Staley is looking at the upcoming 2013 season the same way he viewed the past two years under Jim Harbaugh. He's eating smart and training harder. He's also showing his veteran wisdom even more than ever.

"You have to do what plays to your strengths," Staley says. "My strength has always been being quick, athletic and being able to move well. I don't want to sacrifice that just to be a certain size."

In Staley's mind when you get too light, the opposition tries to bull-rush you. Strength is crucial. That's been the emphasis of the left tackle's off-the-field training. "If I lose weight, I have to keep my strength up," he says. "Right now I feel stronger than I've ever been, while also being smaller I've ever been in my career."

The workouts, now being done at 49ers headquarters as part of the team's offseason strength program, remain important to Staley. That's why he continues to set the tone with the commitment needed in training. Drevno thinks of Staley as another coach in the o-line room. "He's one of the tireless, hardest workers," the offensive line coach says. "Football is important to him. It's a coach's dream to work with him because he's such a complete guy."

Besides asking the right questions in meetings during the season, Staley tirelessly studies opponents, with an eye on always looking for insight on the opposing pass-rusher's best moves. Those study nights won't take place for some time though. For now, the players are in the second week of offseason workouts to be followed by two weeks of on field instructions from the 49ers coaching staff. Then comes organized team activities and minicamps. Drevno can hardly contain his excitement. He can't work with the players just yet, but he'll be ready when the time comes.

"You're like a little kid in the candy store when the guys get back," the 49ers line coach says. "It's awesome to start working with them when the time comes for us to do that. Going on the field and being able to coach is your medicine. You can only do so much film-watching, you need to break the huddle, get down on the line, see the ball handed off to Frank Gore, or see Colin Kaepernick standing back there throwing a bullet to somebody… You get a new surge of energy for the year. And this is a good football team; all we can do is get better in what we do."

To get better, the 49ers will rely on leaders like Staley. Solari appreciates how his left tackle sets the example for the younger linemen on the roster, how he treats offseason workouts and practices like regular seasons games.

"It doesn't matter if it's an OTA, a minicamp, a training camp or during season, Joe's always going to give you all he has," Solari says. "He has great work ethic.* *The way he approaches the meetings, he's always prepared. He wants to know what's going on and he's very detailed."

Solari has worked with several athletic linemen during his coaching career. He also knows how those traits were stressed by legendary 49ers offensive line coach Bobb McKitrrick, an inspirational coach who passed away from cancer in 2000.

"Joe fits that standard," Solari explains. "Bobb always wanted athletic offensive linemen and Joe fits tradition of athletic offensive linemen being able to play low to the ground. Joe is right there with the Harris Barton-type of athlete."

Solari has enjoyed seeing Staley's maturity in the last three seasons he's worked as the 49ers offensive line coach. Solari appreciates how his left tackle continues to hone his craft and play with better technique, especially learning the best ways to use his hands to counteract aggressive pass-rushers.

As the offensive line coaches dig through this year's draft prospects, they couldn't help but notice several incoming rookies mention Staley as a source of inspiration. Top tackle prospects like Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson singled out Staley's as a role model for their own athletic play.

"Quite a few of them have been a tight end earlier in their careers because of the athleticism you're looking for and the foot speed," Solari says of the offensive line prospects he's studied in this year's draft. "Joe was able to develop and put the weight on properly, he was a leaner athlete. Being leaner, you're quicker and have more athleticism in your body, more of a quick-twitch. In this year's draft you're seeing former tight ends become tackles.

"The nice thing about Joe is that he can fit into any system because he is quick, he is explosive and he does a great job of playing with leverage. He's always got knee-bend. You appreciate Joe when you watch his athleticism and his ability to stay with defensive ends that are fleet-footed."

Staley, on the other hand, hasn't paid much attention to compliments he's receiving from incoming rookies. He does, however, appreciate Fisher's rise in prominence. The offensive tackle figures to be the next CMU prospect to be drafted in the first round and the highest ever in school history. The tackles spoke at Fisher's pro day, too. Staley has given back generously to his alma mater, all while supporting charities that look out for children. Staley always makes a point of making an offseason trek to his home state to check up on his family and school.

"When I go back there it reminds me of how long ago it was," Staley says. "I didn't have any aspirations of playing in the NFL when I got to college. I was just happy to be playing college football; it was something I was happy to do. It was the way my career went, becoming a draft prospect to someone who was drafted kind of high and here I am, working."

Staley might not want to dive too deep into his remarkable journey, but his former coaches love every moment of it.

"I have a ton of respect for Joe," Longo, the former strength coach says. "He's earned his success every step of the way. It's nice to see when you have a vision for the kid and the kid buys in and that comes true. In our business that's as good as it gets. It's a life-changer for the player."

Turns out, the weight shakes and double-day workouts were all worth it in the end.

"Joe is the epitome of what you can become through strength and conditioning," Longo adds. "To make such a big change like that and be at a small school and put on all that weight and take it all the way to a Super Bowl and two Pro Bowls, it's inspirational. I use him as an example to my young players. This is what you can be.

"He doesn't know it, but he inspires a lot of the young guys who are out there right now."

Quinn shares Staley's rise to NFL stardom to all of his linemen at Buffalo as well.