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NFL Season Preview 2023
San Francisco 49ers
by Kevin Kendrick on September 3rd, 2023
Last year was a roller coaster ride of a season, the 49ers started with Trey Lance as the starter and a humble Jimmy G as his back up, and a guy everyone would know by the end of the season as the 3rd string QB. Trey got hurt after just 2 games, Jimmy was hurt after another 10 games (going 7-3 in that time) and then Jimmy got hurt for the rest of the season. In steps “Mr Irrelevant” QB Brock Purdy former Iowa State with 4 years of experience starting at the college level. He stepped in and the 49ers didn't lose again until they lost to the Eagles in the NFC Championship game. Again after Purdy (the 3rd QB that season went down) and had to rely on journeyman QB Josh Johnson and that didn't go well. The 49ers were crushed and sent home with their tails between their legs.
This inspired the 49ers to petition the league to add a quarterback to the standard three they are allowed to have on roster. It also inspired the 49ers to reset their whole QB room. Gone are the days of Lance Garopollo, Lance and insert 3rd String QB, now is the time of Purdy, Donald and Allen. All 3 are QB’s that should thrive in the Shanahan system, we have already seen a pretty big sample size of what Purdy can do. Now it's just a matter of if the man can stay healthy, if not then it looks like Darnold will get his chance to lead the most potent offense in the NFL. Now let's look at the starting 11 for both sides of the ball
The Offense led by QB Brock Purdy
QB Brock Purdy, RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Deebo Samuel, WR Brandon Aiyuk, TE George Kittle, FB Kyle Juszczyk, LT Trent Williams, LG Aaron Banks, C Jake Brendel, RG Spencer Burford, RT Colton McKivits…
This offense is one that will confuse and confound most defensive coordinators as this season goes on. The opposition only has about a drop in the bucket of game footage on Purdy so he is still an unknown factor. But Kyle believes in him and so will I until he proves that he doesn't deserve the faith. The rest of the offense is pretty much the same guys that helped make Jimmg G look good as the starting QB for the 49ers, Samuel, Aiyuk & Kittle will continue to be one of the best trios in the NFL McCaffery and Mitchel might be my sneak top running back combination in the NFL, and if they aren't then they definitely have a case to be. Finally you have the offensive line anchored by Tren Williams at Left Tackle. The only part that is a question mark is Colton McKivits at the right tackle position as he is replacing a beast in Mike McGlinchy who signed with Denver this past offseason. Overall this offense should be playing at a high level by mid season and should be top 5 in the NFL over the course of the whole season.
The Defense led by DT Javon Hargrave
LE Drake Jackson, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Arik Armstead, RE Nick Bosa, WLB Dre Greenlaw, MLB Fred Warner, SLB, Oren Burks, LCB Chardavious Ward, SS Talanoa Hufanga, FS Tashaun Gipson Sr., Deommodore Lenoir
This defense is just about as good as their offensive counterpart, they have literal pro bowlers at every level of this defense and they are extremely young and hungry. This defense has had 3 different defensive coordinators over the past 3 years. The current DC is Steve Wilks, former head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Which is fitting being that the last 2 DC’s for the 49ers ended up being hired as head coaches after their tenure as the 49ers DC. This defense starts and ends with Nick Bosa, but seeing as he most likely won't be on the field for Week 1 (Contract Holdout) this defense will start the season lead by Hargrave, Armstead and Kinlaw. Let me say that I think the Defense is in very good hands. The cornerbacks will be rotated with Ward and Lenior getting the starting spots, Hufanga is a lock to be a pro bowl safety again this year as long as he stays healthy and he seemed to develop a good chemistry with Gipson, one that can translate into them being one the best tandems in the NFL as well. So with such a well rounded squad and a great leader in Wilks the 49ers defense should again be one of the top 5 defenses in the league this year…
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