Burning Questions | Previewing Jets-49ers on 'Monday Night Football'

The New York Jets will visit the San Francisco 49ers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, on" Monday Night Football." To help preview the matchup, sports columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle Michael Silver and NYJets.com's John Pullano chatted about what's on the horizon.

What is your favorite matchup?

MS: My favorite matchup is a battle of the brains: 49ers coach and play-caller Kyle Shanahan vs. Jets coach Robert Saleh [Shanahan's defensive coordinator in SF from 2017-20] and Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich. When coaches know each other so well, and are so familiar with one another schematically, gameplans can skew toward the basic: Each coach sticks with what's familiar and leans on his players to do what they do best. There's nothing basic about these coaches, however. They'll have wrinkles designed to exploit one another's rules. Let the chess match begin.

JP: I initially I went with Kyle Shanahan versus Robert Saleh as well, but for the sake of parity I will go with my close second, Christian McCaffrey up against the Jets' All-Pro linebacking duo of C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams. Leading up to this matchup, Williams has been working closely with Jets RB Breece Hall, who has been mimicking the route-running and carrying style of McCaffrey. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey led the NFL with 21 total touchdowns and 2,023 scrimmage yards last season and thrived when attacking mismatches in the passing game. According to Pro Football Focus, McCaffrey lined up 807 times in the backfield, 170 times in the slot, 70 times out wide and 20 times inline. Shanahan will use him effectively all over the formation and when talking to Mosley earlier this week, he said that it will be important not to be fooled by where McCaffrey lines up when they break the huddle because he can run any route from any formation. Similar to Shanahan vs. Saleh, McCaffrey vs. Mosley will be another fascinating chess match.

The 49ers lost two starters on the defensive line over the offseason – DE Clelin Ferrell and DT Arik Armstead – and will be without LB Dre Greenlaw (torn Achilles tendon) for a good portion of the season 2024. The Jets revamped their offensive line over the offseason, highlighted by the signing of All-Pro LT Tyron Smith, and drafted a pair of rookie running backs. What will the battle in the run game look like with plenty of new faces on both sides?

MS: I actually think the 49ers have a better defensive front than they did last season, even with Greenlaw still healing. Armstead, a decorated veteran, was starting to experience frequent injuries; Ferrell was merely a solid edge-setter whose late-season injury exposed his since-jettisoned replacements, Chase Young and Randy Gregory. In veteran Leonard Floyd -- the guy who sacked Aaron Rodgers on the Jets' least favorite play in recent memory -- the 49ers have their best edge rusher opposite Nick Bosa since Dee Ford in 2019. Defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott, also newcomers, should make the 49ers more stout against inside runs and free up high-priced interior rusher Javon Hargrave to make more plays. Another new acquisition, veteran linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, is a passable fill in for Greenlaw.

JP: I can't speak for the Niners side, but as for the Jets, their offensive line showed growing chemistry and improved continuity throughout training camp. Despite RT Morgan Moses (pectoral) and RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (Achilles tendon) rehabbing back from injuries they sustained last season, the Jets managed to get extended practice time with their starting group, including their joint practice against the Giants in which the offense moved the ball effectively. With a trio of explosive young running backs – Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis, Braelon Allen and Israel Abanikanda– they should be able to penetrate the Niners front.

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers has looked sharp in training camp protecting the ball and pushing throws to all parts of the field. San Francisco led the NFL in interceptions last season but has a new defensive coordinator in Nick Sorensen. What kind of looks will should Rodgers and the Jets passing offense expect?

MS: In firing Steve Wilks and promoting Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator, Shanahan meant to infuse the unit with a back-to-basics mentality, recalling the Seattle 3 schemes run by Saleh and successor DeMeco Ryans. And yet, paradoxically, the 49ers are also doing some innovating. Former Chargers coach Brandon Staley, a Vic Fangio disciple brought in as assistant head coach/defense, has added some back-end nuances that could give Rodgers some unexpected looks. On passing downs, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir will be moved inside and thrust into the middle of the action, similar to the way Staley used Jalen Ramsey during his highly successful season as the Rams' defensive coordinator. Bottom line: The 49ers will likely be less predictable than in recent years. Rodgers, however, has seen everything during his long, glorious career and can adapt and adjust on the fly as well as any quarterback.

JP: Aaron Rodgers had his best practice of camp in the Jets' final joint practice against Giants, but will face a much tougher secondary in Week 1. The Niners allowed the eighth fewest passing touchdowns in the league last season (20) and recorded No. 3 highest pass coverage grade by PFF (91.8). The Niners secondary, however, lost starting safety Tashaun Gipson leave in free agency and could be without its other starting safety Talanoa Hufanga, who is still rehabbing from a torn ACL. In addition, Rodgers, in his six career games against the Niners since Shanahan took over, has thrown for 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, showing that he can and has succeeded against every iteration of Shanahan's defense.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan go way back to when Saleh was Shanahan's defensive coordinator from 2017-20. Monday night will be their first matchup as head coaches. Saleh's defenses in New York have allowed a league-low 300-plus yard passer the last two seasons, while SF QB Brock Purdy finished third in passing TDs last season (31). Something has to give, what results do you expect this matchup between the Jets secondary and Niners passing offense to yield Monday?

MS: As indicated earlier, I'm really excited about this matchup. Purdy told me at the start of training camp that he's bringing a 'bloody mindset' into his third season and aims to become dominant. Don't put it past him; he's a stone-cold killer whose processing ability, accuracy and touch have already made him an elite player. The 49ers believe he's getting better, too, which could offset some of their potential pitfalls [All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and second-team All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk haven't had much prep time after contentious offseason contract disputes, and star running back Christian McCaffrey has been hobbled by calf and Achilles tendon injuries]. Bottom line: I think Purdy will take his shots, even when Sauce Gardner is in coverage.

JP: Last season, the Jets defense held that trio of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts all passer ratings under 64 and an average of 17.6 points per game. I believe the part that opposing teams and fans fail to understand about the Jets secondary, is that for all individual praise CBs D.J. Reed and All-Pro Sauce Gardner receive, it is the entire group's ability to disguise coverages, manipulate looks and play together that has made even the best signal callers in the league sweat. Despite receiving guidance from maybe the best play caller in the league in Niners HC Kyle Shanahan, I expect the Jets to make life difficult on 49ers QB Brock Purdy and force him to create plays out of structure after the Green & White take aways his initial reads. And that is not say Purdy, the runner-up for MVP last season cannot win outside the pocket. Last season, Purdy threw 11 touchdowns outside of the pocket, according to PFF. And with weapons like WR Brandon Aiyuk, TE George Kittle and RB Christian McCaffrey at his disposal, the Jets will certainly have their hands full.