The San Francisco 49ers continue to find ways to win and compete year in, year out. Losing a starting quarterback and then a backup quarterback across half of a season would rock and, ultimately, end most teams’ postseason hopes. But not the 49ers.
After losing Trey Lance to a broken ankle in Week 2, Jimmy Garoppolo stepped in and played well, until he suffered a broken foot against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. That thrust Brock Purdy, the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, into the starting lineup.
Purdy and the 49ers rolled over every team that they faced in the regular season, going 5-0 and winning playoff games against the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys before succumbing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game – though that game wasn’t without controversy, as the 49ers lost Purdy to a torn UCL and were forced to use Josh Johnson, their fourth quarterback of the season. The fact the 49ers made it that far was a testament to the organization and the roster as a whole.
The goal in 2023 is to go one step further: the 49ers want to make it back to the Super Bowl, and have every reason to think it’s possible. The roster is one of the deepest in the NFL, and some smart free agent additions, like Javon Hargrave – more of a splash than a shrewd move – and Isaiah Oliver will keep the defense ticking over. They’re not without issues, which we’ll address, but the 49ers absolutely head into the 2023 season as one of the favourites in the NFC.
Offense
Who would be the 49ers starting quarterback in 2023: Brock Purdy or Trey Lance? That was the question ahead of the preseason. The team had spent three 1st round picks to trade up and acquire Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft, but a lack of reps due to a redshirt season in his rookie year and then an injury last season has led to a lack of progression. The 49ers believe that Purdy gives them a better chance to win this season. His style of play is more aligned and suited to what Kyle Shanahan wants from a quarterback – he’s Jimmy Garoppolo with extra playmaking ability. Where that leaves Lance is unknown. He’s stuck in the purgatory of a player that needs reps from a team that can’t afford to give him reps. But for now, all attention turns to Purdy and the offense.
Shanahan’s offense is widely known at this point. It’s attacking the middle of the field on crossing concepts, it’s creating yards after the catch, and it’s outside zone running schemes. Regardless of who’s under centre, the song remains the same and the results are usually strong – the 49ers were 6th in DVOA 6th in points scored in 2022. With playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle to support Purdy, the offense has the juice and weapons to be successful in this scheme once again.
However, there’s tangible concern surrounding the offensive line. The 49ers lost Mike McGlinchey and Daniel Brunskill in free agency, and didn’t really show any aggression in replacing them. That means 2020 5th round pick Colton McKivitz, who has five career starts in three seasons to his name, will start at right tackle. He’s been solid as a rotational player, but how can he fare as a starter? The only true talent on the offensive line is Trent Willams, who is still the best offensive linemen in the game. But beyond him, there’s concern.
One to watch: Brandon Aiyuk
Defense
As talented as the defense is, losing defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to the Texans hurts. Ryans has been one of the elite coordinators for some time and deserved the opportunity to try his hand at head coaching, but his loss will impact the defense. His replacement, Steve Wilks, is a competent coordinator in his own right, and the talent on the 49ers defense makes life easier for him.
The way the 49ers defense operates won’t change. Even with Wilks, there’s a good chance that this is the best defensive unit in the NFL. They led the NFL in DVOA, EPA, yards allowed per game, and points allowed per game. Everything starts up front with the defensive line. The 49ers ran a heavy amount of stunts to create one-on-one matchups and that led to the 8th-highest pressure rate in the NFL last season – with Nick Bosa leading the NFL with 90 pressures en route to his first Defensive Player of the Year award.
This is a group that has star power on every level. The defensive line boasts Bosa, Hargrave, Arik Armstead, and a litany of reclamation projects thanks to Kris Korucek, who may be the best defensive line coach in the league. The linebacker duo of Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw is the best in the NFL – while Warner himself could lay claim to the best linebacker title in the NFL. Even the secondary, the weakest unit on the defense, has an All-Pro calibre safety in Talanoa Hufanga, and an excellent cornerback in Charvarius Ward.
The 49ers defense is as deep as they come and might just be the best defense in the NFL once more.
One to watch: Drake Jackson
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.