49ers' Alex Boone to play left guard this season

The San Francisco 49ers have found their replacement for Mike Iupati.

Head coach Jim Tomsula announced Friday that Alex Boone will be moving to left guard, where Iupati started in each of the past five seasons.

Boone served as the team's starting right guard the past three seasons, but has experience on the left side as well, having started 22 games at left tackle for Ohio State a. The 49ers also experimented with him at left guard during mandatory minicamp.

"The stance (at left guard) is the same if you did left tackle," Tomsula explained at the time. "That's what we’re looking at, and he's comfortable there."

Erik Pears is expected to replace retired right tackle Anthony Davis, with Marcus Martin working more at right guard.