The 49ers look like the air deflated out of them. The clock has struck midnight on Brock Purdy’s Cinderella story and my evaluation of him aged as well as 90s teen movies. Meanwhile, the Eagles have kept rolling on and have solidified themselves as Super Bowl favorites and the class of the NFC.
But it’s worth analyzing how these 2 teams have built their loaded rosters. While the 49ers may not be winning not, they have a track record of winning. They have one of the best rosters in the NFL, as do the Eagles. The team building philosophy that both of these teams employ couldn’t be any more different and also couldn’t be anymore similar.
49ers’ President of Football Operations John Lynch and Eagles’ Executive Vice President Howie Roseman have built their teams through all 3 methods. The draft, the trade market, and the free agent market. Every year, both of these men made a trade or 2 that will have you wondering, “How the heck did the 49ers just get Christian McCaffrey” or “Did the Eagles just get Kevin Byard for a late-round pick??”
Let’s take a look at both of these teams’ starting lineups. And where each of the players came from.
Starting Lineups
Note. “***” means a “situational” player. Different formations, looks, etc.
49ers Offense
Playcaller: Kyle Shanahan
QB – Brock Purdy (Round 7 Pick).
RB – Christian McCaffrey (Acquired Via Trade).
***FB – Kyle Juszczyk (Acquired Via Free Agency).
WR – Deebo Samuel (Round 2 Pick).
WR – Brandon Aiyuk (Round 1 Pick).
***WR – Jauan Jennings (Round 7 Pick).
TE – George Kittle (Round 5 Pick).
LT – Trent Williams (Acquired Via Trade).
LG – Aaron Banks (Round 2 Pick).
C – Jake Brendel (Acquired Via Free Agency).
RG – Spencer Burford (Round 4 Pick).
RT – Colton McKivitz (Round 5 Pick).
49ers Defense
Playcaller: Steve Wilks
DE – Nick Bosa (Round 1 Pick).
DE – Chase Young (Acquired Via Trade).
***DE – Randy Gregory (Acquired Via Trade).
DT – Javon Hargrave (Acquired Via Free Agency).
DT – Arik Armstead (Round 1 Pick).
LB – Fred Warner (Round 3 Pick).
LB – Dre Greenlaw (Round 5 Pick).
***LB – Oren Burks (Acquired Via Free Agency).
CB – Charvarius Ward (Acquired Via Free Agency).
CB – Deommodore Lenoir (Round 5 Pick).
CB – Isiah Oliver (Acquired Via Free Agency).
S – Tashuan Gipson Sr (Acquired Via Free Agency).
S – Talanoa Hufanga (Round 5 Pick).
Eagles Offense
Playcaller: Brian Johnson
QB – Jalen Hurts (Round 2 Pick).
RB – D’Andre Swift (Acquired Via Trade).
WR – A.J. Brown (Acquired Via Trade).
WR – DeVonta Smith (Round 1 Pick).
WR – Olamide Zaccheaus (Acquired Via Free Agency).
***WR – Julio Jones (Acquired Via Free Agency).
TE – Dallas Goedert (Round 2 Pick).
LT – Jordan Mailata (Round 7 Pick).
LG – Landon Dickerson (Round 2 Pick).
C – Jason Kelce (Round 6 Pick).
RG – Sua Opeta (Undrafted Free Agent).
RT – Lane Johnson (Round 4 Pick).
Eagles Defense
Playcaller: Sean Desai
***DE – Brandon Graham (Round 1 Pick).
DE – Josh Sweat (Round 4 Pick).
DT – Fletcher Cox (Round 1 Pick).
***DT – Jordan Davis (Round 1 Pick).
***DT – Jalen Carter (Round 1 Pick).
LB – Haason Reddick (Acquired Via Free Agency).
LB – Nakobe Dean (Round 3 Pick).
***LB – Nicholas Morrow (Acquired Via Free Agency).
***LB – Zach Cunningham (Acquired Via Free Agency).
CB – Darius Slay (Acquired Via Trade).
CB – James Bradberry (Acquired Via Free Agency).
CB – Bradley Roby (Acquired Via Free Agency).
S – Kevin Byard (Acquired Via Trade).
S – Reed Blankenship (Undrafted Free Agent).
Notable Trades And Signings – 49ers.
- Acquired OT Trent Williams in return for Round 3 and 5 Draft Picks.
- Acquired RB Christian McCaffrey in return for Round 2, 3, 4, and 5 Draft Picks.
- Acquired DE Randy Gregory and Round 7 Draft Pick in return for a Round 6 Draft Pick.
- Acquired DE Chase Young in return for a Conditional Round 3 Compensation Pick.
- Signed FB Kyle Juszczyk to a 5-year deal worth 27 million dollars.
- Signed CB Charvarius Ward to a 3-year deal worth 40.5 million dollars.
- Signed DT Javon Hargrave to a 4-year deal worth 84 million dollars.
Notable Trades And Signings – Eagles
- Acquired WR A.J Brown in return for Round 1 and 3 Draft Picks.
- Acquired CB Darius Slay in return for Round 3 and 5 Draft Picks.
- Acquired RB D’Andre Swift and Round 7 Pick in return for Round 4 and 7 Draft Picks.
- Acquired S Kevin Byard in return for S Terrell Edmunds and Round 5 and 6 Draft Picks.
- Signed CB James Bradberry to a 1-year deal worth 7.2 million dollars. (Re-signed to a 3-year deal worth 38 million).
- Signed LB Hasson Reddick to a 3-year deal worth 45 million dollars.
Philosophies
For 2 teams with completely different play styles and schemes, both Roseman and Lynch really value the trenches of their team. The 49ers have 4 former First Round Picks on their defensive line, given huge extensions to their superstar linebackers, and gave former Eagle Javon Hargrave a huge contract in free agency. They also extended center Jake Brendel in the off-season and acquired Trent Williams 3 years ago.
The Eagles also have 4 First Round picks along their defensive line and splurged on Haason Reddick last offseason, which has been a resounding success. Their offensive line is the best offensive line in the league, with talent at all 4 positions. They have no weakness along the offensive line, while the 49ers have a lot of trouble pass-blocking outside of Williams and 2nd-round pick Aaron Banks.
San Francisco – Offense
Both of these teams’ offensive philosophies start with the run game. For the 49ers, that begins with head coach, play-caller, and offensive architect Kyle Shanahan’s run game designs. The 49ers’ run game revolves around 4 players. Running Back Christian McCaffrey, Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel, Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Tight End George Kittle, and Left Tackle Trent Williams. These are the 4 players who are key to everything the 49ers want to do in the ground game.
Having McCaffrey is a big deal for San Francisco, as he can churn out plays even when blocking isn’t optimal. A wide receiver being integral in a running game is obviously not conventional, but Samuel’s talent has made it impossible for Shanahan to not incorporate him into the running game. His ability to churn out tough yards is better than even McCaffrey’s, and having a wide receiver who can line up in the backfield who can either tote the ball or run a route is very tough to defend.
Williams, Kittle, and Juszczyk are 3 cogs in the running game without which the machine of Shanahan’s rush offense would not work as well without. Williams and Samuel did not play in each of San Francisco’s last 3 games (all losses), and the team’s rush offense completely fell apart. QB Brock Purdy, not known for his rushing ability, was the team’s leading rusher against Cincinnati last week, while McCaffrey has averaged a combined 3.45 yards per carry against the Browns and the Vikings and did not gain 50 yards in either match-up.
San Francisco’s pass offense is based on their rush offense, and Shanahan’s scheme employs plenty of play-action in the intermediate areas of the field. Brock Purdy, while he can “function” without a run game, is only a good quarterback when his running game is working. In the 3 game-losing streak the 49ers are on, the running game has largely failed, which has led to Purdy looking the worst he has ever looked in the NFL. However, the 49ers’ drop-back passing game might be one of the worst in the league. From Shanahan to Purdy, they should be making a lot of adjustments over their bye week.
Eagles – Offense
Philly’s offense, just like San Francisco’s, begins with their run game. Their key players along the ground game are Running Back D’Andre Swift, Quarterback Jalen Hurts, Left Tackle Jordan Mailata, Center Jason Kelce, and Right Tackle Lane Johnson. I know Philly fans, the Eagles to run in an RB rotation that includes Kenneth Gainwell, but Swift is clearly the starter in the carry percentage department. For all intents and purposes, these are the core 5 of the Eagles’ rush attack.
Unlike San Francisco, Jalen Hurts is a big part of the Philadelphia rush offense. Obviously, he has gotten a lot of attention for the “Tush Push” or the “Brotherly Shove”, but Philly’s designed runs and zone reads with Hurts are no joke. It’s likely the rush offense will be a shell of itself if Hurts and his running ability aren’t present. Swift is the featured back of the offense, and he’s looked like a completely new version of himself and looks nothing like his Detroit self.
Jason Kelce might be the most important player in their entire running game. Not only is he a beast of a blocker, but the tush push wouldn’t work half as well as it does without him. Hurts deserves a lot of credit for it but Kelce upfront is what makes it the most unstoppable play in the HISTORY football and why other teams without a Jason Kelce can’t execute it as well. Johnson and Mailata are the ones who make the zone read attack with Hurts work, allowing Hurts to take off with the ball more often than not.
Philly’s passing offense is multi-faceted, but it’s also built off the run just like San Francisco. Their shot plays to A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith off play-action and “rushing downs” scare a defense to hell. Brown is completely unstoppable, and it feels like if you just put the ball near him he will catch it. Unlike San Francisco, the Eagles have an actual functioning straight dropback game. Not only is Hurts a far superior quarterback than Purdy, but the offensive line, playcalling, and play designs are also vastly superior to San Francisco’s.
Defense
The 49ers run a 4-3 defense, with 4 defensive linemen and 3 inside linebackers in rush packages. While the Eagles do run a different scheme on defense, a 3-4, the identity of both the 49ers and Eagles is the same. Get to the quarterback. Their pass rush has the ability to win games on their own. Philly’s pass-down defensive line features Haason Reddick, Jalen Carter, Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, Brandon Graham, and more. San Francisco features Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Chase Young, and Randy Gregory.
The problem and weakness of both defenses happen to be the same thing. Their secondary. While the Eagles did trade for All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to help plug that weakness, that didn’t stop Dak Prescott and the Cowboys from going up and down the field with relative ease. Philly’s slot corner position options, rookie Eli Ricks and veteran Bradley Roby have both been very underwhelming.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, their starting CBs Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir have been average at best. Isiah Oliver, the slot, has been nothing short of terrible. Safeties Tashuan Gipson Sr and Talanoa Hufanga are having bad years as well.
So yeah. Both of these defenses live and die by their defensive lines and pressure on the quarterback. That’s how Lynch and Roseman have opted to build both of their defenses. So even with all the differences in personal, the Eagles and the 49ers both rely on a run-heavy offense and a quarterback-hunting defense.
The Verdict
The 49ers and the Eagles will meet in the NFC Championship Game. I personally guarantee it. They are by far the 2 best teams in the NFC, and they will duke it out on a cold January Sunday on Lincoln Financial Field. They will both be there because of the team building of their General Managers.
Both of whom overpaid average quarterbacks, and found their eventual starters in the draft. Lynch in the 7th round, Roseman in the 2nd. Both of whom paid big money big fish in free agency, made huge trades to acquire talent in the trade market, and drafted stars down the board of the draft.
The Eagles will win. Yes, I’m saying that as a fact. Why? Because the Brock Purdy under pressure, without a run game, and playing from behind is not very…wait for it…purdy. And the 49ers in a hostile environment in January? That certainly sounds like a game that is going to come down to the final minutes, if Purdy is able to stay healthy of course.
These 2 teams are tied in every other position group and the trenches. They really are. What is the separator? The tiebreaker? It’s the game’s most important position. The Eagles have such a massive advantage at quarterback and that will be why the Eagles will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
