The 2023 49ers preseason is officially over. The San Francisco 49ers ended their preseason run with a 1-2 record. Luckily, this is not the regular season, and records do not matter. While the record doesn’t mean anything, there is still a lot to discuss in regards to the team. Whether it be the quarterback position, the kickers, or the defense, there is still a lot that needs to be decided by the start of the regular season. Here are some final thoughts on the 2023 49ers preseason run.
2023 49ers Preseason Quarterbacks
Well, it has been quite the offseason when it comes to the quarterback position. Going into the offseason, it was clear that if Brock Purdy is healthy, he will be the starting quarterback. Once he was cleared to practice, it was evident that head coach Kyle Shanahan was telling the truth. While Purdy has thrown many interceptions during practice, he did not throw any in his two 2023 49ers preseason games. He knew when to throw it away and when to extend the play until someone was open.
49ers QB Brock Purdy (14) – Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports
Right before the final game against the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Trey Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. This was bound to happen once veteran quarterback Sam Darnold was named the backup behind Purdy. Lance requested a trade and then went to Dallas for a fourth-round pick.
Aside from Darnold, the 49ers still have Brian Allen on their roster. While it is a shame that trading all of those first-round picks for Lance did not work, the 49ers believe they have found their starting quarterback in Purdy. Now, the hope is he remains healthy this season. If he plays how he did in 2022, if not better, this team will be just fine. While it has been an interesting 2023 49ers preseason when it comes to the quarterbacks, now the pieces are set for the season.
Former Michigan K Jake Moody (13) – Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
The Kickers
The kicker situation for the San Francisco 49ers is definitely not ideal. If it comes down to the game-winning field goal, it may not work out for the team. First, there are numerous issues with rookie Jake Moody. The rookie has done really well in practice, but that has not been relayed in the 2023 49ers preseason games. He has been completely hit or miss. Moody was solid while at Michigan, but the 49ers cannot risk missed field goals. Not only that, but Moody has suffered a quad strain, making week one questionable.
At first, when the news broke that Moody was injured, at least the team had Zane Gonzalez. Well, before the game against the Chargers, Gonzalez was ruled out with an injury, keeping him also questionable for the next few weeks. This puts week one in jeopardy for both kickers. Hopefully, the offense scores enough touchdowns, but realistically, they will have to settle for field goals. The team will need to figure out what to do there as rosters are being finalized.
49ers LBs Fred Warner (54) and Dre Greenlaw (57) – Cooper Neill/Getty Images
The Defense
Without the starters on the field for an extended amount of time, it is difficult to truly evaluate the defense. Throughout the 2023 49ers preseason games, one thing to look for was the difference in play style with Steve Wilks as the defensive coordinator. There are numerous returning veterans, and the defense will still play well, but the style of play may change a bit.
Something interesting to see is the amount of times our linebackers will blitz. Fred Warner is a great player, but based on the style of the team’s defense, he never has too many sacks in a season. One thing seen in practice and preseason games is how many times Warner has gone for the quarterback. Against the Chargers, he did have a sack. Of course, the linebackers have gone after the quarterback in the past, but the amount of times it happens could be interesting. Warner is a great tackler, and this could be something fun to watch this year.
The nickelback position is still questionable. The team signed Isaiah Oliver as a free agent just this past offseason with the intent of him being the starter for that position. Oliver has not been doing a great job throughout the 2023 49ers preseason games, though. He is missing tackles or leaving too much space open and getting beat most of the time. When the depth chart is officially released, this will be one of the first players to look for. Some other players that could still play there are Samuel Womack and even potentially play around with Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir‘s positions.
Without seeing all the starters, including Nick Bosa, out on the field throughout the 2023 49ers preseason games, it is difficult to truly judge how the team will be. Still, it should not be a worry for the fans.
49ers LT Trent Williams (71) – Ralph Freso/Getty Images
The Offensive Line
There are two positions that fans will always discuss when it comes to the 49ers. The first is the quarterback position, which, for now, is settled. The other is, and may always be, the offensive line. It is clear that the depth players are worrisome. In week one of the 2023 49ers preseason, the quarterbacks were under immense pressure. In the third week, all the starters but Trent Williams played, and it did look better. It will not be the best offensive line in the league, but Purdy will be protected, especially once Williams plays. This is not to say it wouldn’t be nice if the line was better, but the team will survive.
Another thing seen throughout the 2023 49ers preseason is the penalties by the offensive line. The other issue with the depth pieces was the amount of penalties for holding. The last thing this team needs to deal with is avoidable penalties. Nick Zakelj had two holding penalties in the final preseason game. It definitely would be nice if the team had better depth pieces, but for now, the fans and team will need to hope the starters stay as healthy as possible. Jaylon Moore is one of the team’s go-to backups on the line. In the first preseason game, how he played was alarming. By the third game, he drastically improved, and fans can definitely breathe a bit there.
Now that the 2023 49ers preseason is over, next up is roster cutdowns. This 53-man roster will be decided by Tuesday, August 29th. Hopefully, by then, Bosa will also have his extension. It is safe to say this has been an interesting offseason, but now it is time for everything to get serious. The 49ers will open up their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 10th.
