If you haven't heard, the Bolts offensive line is a focal point under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh.
Offensive line coach Mike Devlin, a former NFL lineman, is in charge of that group.
A former All-American lineman at Iowa, Devlin was a 1993 fifth-round pick by Buffalo and spent his seven-year career with the Bills and Cardinals.
He previously coached with the Jets, Texans and Ravens before joining the Bolts staff this offseason.
Here is our Coaches' Corner with Devlin:
Thanks for your time, Mike. We're early in the season, but what do you like about the way your group is playing?
"I think they've totally embraced the system and embraced learning new techniques. I really like how they come to work every day. The work ethic, how they study the game, they want to be good, they want to learn. It's a joy for me to go to work."
How would you describe your coaching style?
"That's a good question. I've probably pulled stuff from every guy that's ever coached me or I've helped coach. I've picked what I think are the best parts of them. My dad coached for 40 years, so I definitely am inspired to just be a little bit like he was in his career. I'm an ex-player, so I have that perspective. I kind of know, I've been in those seats. I think these are grown men that play a grown sport, and for me it's about just getting them to reach their fullest potential. I think there's a lot of ways to do that and I try to use everything in my arsenal to do so."
Coach Harbaugh said in the offseason the offensive line is the only position group where you have to play as a unit. How do you get five to play as one?
"First of all, I think it starts with the culture that Coach Harbaugh brought here. It starts with that and then instilling that in the meeting room, the meetings then on the field. Lineman are interesting because they're defenders of their own, so they were born with this trait to defend, to sacrifice. That to me is what pulls these guys together to try to defend their own."
Coach Harbaugh also labeled offensive lineman as the "tip of the spear." Can you sense an increased confidence in this group as they see that culture and mindset translate on the field?
"I think that's a common thing. It's a new system, new techniques, new mentality, new everything. First two games we've gone out there and now they're seeing it, now they're seeing what and how the system Greg Roman's brought here can help them be successful. You cannot help to be fired about going to play, practice and everything else with Coach Roman's system. It's good to be an offensive lineman."
Let's get into your group a bit. What does Rashawn Slater do that makes him so good?
"I think he's a master technician with he approaches the game. I think his thought process and he's really mentally tough and strong, but he's a pro's pro. He's consistently doing everything right every day."
What growth have you seen from Zion Johnson?
"I've seen him embrace the technique and I've seen him play within himself and in the structure, which is helping him. It's not like five 1-on-1s out there. Let the system work for you, so I see him growing within that."
How much do you appreciate having a veteran like Bradley Bozeman in the room?
"Boze' is a great leader, great communicator, smart, puts people in the right spots and pulls everybody together. He's the second quarterback, he's the quarterback of the O-line and he's tough."
How do you think Trey Pipkins III has done moving from right tackle to right guard?
"Good, still learning but I think there was a progression [early on], he took a step. Hopefully he can keep making those steps. When you go to a new position, every game is different and it's a new learning experience, then boom, there's that growth. There's some stuff he just has to go through, which he's doing."
Everyone is excited about Joe Alt. Has he been what you expected?
"Yeah, I think probably even more because I didn't realize how he studied the game. Really a student of the game. Not usually a repeat offender as a rookie and learns as he goes, 'Oh, I got beat this way, so I'm going to do this.' All those things usually take a long time to come to, but he really showed he can do that. It's murderer's row, you're talking about first game is [Maxx] Crosby, [Jadeveon] Clowney and then [T.J.] Watt and [Alex] Highsmith. This league has great, great defenders and so it's going to be an awesome learning experience for him. His mind is right and he's attacking it. I'm real excited for him."
Last one, you've worked for both Harbaugh brothers. Are they similar? What are the differences?
"I think they want and they definitely preach the same things, but they definitely are different in the way they go about it. They are both great and unique. But their standards, what they expect, what they preach to the team, how they say it, that goal is there. That was given to them by their father, he was very instrumental. I got to spend a lot of time with him, it was awesome, in Baltimore and here. Been learning a lot from both the brothers. Thankful for it."
