The San Francisco 49ers have opened the season 3-0, but Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, who sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco on Friday, knows Sunday's matchup with the Denver Broncos will present a different kind of challenge. Denver brings one of the league's most aggressive defenses, led by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, while quarterback Bo Nix gives the Broncos an added dimension that can create problems both inside and outside the pocket.
Shanahan pointed to both areas when discussing what concerns him most about Denver.
Keeping Bo Nix in the pocket
The 49ers will have to account for Nix's mobility throughout the game. Shanahan called it "extremely important" for San Francisco to keep Nix contained because of how frequently Denver uses quarterback movement as part of its offense.
"They do it as much as anyone in the league, and I can see why," Shanahan said. "It helps the run game, in general. You can always get explosives out of moving the quarterback and stuff, and then their quarterback's pretty elite at it."
Nix presents a problem even after he escapes the pocket. "Just the arm strength he has out of the pocket, how good he is with his feet," Shanahan added. "It's a huge challenge."
That makes maintaining rush discipline particularly important for San Francisco's defensive front. Getting pressure on Nix won't necessarily be enough if the rush lanes aren't maintained and he is able to escape into open space.
The 49ers have also seen firsthand how much damage a quarterback can create when plays break down. Nix's ability to extend plays adds another layer to a Denver offense that can use his movement to create opportunities in the running game and downfield.
Surviving Denver's defense
The other major concern is on the opposite side of the ball. Denver's defense has been one of the NFL's most difficult units to deal with, and Shanahan has plenty of respect for what Joseph can do with it.
"Vance is one of the toughest guys just because he can do anything," Shanahan said earlier in the week. "They can do front-wise, coverage-wise, pressure-wise."
That versatility is what makes the matchup particularly difficult for a Brock Purdy-led 49ers' offense that is near the top of the league in production, and still hasn't given up a QB sack. This will be San Francisco's stiffest challenge.
Denver can change its approach up front, bring pressure with different combinations and lean on a talented secondary. Shanahan said the Broncos can come with four or five pass rushers while mixing in different coverages and pressures.
"It's not a surprise they were one of the best defenses in the league last year," Shanahan said. The challenge becomes even greater if San Francisco allows Denver to dictate the game.
When asked about protecting Purdy against a Broncos defense that has consistently generated pressure, Shanahan emphasized that it won't be solely an offensive-line responsibility.
"It's going to take all 11," he said. That means the 49ers will need the running game, play-calling, and pass protection to work together. Shanahan also stressed the importance of getting the ball out quickly when necessary and making sure the offense doesn't become predictable. "If we get one-dimensional versus [this] type of pass rush, I don't care who your line is, I don't care what the deal is, they're going to get after your quarterback," Shanahan said.
Because of the challenge the Broncos present, Maiocco asked the coach if Sunday's matchup could serve as a bit of a barometer for the 49ers, given the quality of opponent they are facing.
"We have a lot of respect for the opponent. We know how good of a team they are, but it really doesn't matter to us," Shanahan added. "It's just such a one week at a time thing. We don't really look at the barometer of an opponent to prove anything."
Shanahan isn't interested in using the Broncos game to determine where his team stands after four weeks. The bigger objective, he said, is what the 49ers do later in the season. "I don't care whether you're 3-0, 5-0; it's how you finish," Shanahan said. "Our goal is to get in the playoffs and do something there, and that's a long ways away."
As for this game, Shanahan knows it won't be easy. After all, they'll be hosting the team he believes was the best team in the AFC last year.
Watch Maiocco's full interview with Shanahan below:
More info on: Brock Purdy
Comments