San Francisco 49ers’ Energy In Trenches Laying Platform For Success

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 19: Nick Bosa # 97 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes against passers-by … [+] Jordan Mailata # 68 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 19, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)

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The San Francisco 49ers are one of seven teams that started the season unbeaten, and while their wins weren’t entirely convincing, the areas in which they excelled suggest this is a team built for 2021 became.

San Francisco followed a 41:33 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 1 and prevailed 17:11 in a defensive battle with the Philadelphia Eagles.

With their offensive skipping early and starting with three straight threes for the first time in Kyle Shanahan’s era, DeMeco Ryans’ defense has taken a significant step.

Returning defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw blocked a field goal to force a turnover on the downs in an effective display, and the defense was somehow able to survive four games from within their five-yard line to defeat the Eagles after 91st Yard connection with Quez Watkins in the second quarter.

That prevented the Eagles from taking a 10-0 lead, and San Francisco then went 12 plays and 97 yards on a scoring drive that gave the Niners a 7-3 lead in the half. From there, it was a game the 49ers controlled on both sides of the trenches, with San Francisco’s offensive and defensive lines putting in impressive performances against a strong Eagles team on both fronts.

Garoppolo did not suffer a sack against an Eagles defensive line, which scored three in their opening win over the Atlanta Falcons, a game in which Philadelphia posted a pressure rate of 41 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.

That’s not to say that the Niners kept Garoppolo clean throughout the game, but where pressured, the San Francisco quarterback demonstrated intelligent pocket movements to dodge the onslaught and avoid negative plays.

Across the trenches, despite his ability to play with his legs and escape the pocket, the 49ers managed to get to Jalen Hurts. Nick Bosa got off to a good start after missing most of 2020 due to injury.

Aided by an outstanding performance from an understaffed secondary school, San Francisco’s defensive line helped keep the Eagles down to just 138 net loyards in the second half, while Philadelphia had a 218-yard pitch in the first two quarters.

For the offense, the strength of protection combined with a game plan where Garoppolo got the ball out quickly with short throws – his time to throw of 2.44 seconds was the second fastest time in the NFL in Week 2 according to NextGen stats NFL – and its success in moving in the pocket meant the Niners could avoid disastrous games in an intimidating street setting where they seemed almost inevitable.

According to NextGen Stats, there will continue to be many questions about how long San Francisco will stay with Garoppolo ahead of rookie third Trey Lance after finishing the goal after a feat that ended with 3.6 planned air yards per attempt in the league reached.

The Niners inevitably have to be more aggressive as a passing attack if they really want to fight for a Super Bowl this season. Lance boasts far more than Garoppolo as a downfield passer, while his ongoing threat should add an extra dimension to the San Francisco offensive that the NFL has yet to see.

But the reality is that both sides of the trenches are performing at the same level for two weeks to keep San Francisco competitive, regardless of who is below the middle. The extent to which the Niners use their men’s platform in the trenches depends on whether Shanahan loses patience with Garoppolo and hands over the keys to his dynamic but inexperienced quarterback of the future.