SANTA CLARA — It actually didn’t assist the 49ers that accidents at quarterback ended Tremendous Bowl desires in every of the final two seasons.
First, there was Jimmy Garoppolo with a throwing shoulder that wanted surgical procedure and a sprained proper thumb in a 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC Championship. That was adopted by Sunday’s Brock Purdy-Josh Johnson catastrophe with Garoppolo and Trey Lance sidelined and Purdy unable to throw with a torn UCL in his elbow.
The 49ers nearly survived the Rams sport, dropping a 10-point lead within the second half. A 31-7 loss to the Eagles was a foregone conclusion as quickly as Purdy was harm.
The way in which the losses went down, the 49ers have extra work to do that offseason than merely hoping for higher luck relating to quarterback accidents.
Any likelihood of successful both sport rested with a top quality the 49ers pleasure themselves on however went lacking in motion after they wanted it most.
The 49ers have been the harder, extra bodily staff in each regular-season wins over the Rams a yr in the past, however not within the title sport. They beat groups bodily to such an extent this season that each opponent misplaced the next week. However let’s face details: Even with the quarterback points, the 49ers received manhandled on each side of the road of scrimmage in opposition to Philadelphia.
If the 49ers hope to take that further step in 2023 and exert their will when the stakes are the best, Trent Williams and Nick Bosa are going to wish some assist. There is probably not a staff with a secure of playmakers to match Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward, however with out the requisite physicality on the level of assault, it’s all window-dressing with an unsatisfying conclusion.
Shanahan is keen on utilizing carries as an indicator in the case of meting out punishment. The extra the higher, as a result of it means third downs are being transformed and the clock is in his favor. His staff is delivering blows quite than accepting them.
Within the final two title video games, the Eagles (44) and Rams (29) ran the ball 73 instances mixed, and the 49ers ran it 44 (20 and 24).
Whereas Philadelphia averaged solely 3.4 yards per carry, they'd 4 speeding touchdowns and their offensive line received the higher of the 49ers’ defensive entrance. Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa had their moments, however Javon Kinlaw received pushed backward as if on curler skates on a couple of play and an Eagles’ offensive line that includes Jason Kelce, Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson seized the day.
Philadelphia had a 37:26 to 22:34 benefit in time of possession — a stat the 49ers pleasure themselves on — and the Rams had a 35:39 to 24:21 benefit a yr in the past.
The Eagles, in line with tight finish George Kittle, targeting capturing gaps and penetrating quite than holding their floor and the 49ers’ offense was helpless to reply. They misplaced Purdy on Haason Reddick’s sack and out of doors of 1 inspiring 23-yard run by Christian McCaffrey had 23 rushes for 58 yards.
With the lack to run, the 49ers have been helpless in opposition to the Eagles’ pure rush.
“That could be a move rush that we have now not seen,” former 49er quarterback Steve Younger stated on his weekly look on KNBR. “Take into consideration the video games we’ve performed this season, a four-man move rush that actually threatened us? I don’t know that we noticed it. You would really feel that early. It’s going to be tremendous tough to take care of these 4 guys.”
It was sluggish going in opposition to the Rams at SoFi Stadium final season, getting simply 50 yards on 20 carries.
Assuming Williams returns at left sort out and Bosa indicators an enormous extension, they’ll be the 49ers’ two highest-paid gamers by way of cap dollars — an anchor and a game-changer at two of crucial positions in soccer.
How nicely the 49ers complement these two spots may have so much to say about whether or not they can ship the products bodily in the event that they return to the NFC title sport as they did for essentially the most half throughout a daily season during which they went 13-4 and a 12-game win streak (together with playoffs).
The 49ers might have a gap to fill at proper sort out, the place Mike McGlinchey performed all 20 video games. He's a greater run blocker than move blocker, however McGlinchey put himself in place on the open market to earn greater than the 49ers are keen to pay.
Subsequent man up is Colton McKivitz, an erstwhile fill-in and technician extra so than a drive to be reckoned with. There’s additionally Jaylon Moore, a two-year veteran who performed sparingly. The 49ers appeared happy with the work of heart Jake Brendel, a free agent who likelihood is might be again, whereas rookie Spencer Burford and veteran Daniel Brunskill break up time at proper guard.
Left guard Aaron Banks changed Laken Tomlinson and made strides after being a non-factor as a rookie, validating his second-round standing within the 2021 draft.
The 49ers don’t have a draft choose scheduled till the third spherical this spring, so the chances of an instantaneous contributor with dominant capabilities are slim. Free company might embody Denver guard Dalton Risner, the Eagles’ Isaac Seaumalo and Baltimore guard Ben Powers on the open market.
Bosa and Armstead are the Mr. Outdoors and Mr. Inside the defensive entrance, however the 49ers haven’t been in a position to pair Bosa with a second edge menace since Dee Ford’s physique started to go south on him in 2019.
Samson Ebukam has been constant if not prolific, with 4 1/2 sacks from 2019 by way of 2021 (two of these seasons with the Rams) and 5 in 2022. He's scheduled at no cost company together with Charles Omenihu, Kerry Hyder Jr. and Jordan Willis.
The personnel alongside the defensive entrance resembles their offensive line supporting solid in that they’re critical, earnest and pretty sound however not significantly explosive. Essentially the most handy answer for the 49ers can be for edge rusher Drake Jackson, a second-round choose a yr in the past, to make the form of leap Banks did at guard.
Shanahan made it clear that Jackson fell behind by way of energy and energy because the season went alongside after exhibiting some early promise as a move rusher.
Give attention to the quarterbacks in case you should, however taking the additional step in 2023 will relaxation with beating opponents to the punch as a substitute of taking it on the chin.