Sunday’s matchup against San Francisco presents a handful of unique challenges for the Philadelphia Eagles defense.
The 49ers are physical at the point of attack, while still being innovative enough on offense to scheme towards what their most talented players do best. Sunday’s home opener at Lincoln Financial Field offers Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon his first unique coaching matchup, pitting him against San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan.
During his Wednesday media session, Gannon talked about some of the unique challenges the 49ers’ offense presents.
“Yeah, the challenges with San Francisco, we got to be ready for everything. They present a lot of different challenges. They obviously have two quarterbacks that can possibly play, that have been playing.”
“I think the greatest challenge to playing them is this is a very well-coached, physical football team. We’re going to have to match that intensity. They do a really good job of blocking. They do a really good job of running with the ball in their hands, creating RAC after contact from everybody from all the backs that touch the ball to the tight ends, to the receivers. They catch and run with the ball extremely well. We just got to have a good plan with what we’re doing with everything that they could throw at us.”
Outside of the two quarterbacks, Philadelphia will have to prepare for an efficient rushing attack that seems to flourish regardless of who’s playing the running back position.
On the outside, the Eagles will have to contain Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, without overcompensating for tight end George Kittle.