Let the Games Begin: Reviewing the 49ers' Week 1 Victory Over the Steelers
The San Francisco 49ers opened the 2023 NFL season with a 30-7 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend.
From the opening kickoff to the final gun, the 49ers looked in mid-season form, and the constant worry about head coach Kyle Shanahan starting slow was put to bed before halftime.
Frankly, any franchise that embraces a pre-game polka as a 'tradition' deserves to lose in this fashion at any home game for eternity.
Running back Christian McCaffrey's 65-yard touchdown run was the top moment of the game, but a close second came when the Pittsburgh fans filed out of the stadium with 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter.
Below are a few highlights from the game, along with a few concerns as the team moves into Week 2.
1st Quarter - 4th and 1 at the PIT 45 (11:34)
What set the tone early for the 49ers' offense was Shanahan keeping his offense on the field for a 4th-and-short situation. I am hopeful we will see more of these bold moments from Shanahan this season.
I do not know the play's genesis, but it looks like the play-action off Shanahan's counter-solid run, which the team ran against Dallas in the NFC Divisional game.
Quarterback Brock Purdy broke the huddle, and the offense settled into a 'Firm Right Click' formation. Pittsburgh's defense was crowding the line of scrimmage, assuming Shanahan had called a bullying run play to McCaffrey to gain a yard. Tight end George Kittle, looking inside for his motion signal, bolted across the formation and bluffed a block on linebacker Alex Highsmith.
Pittsburgh linebacker Elandon Roberts then took over coverage of Kittle, but he had taken a few steps forward, causing him to be slightly out of position. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk finished off Highsmith, allowing Purdy to hit Kittle on the run.
Kittle snagged the pass, pushed around Highsmith, and gained 11 yards to continue the opening drive.
2nd & 1 at the PIT 25 (10:14)
Two plays later, the 49ers found themselves on the edge of the red zone and ready to put points on the board. Shanahan called in '12 Kick', a duo run out of a 'North Right Clamp' formation.
Duo runs instruct the offensive line to double-team specific defensive linemen; the back then reads the linebacker and chooses the best lane, which could be inside, or he can choose to bounce outside to avoid the linebacker.
As the 49ers settled, Purdy put tight end Ross Dwelley in motion. Pittsburgh's linebackers honored the shift, moving to the right and putting them in a vulnerable position for a big play. Purdy took the snap just as Dwelley ran by on his way to whiff a block on linebacker T.J. Watt. McCaffery took the ball, aiming at the 2-hole, but cut outside on his fourth step as tackle Colton McKivitz did not fully seal the gap.
McCaffrey cut off center Jake Brendel's block, and guard Spencer Burford occupied linebacker Cole Holcomb. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk got enough on cornerback Levi Wallace for McCaffrey to gain an additional six to seven yards and set up a Purdy touchdown pass to Aiyuk on the next play.
1 & 10 at the SF 32 (3:05)
Shanahan has called more snag concepts since Purdy took the reigns as the 49ers' starting quarterback. Once again, Shanahan is using a relatively elementary play and finding consistent success with it at the professional level.
'Snag' stretches the defense horizontally and vertically, with one player running a corner route, another running into the flat, and the third running a 'snag' or 'arrow' route. Typically, the flat defender will be in conflict in almost any coverage. Should the defender jump the snag route, the space behind him opens for the corner route, which is typically an alert. If the defender takes the flat, then the snag route is open. It's a fast play and not one designed for a considerable gain.
In this instance, the 49ers had three receivers to the left - Kittle, McCaffrey and Juszczyk - and added a fourth with wide receiver Deebo Samuel's ghost motion. Once Purdy had the ball, two Pittsburgh defenders had to honor Juszczyk and wide receiver Deebo Samuel and flowed with their swing routes. Aiyuk was isolated on the right, and Purdy looked immediately to that side. However, Watt dropped into coverage, forcing Purdy to return to McCaffrey on the snag route.
McCaffrey gained 7 yards to keep the drive moving. The 49ers would score a touchdown seven plays later.
But There Are Some Concerns
The 49ers had opportunities to improve their offensive line in the offseason, chiefly the right tackle spot. However, the team chose to waste time in the draft with a kicker in the third round and made no upgrades to right tackle or center. Instead, the team is relying on fourth-year veteran Colton McKivitz.
Unfortunately for McKivitz, his first start of 2023 was against Watt, one of the predominant linebackers in professional football. I agree that any tackle would have his hands full against Watt, but McKivitz had terrible reps throughout the game.
3rd Quarter - 3rd & 6 at the PIT 46 (7:51)
The 49ers started their 8th possession on their 17-yard line and were clawing their way down the field. Just across midfield, Purdy and the offense were looking at makeable 3rd-and-6.
Once settled, the 49ers had an empty backfield, and Watt was in a wide-9 technique. The empty backfield tipped off a 'scat' protection for the 49ers' offensive line. At the snap, Pittsburg sent four men after Purdy, with Watt on a straight line to the quarterback.
McKivitz looked unsure of which direction Watt might move and did not have the footwork to keep up with the three-time all-pro linebacker. Further, McKivitz never found himself in a powerful position to shove or slow down Watt, who quickly ripped through a weak block to drop Purdy for a 9-yard loss.
1 & 10 at the PIT 38 (5:42)
Watt notched his third sack on the first play of the 49ers' next possession. This time, the protection was 2 Jet, which is slide protection with help from the back. However, if there is no threat, the back can leave and enter the field as an outlet.
McKivitz looked tentative and nearly on his heels as Watt crossed the line of scrimmage. And yet again, McKivitz tried to stop Watt with one arm, which was as effective as a railroad crossing trying to stop a freight train. On this play, Watt hit Purdy and caused a fumble, which Watt recovered.
Watt plays at a level of football that few men reach, and even the best right tackle in football would have difficulty keeping him out of the backfield. The talent level at the edge spot may wax and wane over the season, but McKivitz will have to find a way to improve his technique and play better and more consistent football going forward. Pittsburgh exposed a flaw in the 49ers' offense, and I am sure the opposition is already scheming to attack the right side repeatedly
The 49ers did not step quietly into the 2023 season and will be a buzzsaw in Los Angeles this weekend should they continue the same caliber of play they showed in Pittsburgh.
Video and screenshots courtesy of NFL.com. All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless noted.