One Weakness on the 49ers That the Steelers Will try to Expose

The 49ers are poised to be one of the best offenses in the league in 2023.

With players like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle, it sets up their potential to be sky high. However, there are still weaknesses that can be exposed on that side of the ball. A defense that is as great as the Steelers will certainly try to pick up on them.

The one weakness on the 49ers that the Steelers will try to expose is on the offensive line at right tackle with Colton McKivitz. All the Steelers have to do is line up the phenomenal pass rusher T.J. Watt against him and let him go to work. The chances of McKivitz having just a decent outing against him are not likely. Watt should be able to dominate him for the majority of the game. I would suspect the Steelers try to overload that side of the offensive line and send blitzes as well to mix it up.

Kyle Shanahan is going to have to mask this weakness in a variety of ways. Running the ball is one way to slow them down along with play action or lining up Kittle next to McKivitz. There's no way McKivitz will be able to take on Watt on an island. If the 49ers do that, they will be asking for Brock Purdy to get sacked multiple times and be heavily pressured throughout the game. It is going to stall out so many offensive drives, which will put the 49ers in a tough spot to generate any momentum.

The Steelers are not a team that the 49ers will want to give extra opportunities to. Ensuring the right side of the offensive line is secured is pivotal. Offensive line coach Chris Foerster acknowledges the challenge McKivitz faces, but cites a time where he faced a lethal pass rusher before.

"Colton has played that Week 17 game (in 2021) against Von Miller," said Foerster. "And yeah, there were some not-so-good plays, but there were some really good plays down the stretch as well. And he has had some meaningful reps for us over the first part of his career. So, while it's going to be a challenge as a starter, and I know he's a great player on defense and we give him all props, and Colton obviously I'm sure is going to feel it, I'm going to feel it for him if he's not feeling it."

You have to wonder if the 49ers would pull McKivitz from the game if he is getting destroyed early on. They did that last year at right guard with Spencer Burford, so it is definitely an option on the table for them. The only issue is who do they put there instead? Rolling with McKivitz is likely the best option, while giving him help and generating a quick passing game to render the Steelers' pass rush useless.

This is the first test for McKivitz to prove the 49ers' trust in him. Mike McGlinchey had held that spot down since 2018, so this is the first season they have a newcomer at the position. It's a gamble that will either make them look incredibly smart, or one that makes them look like fools. A lot is on the plate for Foerster to get McKivitz up to speed, and he's banking on McKivitz being well prepared for war in Week 1.

"I know we prepare for things like this and we go against really good players in practice all the time. And we talk about guys like this, and the guys spend a great deal of time studying and looking at how do we best manage a player like this? And then how do we help them as coaches as well?"