Four Questions: 49ers-Packers, Coaches and 2024
After embarrassing Dallas, is Green Bay a threat? What’s the latest on coaches? Time to break out the Ouija board and dig up the crystal ball to look into the future.
Green Bay looked impressive in routing Dallas, how much of a threat are they?
The Packers can make it a competitive game. Their run-pass balance makes them unpredictable and tough to stop. Their offensive line, Jordan Love, and Aaron Jones are all playing exceptionally well. The Packers are lethal in the red zone, particularly on first and goal.
However, Green Bay is 28th against the run, Dallas couldn’t make them pay for that, but Christian McCaffrey will. Green Bay is 31st in interceptions, Dak Prescott made terrible decisions with the ball, but Brock Purdy likely won’t.
The Niners have several favorable matchups in this game. Green Bay can’t stop the run wide, they give up passes middle, don’t generate much pressure from their front four, and lack ball skills for picks. If you’re thinking that sounds ideal for the Niners you’re right.
Dallas couldn’t expose that, which is why Mike McCarthy will lose his job. Speaking of which…
What happens this week on the coaching front?
If rumors hold up, McCarthy is gone and Nick Sirianni is fired in Philadelphia, proving karma is always taking notes. The Eagles just quit on Sirianni, Philly has no choice.
Jim Harbaugh interviewed with the Chargers. I know Dean Spanos is cheap, but he’s tired of the criticism and in my view will finally pony up to deflect that criticism. The Chargers also need to become relevant in LA, which means hiring Harbaugh. He says yes as Spanos will also likely give him the final say on personnel, the close-the-deal move Jerry Jones cannot match.
Belichick working with Jerry Jones no, Howie Roseman yes. Belichick in Philly passes Don Shula for all-time wins quickly and then retires.
Ben Johnson, if his agent is smart, Washington, if Ben is homesick, Carolina.
Mike Macdonald, Seattle is interested and that would be very bad news for the Niners. Macdonald could also end up in Washington if Johnson goes home. Where he should go is Dallas, but Jerry Jones prefers veteran head coaches, maybe Mike Vrabel to the Cowboys.
Could Steve Wilks leave the 49ers?
If he gets an offer, he should take it. The question is who would make that offer? Maybe Atlanta, maybe Tennessee. Wilks knows the NFC South well and that could be attractive to the Falcons. Tennessee won’t have the money for a splashy hire, they’re looking at Aaron Glenn the defensive coordinator in Detroit, Wilks would also make sense for the Titans.
If Wilks goes, he’ll likely take someone from Santa Clara on the offensive side. Wilks' chances will be hurt by being on a Super Bowl team as nearly all of the head coaching jobs could be filled by early February.
Now that the Rams are out of the playoffs, how does the NFC West look for next season?
The Rams rebooted quickly by having an excellent draft last year. Puka Nacua in the 5th was a ski mask job by GM Les Snead.
Los Angeles has $39.9 million in effective cap space according to overthecap.com. They could target an edge like Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter and a top corner such as L’Jarius Sneed in Kansas City. As with the Niners, the Rams have a full draft cupboard for the first time in years. Their defense will get better in a hurry.
In Seattle, everything depends on the coaching hire. Dan Quinn and they’ll shore up the long-neglected interior defensive line. Vrabel and the focus will be physicality on both lines. Macdonald and they’ll address the spine of the defense.
In the draft, Seattle has the 16th overall pick. If Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. drops to the 3rd round, I could see the Hawks dealing up for the local star. Penix took a hit in the national championship, his draft stock will fall a bit, and if it does, Seattle makes a lot of sense for him with three impact receivers that can go deep.
For Arizona, Kyler Murray should get the best receiver in years, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals will have the same cap space as the Rams, with $40 million to spend. In the draft, they have the 4th overall pick, 27 and 35.
The implication for the Niners is that cornerback will be a high priority in the draft and possibly free agency. Puka Nacua and Jaxson Smith-Njigba will likely be joined by Harrison in the division.
I have the Niners taking a DB in the second round, it’s that important a need and matches how the draft is expected to go in terms of the best available players at the pick.
My current 49ers mock, first two picks:
31 or 32: Kingsley Suamataia (BYU) RT, Jordan Morgan (Arizona) RT
63: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri) DB, T.J. Tampa (Iowa St) DB, Ruke Orhorhoro (Clemson) DT
As always, the draft is a long way out, a lot can and will change. I’ll keep adding to my mock over the next few weeks.
