The 49ers' additional quarterback insurance still has some question-marks
Kyle Shanahan has previously made it clear he believes he can win with each of the top three quarterbacks on the 49ers' roster. While the 49ers are crossing all their fingers that Brock Purdy stays healthy, there is an evident belief they can contend with either Sam Darnold or Trey Lance under center. That faith […]
Kyle Shanahan has previously made it clear he believes he can win with each of the top three quarterbacks on the 49ers' roster.
While the 49ers are crossing all their fingers that Brock Purdy stays healthy, there is an evident belief they can contend with either Sam Darnold or Trey Lance under center.
That faith is partially a product of the outstanding supporting cast San Francisco has on offense and Shanahan's play-calling acumen, but the head coach's confidence is also down to an additional layer of insurance the Niners have at their disposal beyond Darnold and Lance.
Speaking to Peter King's Football Morning in America, Shanahan shed light on the other aspect of the team he effectively sees as an additional safety net against adversity at the game's most important position.
Shanahan told King:
“But year after year, all these quarterbacks. All these bad injuries. The one thing we believed in was having a great defense. That keeps games close, then you just figure a way sometimes on offense. Why’d we go after Javon Hargrave this year? Defense. Make it hard to score on us. That’s kind of been a view of how to build a team for me forever. Hoping you can always have that quarterback, but if you can build that defense that way and play the right way, you do have a chance.”
Shanahan is right to have the utmost faith in his defense to keep the 49ers in games regardless of who is under center.
The 49ers' defense last season finished first by points allowed and second by total yards allowed, and San Francisco added to it with the blockbuster signing of defensive tackle Hargrave from their primary NFC rivals the Eagles.
Yet there are question-marks surrounding arguably the league's best defense.
Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa's holdout has stretched to the point where it may now be hurting his ability to be at his best in time for the new season. Though Clelin Ferrell has impressed in preseason, behind Bosa there are doubts about the 49ers' depth at edge rusher.
Drake Jackson will look to make a leap in year two after an up-and-down rookie season, but it is difficult at this stage to know what the Niners can expect from free agent signing Austin Bryant or fifth-round rookie Robert Beal Jr, who has been conspicuous by his absence at training camp.
The 49ers also don't have a definitive starter at nickel corner, with coordinator Steve Wilks indicating they will change who plays that role based on the matchup.
That is a substantial change for a defense that last year got impressive play at the position from the now-departed Jimmie Ward, but not as significant as the switch from DeMeco Ryans to Wilks at coordinator.
Wilks is the first defensive coordinator in the Shanahan era hired from outside the organization. While it is not year clear if he will bring a more aggressive approach to a team that has typically relied on getting pressure with four pass rushers, how this group handles the adjustments he does make will go a long way to determining how successful the Niners are in 2023.
The defense will once again be expected to be one of the NFL's best, but that is far from a guarantee. The level of talent San Francisco possesses on that side of the ball is excellent insurance against quarterback turmoil but, with the questions they have on defense, the 49ers cannot afford to be overly relaxed about the possibility of losing a starter whose five starts last season saw them lead the league in points per game.
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