A new idea I had in order to help me go through the NFL team’s rosters and examine all the personnel and coaching changes, etc., one-by-one. I’m going to look at two teams head-to-head in seven key categories (my bias on what is ‘key’). The team that gets my vote in each category gets a ‘win’…the first team to 4 wins moves on to the next round. Just a quick, hopefully fun, way to take the temperature of each team heading into the 2023 preseason.
The seven categories…it’s actually six because one category is so important that it’s worth double:
1-2) The quarterbacks comparison…the winner of this gets 2 wins, or if too close to call it could be a 1-1 split.
3) O-Line -- Judging which team has the better O-Line…the most critical aspect of a team after the QB.
4) Cornerbacks -- After O-Line, I think the most critical position is shutdown corners (or not having any).
5) Head Coach/Organization -- A battle of which coaches will get in the way less, to some degree but also an edge given to teams that will attract free agents or be a desired destination in trades…and what teams are filling the stadium for home games, etc. Everything rolled into one judgment call.
6) Offensive Weapons -- Which team has the better, scarier RB-WR-TE group.
7) Kicker -- If it comes down to #7, of course the kicker should make the determination...as the kicker often determines the winner of a 59+ minute war prior with a last second make/miss.
As we lead into each category and tap a winner -- I’m also listing the major add/loss for each team in the offseason so far, just to eyeball it as a list.
Is this a brilliant way to judge teams over another? Who knows! But it struck me as something fun to do while studying each team this preseason, after the majority of offseason moves have been made.
SEA major adds: CB Witherspoon, WR Smith-Njigba, LB D. Hall, DT B. Young, DB J. Reed, DE D. Jones, SAF Love, DT Reed, LB Wagner
SEA major losses: DT Q. Jefferson, DT Shelby Harris, OG G. Jackson
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SF major adds: DT Hargrave, PK Moody, SAF J. Brown, OC Brendel
SF major losses: OL McGlinchey, QB Garoppolo, DE Ebukam, DE Omenihu, DB J. Ward, CB Moseley
QB (2x): Geno Smith vs. Purdy/Lance? In 2023, needing to win a game -- who would you pick? Purdy…we don’t know his arm health. Lance…we don’t know his capabilities. Geno Smith…has become one of the most stable, professional QBs in the league…out of nowhere.
With all the SF QB ‘maybes’ and Geno’s stability, it’s nuanced to make a definitive call…so, yes, we’ll call it a draw right now. Welcome to 2023!
We start out tied (1-1).
O-Line: Seattle’s O-Line is on the rise, but the 49ers still have a legacy/stability of performance the past few years…the edge to the 49ers right now, but it’s getting closer.
SF takes a (2-1) lead.
CBs: Not even close…the Woolen-Witherspoon-Jackson trio is better than the 49ers’ by a mile. The Woolen-Witherspoon -- either of them is better than any 49ers main CB…yes, better than C. Ward who started to buckle 2nd-half of 2022 season.
Seattle ties it back up (2-2).
HC/Organization: Seattle’s organization and Pete Carroll as a head coach is well respected in the league, but the 49ers organization has more gravitas, and Kyle Shanahan is in the debate for the single best head coach in the NFL…and players like him/want to play for him. Edge to SF.
49ers pull back ahead (3-2).
Weapons: 49ers have the edge at RB. Seattle has the edge at WR. Seattle has a nice collection of TE talent, but the 49ers have George Kittle. Considering Deebo as healthy, within all this, I give the slight overall edge to the 49ers.
49ers lock down the series win (4-2).
Kicker: You gotta go quality/experienced Jason Myers over a pure rookie kicker (Moody).
This was MUCH closer than one might think…a virtual tie really, and maybe edge to Seattle if Brock Purdy is not ‘right’ for 2023, and if Lance still isn’t a legit/winning QB in the end. In reality, the difference between these two teams in 2023 is going to be ‘injuries’ or ‘health’ week-to-week.
The trajectory is headed towards a Seattle crossover/passing of the 49ers in the near future, given the age and contracts of their core/today’s players. 2023 might be the 49ers last hurrah of NFC West dominance?
Upcoming Matchups (next round):
MIA v. CIN in the AFC Final Four
JAX v. KC in the AFC Final Four
PHI v. MIN in the NFC Final Four
NO v. SF in the NFC Final Four
