offensive line when playing for a championship.

Goodwin credits Boone for his part.

“He’s kind of come in there and given us our final piece,” Goodwin said.

2012 newcomer Leonard Davis and Daniel Kilgore even report eligible as extra linemen in some packages.

It’s taken each contribution to get this far.

They razz each other one moment, then hit the field and turn on the intensity the next.

When asked about the dance skills of his line mates, Staley said wouldn’t offer much credit to the rest of them.

“I do not know about the whole offensive line, but I have the moves,” he said. “The hip shakers.”

Even Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has noticed these guys have a lot of fun together.

“Staley, I think he’s a guy like me,” Suggs said. “He likes to have fun when he plays and that’s how I like to play. The last time we played each other, when a play was going on we were serious. In between plays we would kind of just (be) chopping it up, having fun.”

When Harbaugh switched starting quarterbacks from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick midseason, the line also had to adjust to the swap. It has been seamless.

Kaepernick makes his 10th career NFL start Sunday at the Superdome.

It sure hasn’t hurt that they know each other so well.

“We just like to be together,” Iupati said. “We’re close.”

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