Madden NFL 24 Franchise All Time Roster 2023 Season San Francisco 49ers Week 1

for today from Acure stadium in Pittsburgh it's week one of the NFL a sports it's the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the San Francisco 49ers EA Sports coverage of the NFL brings us to Acure Stadium on the North shore of the Steel City Pittsburgh Pennsylvania today it's the opener of the 2023 NFL season as it'll be the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers the longside Charles Davis I'm Brandon Gard well CD new season is here line so the football will be at the 25 yd line as this offense gets set to take [Applause] over bust through the tackle and this will leave him a yard short nice pickup of nine yds on first down you often say that sort of opens the Playbook now second and short what do you think early shot here I like where you're going obviously we've been together for a while cuz you know me I want to take that shot early and loosen things up now here's a little touch pass as they tap it quickly to their receiver and he'll be taken down but not before he works it past the 50 18 yds first down ners just a simple tap pass but it pays off in a big way and sometimes the simple stuff causes the most problems for a defense because there's a breakdown in communication there when that receiver goes behind the line of scrimmage and it looks like he's going in motion someone either has to go with him or he has to be passed off to another Defender somehow they didn't get that communicated well and it turned into a nice play backto back good plays have them on the move on first down now a give right side Craig officially no gain on the play and it's second down well what a way to kick off the year here ners and Steelers and I know the folks back in Northern California happy to see their quarterback Brock pie back out there Charles what do you see from him in year two more of what we saw from him in year one partner because this young man he really sees the RS in that first season and he is excited about expanding his game and pushing the ball down field even more in year two as a starter with the 49ers connects with K underneath so give him two yards there on the completion and it'll be fourth down excellent job there defensively gave up the underneath to the tight end on third down and they made sure that they did their job got him on the ground and prevented him picking up a first down wishnowski on to punt as he sends this one away and a nice job here to down this one right on the five yd line that punt was near Perfection as it checked up inside the 5 yd line You' never know where these things are going to go do you no what was it you got a John Heisman quote about that right he said the football is roughly a prolate spheroid means it's going to bounce funny and you never know where it's going to end up nothing on the scoreboard z0 as the offense gets ready to take over the football on first down Montana that's to the right side complete to K it'll go down as a gain of six and it's second down nice Rhythm throw there on first down he located his tight end made it a nice easy pitch and catch hoping he can break a tackle or two wasn't able to do that there but still good yardage from the 41 here's second and [Music] four they will look to throw Montana got his man complete over the middle it's cob First Catch of the new season for him and he picks up the first we've seen quite a bit of the short passing game here early on first quarter haven't we we have and I think it works a couple of ways for for this team because number one you throw the short game until they stop it and if they're not going to stop you keep throwing it and occasionally you'll break a tackle and turn into a bigger game also if they start to creep up start to pressure receivers now you go over the top take it deep and now you get some of those big shots down field they'll run on first down it's Craig and he'll have a gain of three to the 33 they'll come up second and seven to throw is Montana the open man is Clark complete and he'll be out of bounds just inside the 25 yd line Second catch for him today and it'll wind up a first down well they brought the pressure and that meant man cover behind him so he's still able to complete the pass even as he took the hit and that's what you have to do because I was just talking with the coach the other day and he said look it's not always going to be pretty back there you're going to have to give me completions even when you're taking some hits sometimes you have to be your own Blitz control for lack of a better term got to make completion step up and make those throws and he did that second and five here's Montana to throw throw left side complete that's Craig and tackled down after a gain of three leaves him with one yard to go on third down and we see another pitch and catch there to the running back this position just continues to evolve they become just as critical to the passing attack as a lot of receivers tight ends because their ability to make people Miss in the open field can really generate big plays for an offense work in the middle of the field and he's got a man complete and the ners are going to have a first and goal coming up as they find a way to convert there on Third and one another catch for him there on this drive Brandon and it looks like they're going to utilize him out of the back field any way they can and that time they pick up a first down so now on defense do you assign a man to him and try and cover him before he gets going a chance for their first points of the Season here as it's first and goal they'll try and run for it on first and goal and across the chalk into the end zone 49er [Music] touchdown touchdown run and the 49ers get the upper hand as they're on the board first here this afternoon sometimes you get a first goal and you're back near the Seven 8 n yd line and you start thinking maybe we'll the San Francisco offense ready to start their next drive and one of the things we like to hit on every year are the new rule changes and we got a few for 2023 a lot of procedural having to do with deadlines and roster construction and such but but two kind of caught my Charles what is the option to fair catch a kick off and have it come out to the 25 like it does in college you like that I don't I don't like it at all I don't like it in college I don't like it in the NFL I want to have something different and I really wanted the Special Teams coaches to be a little B more involed but I do understand why the league is doing it they believe itot safety and it's hard to arue against that what about this is the other one guys can now wear the number zero we've already seen some make the switch Calvin Ridley Andre Swift braxon beros amongst others yeah and you know something when you see those guys make that move I don't mind that at all all right a little more expressionism for these guys I love it I just think we didn't go far enough what about double zero like Jim used to wear or Kenny burrow used to wear let's add that back to the NFL jerseys they'll come to the line here needing nine yards to pick up the first Montana and he will not make it to that imaginary yellow line as they get him to the ground at about the 23 so 8 yards on the completion there and that's going to bring up a fourth down well looks like they got what they wanted they got the completion but they weren't able to break any tackles or gain nearly enough yardage to pick up the first down now to be fourth and short so on fourth down here's the Australia native Mitch wisnowski to punt this one [Applause] away it's a 47 yd punt return of six and the Steelers will go on offense here first and Pittsburgh's offense now heading back out onto the field not only are they in search of their first score they're in search of their first first down so the football will be at the 25 yd line as this offense gets set to take over they'll start this drive out on the ground and he upended at the 33 following a good pick up of eight they'd love to just strike back with a touchdown right here and if it's a long play so be it but the main goal get a couple of first downs run some plays run some clock allow their defense to get a chance to catch their breath settle down and relax a little bit after they just gave up a and that is caught onehanded oh my pulled it in a big play there for the ners 45 yards he they made no about it they wanted to throw this rookie right into the fire see what he could do he shows what he can do there and you have to really put the time and effort in because playing a receiver in the NFL is a difficult task and for a rookie all that you have to learn to get on the same page with your quarterback that's excellent coaching and how about how he's picked things up picking things up in a big way with a big play in his NFL debut on first down it's Craig and they'll bring him down at the 13 yd line 40 yd rushing for him now in the ball game all right I got to ask you with these rpos essentially the quarterback has three options right so what's different from that versus the triple option that we see the service run at the college level as a general rule the triple option at the college level most things are called outside of the quarterback Faking It To The Run touchdown Rand cob from 13 yds out and the 49ers have now taken the lead well executed there offensively defense looked a little confused but he found his receiver and that one good for six points and the payoff we just saw there tells us how many times they ran this play in practice over the past few weeks because they executed that flawlessly right here the 49er offense set to get this drive underway this drive here beginning probably with a pair motivated groups remember the offense scored a touchdown but their last time out looking to repeat that in Charles's defense they were very frustrated after giving up six the last time on the field and Frank it's just a batt of Wills in a lot of ways because you know they're both motivated they both game planed for this drive and they both have specific outcomes in mind to me it just comes down to who can execute better and which side can step up and assert it will over the other and that is incomplete nearly intercepted the free safety couldn't quite get his hands around it and it brings up third down now Montana a throw here right sideline Falls incomplete that could be the stop this defense needed to get them back on track they've been pretty well dissected by the offense here in the first half after that possession now they know that they can compete with this [Applause] offense a 41 yd punt there with no return and they will take over first and 10 Pittsburgh set to take over again on offense over on the sideline hoping to hit that reset button between possessions last time out all right the offense back out there now let's see what they can put together they'll start on the ground here on first down and able to stay on his feet past the 30 to about the 33 yd line it's a 6yd gain on the ground and that'll make it second and four out of the gun they'll look to throw oh and the throw led him too much that time it's incomplete I see the surprise in you face there partner that is a rare incompletion from him he's been on point this entire game he has percentage completion Wise Way up not that time they'll set up a throw and it'll find the open man that's complete and he'll have it past Midfield almost to the 40 before being taken down excellent play there on third down give him 25 yds good strong throw and catch right there and so far in this game the alleys have been open for them to get completions and they're taking advantage of it this offense in midseason form here in the opener it's first and [Music] [Applause] 10 up Craig and he'll take ahead for about four second down coming up and that was a quality play to start a new set of downs that was simply an offensive line winning the battle up front and winning in a big way and giving their guy in the back field a nice Lane to hit operating out of the gun here's Montana this throw incomplete nearly picked off and with his pedigree he doesn't drop many of those but third down coming up and I think he was a little surprised to see the ball sting out there like that that's a ball he had a chance to come away with but it winds up an incomplete pass on third down he'll drop to throw he's got his Target that's complete and he's brought down but not before he reaches the eight yd line they're able to convert on third down and that sets up a first and goal well he looked his way quite a bit in this first half and with good reason you can see it there he has such a handful defensively just hard to keep him under ws and delivers a big play here for this offense the Chain Gang hustling to catch up here's first and goal from just inside the 10 now back to throw touchdown 49ers George Kenn from eight yds out and the 49ers go up by two touchdowns so a good start to the campaign so far for them here in week one yeah all the things that you dreamed about in April and May and that you worked on in July and August getting ready for this game it's all coming together so far the San Francisco offense ready to start their next Drive and they'll just simply be looking to build off the confidence of the last time out where they scored a touchdown and confidence is powerful isn't it when You' scored once you feel like you can go back out there and get it done again doesn't matter what the defense throws at them they feel like they're in a groove right now and they want to get out there and show it yeah hoping to stay in that Groove here this go around it'll be a gain of 10 to start the drive out and by a few inches that'll be a first down and defensively they were in zone coverage there do you have to be a little careful you're losing playing against a good quarterback like he is to not play too much Zone yeah you have to be careful about how much time you're giving up I think it's a good point you just brought up so maybe if you still want to play zone you go to a Zone Blitz scheme and you can drop anyone out of your defensive front defensive end defensive tackle it doesn't matter you just exchange someone to bring more pressure towards the quarterback and still try and cover downfield ball on the 36 now here's a second down and four [Applause] they'll look to [Applause] throw that's complete to C and he slips up past the 45 before being tackled catch number four for him on the afternoon and it'll give him a first down well that certainly has to feel good and it's not all the time that the play caller should get all the credit sometimes I think in the Huddle the quarterback just says hey who's going to make a play for me I just need something right here and the end result there nice first down Drive keeps [Applause] moving they'll run on first down it's Craig and a good push there defensively as they stop him at the 48 gain of just one second and nine back to throw and this one is inom complet [Applause] lead this offense so far on third down they've hit at 50% three of six to this point this is third and nine back to throw here over the middle complete that's Craig and they do get this across Midfield to the 4 but a small consolation prize as he's well short of the first three yds all they could muster there and it'll bring up fourth down we can make this one pretty simple locked up all of his progressions down field forced to get it to his running back but how about the way they ran to the football and knocked him down to force a fourth down here's Mitch wishnowski now [Applause] 158 left to play till we hit halftime [Applause] the 49er offense set to get this drive underway motion man right is rice and they'll blow that one up back at the 16 yd line Cameron Hayward getting up field to make the stop sometimes you just sit back and Marvel at what he can do defensively speed strength quickness he's the whole package and that package just wrapped up the runner for a loss the first play of the drive lost four now they'll look to move it forward here on second and 14 he'll drop to throw completes it to the tight end kennel that'll go for a gain of seven and that's going to lead to a third down completion was given up but that's why you play zone defense so you can have people around the ball when it's caught and you don't give up much run after the catch he finds his man complete that's Craig and he'll be taken down but he does have first down yardage eight yds on the pickup there and it moves the sticks they certainly had success throughout this contest getting him the ball in the passing game and there picks up another first down whatever they saw going into this one they've been able to capitalize on it and no adjustment has been made to take it away from the 32 now here's first and [Applause] 10 now a hand off up the middle it's Craig trying to run inside but nothing there Alex heith there on the tackle as usual the Hallmark of a good run defense linebackers making plays near the line of scrimmage absolutely nowhere to run there here's second and 10 he'll look to throw over the middle that's caught by rice and he'll be tackled right on the of the 45 a 14 yd gain there as they look to improve this 14-point lead so after two first downs they get another here first and 10 at the [Applause] 45 up the middle they go Craig and he'll manage to pick up about four it's second down nice chunk of yards on first down it really opens up your options for what you want to do on second you go right back to him and hope he explodes or suer the def def in before throwing over the top now a second and six from the Midfield strike they'll look to throw it's complete it's Gore seven yds there and a first down well they've certainly done a nice job spreading the ball around on this drive this time he gets it out to his back and it's another nice play and another first down they've got the defense on their heels a little bit they're reacting instead being aggressive and making plays Montana's throw pulled in by K and he's tackled a yard short of the marker good gain of nine on first down from the 34 yd line here second and a yard now a hand off up the middle it's Craig and this time not quite to the 30 it'll be down at the 31 yd line all right so they got that one Charles against the center let's remember how difficult it is for the center cuz remember he's got to snap the ball to put the play in motion and sometimes you got that big guy on your nose you got sometimes where he's coming at you at an angle it's a difficult job for him to snap the ball and then execute his block now a deep ball there on second down but it'll wind up incomplete that's some good closing speed there defensively because that looked open for a minute that's work with the ball in the air never gave up converged on his man and broke the play up he finds his man complete that's Craig and they're going to have themselves another first down as the tackle made at the Steelers 33 and they get 10 y there and convert on third now we get into the psychology of the whole thing because a lot of teams with a two-score lead in the third quarter they almost become defensive with their offense just playing not to lose I think with this team you got to figure at this point this is a great spot for them to go into Attack Mode really try and put the hammer down and finish this one off so they'll come up first and 10 now from the [Applause] 33 on first down it's Gore and that play is blown up losing yardage back at the 35 officially it's a one yd loss that's going to bring up second and 11 the defense was ready for the Run pass option Di noted it perfectly not only did they stack him up at the point of attack but he was met by a host of light color [Applause] jerseys maybe just a slight detour on what's been a strong Drive here's second and 11 they'll look to throw here quick throw knocked away it's incomplete quarterbacks work all the time the defense with their eyes and their head movement in this case he just stared the receiver down that allowed for excellent coverage able to knock that one away they'll set up to throw got his man complete over the middle that's Craig and this play going to be stopped in its tracks at the 32 and obviously well short of the first down how about that strategy there Brandon third down they just said we've got faith in our tackers we'll give you the short stuff and just decided protect the sticks so every time I hear fans telling me tackling is not a part of the game anymore plays like that I can clip and say even show them you have to tackle well if you want to be a good defense Robbie Gold on now to try the field goal this will be from 49 yds [Applause] out and that's off the left ight but it car comes right in how about that the kick is good and that will extend their lead even [Applause] further the San Francisco offense ready to start their next drive and they split the uprights last time for three they've got the lead they're not going to play this conservative they're not hoping for another field goal they're hoping for a touchdown I'm with you on that one I like where your head is I like the way you're thinking because you're exactly right trying to sit on a lead and play that way that doesn't work too well for most teams run your offense run what you do best exactly put it all the way down and try and increase your lead in a big way and the best way to do it touchdowns here's a second and five shotgun here's Montana he finds K going across the field and he's able to get this one all the way past the 30 a gain there of 21 yds I'll tell you what a lot of those mid-range throws have been available because sometimes teams get too concerned about the Deep ball and they leave too much space in front of them and these guys have been taken advantage so far Al together a pretty shaky start to the year for this defense as they defend another first first and 10 up the middle they go Craig three yds on the pickup there and it'll be second down that's just a pile of bodies there and that's when you kind of find out who's a tough guy right who can stand up and make a play it was only a three yd run but for both sides they had to walk away from that feeling like okay I can stand up when the going gets tough in here they take a shot down field there but it winds up falling incomplete often times when you're losing a game and the team's still throwing with this kind of a lead you start playing a little more physically and they took that opportunity right there to be extremely physical and force that incompletion connects with K underneath and he'll be taken down but he does have first down yardage give him seven yards on the play as they do pick up the third down conversion that was a route run not just with dexterity but with intelligence found the hole in the zone made sure the quarterback saw him and was able to make the sure catch and flip the down marker back to one two first downs have them up to the 41 now for first and 10 they'll drop to throw this complete to Jones and he's able to get this one out closer to Midfield across the 45 from the 46 here's the second and five they'll look to throw again connects with Kenn underneath and he'll go down and that will do it for the third quarter of action we are through three quarters here on NFL kickoff weekend you are watching the NFL on EA Sports back now in Pittsburgh it's 49er football here they've got the lead as well as we get set to start the fourth and final [Applause] quarter on first down it's Craig and he's going to take this ahead for right around three yards but no more than that second down Brandon I've got to think this offensive line has got some Smiles on its faces and I know it sounds crazy but they practiced for this back in training camp they knew they'd be in situations where be defenders in the Box coming after them trying to keep them from locking down a game right now they want to show the world they're up to the challenge 87 ydd rushing for him now as he has been tremendous all day long as I take a look at the clock I realize that this drive is eating up a good portion of the fourth quarter already got to tell you partner when you're trying to Salt away a game this is exactly what it's supposed to look like three tight ends in the ball game here on First and [Applause] 10 they'll keep it on the ground it's Craig and nothing much materializing there on the first down run he'll get a couple and that's it certainly a nice job there by the defense rallying to the football and getting him on the ground but I think the play gets made by the defensive front because if they can't get up field their job is to go ahead and get low almost get into a ball sometimes stack things up and make it difficult for the runner to find a hole give him three on the run there now they're looking at a third and about five they'll need five on this play to move the [Applause] sticks on third down Craig and he'll be stopped well short only two yds there fourth and three well this was just simply excellent defense on this thir down they had to be alert for the possibility of a pass but that didn't stop them at all from understanding what was going on when they decided to run the football and they just swarmed and stuffed them for almost no [Applause] gain the offense is not leaving the field they're going to stay out and go for it on Fourth and three beating the tough yards they run it with their fullback and he's able to get the first here as he's taken down at the 25 just a gain of three but they'll certainly take it as they convert on fourth down so this drive going to continue following the conversion on Fourth here's first and 10 now a hand off up the middle it's Craig and a good run as he manages seven y down to the 17 starting to become a tough spot for this def def you're down fourth quarter looking a little fatigued maybe on that side of the ball partner we've seen this before haven't we because every coach we've ever talked to says body language is important and now you're seeing guys with their hands on their hips they're bent over hands on their knees and offense of guys they're just saying let's just keep running it out we got them now and the 49ers are going to have a first and goal coming up as the tackle made at the three yd line the passing game continues to be their friend even with a stable lead here in the Charles they're going back to that well yeah with their overall philosophy you know that they trust their quarterback he's been able to throw it well they continue to throw these safe passes who can blame [Applause] them they'll try and run for it on first and goal and he'll take this into the end zone for a San Francisco touchdown a great play there already his second touchdown here in this opening weekend and the ners are closing in on a winning start to the year as they extend their fourth quarter lead well he'd been the Workhorse on this drive and it would have been unfair to bring someone else in to finish the job so they go back to him again and he delivers with the 49er offense set to get this drive underway there two scores on the plus side still time here in this fourth quarter but maybe you start thinking about playing keep away yeah I think here's the situation you're not thinking touchdowns anymore you're just thinking first downs to keep up with your theme there playing keep away first downs they can't touch the ball now that's staying ahead of the chains really good pick up on first down hitting the tight end there now brings up a second and manageable just found a hole in that zone they go playaction with with Montana that's caught downfield by K a big play there for the ners 45 yards and this is seemingly how it's been all game long this defense has been just a step too slow and here they're burned again another big play so the big play gets him all the way down to the outskirts of the Red Zone here for first and 10 they're going to look to throw and this nearly an interception but it's incomplete a turnover really would have helped him there but not to be now a second and 10 [Applause] again he'll drop to throw complete to the tight end K Over the middle of the field five yards now it's third and five they gave up the completion there but this is what zone defenses count on catching the ball and not much run after the catch on third down Craig and he's able to pick up the first down before he's tackled right at the 10 110 yd rushing for him now with a couple of down runs toot Brandon when a defense just simply can't get off the field on third down and we all know how important that down is for both sides of the ball you often feel like you're just a step behind whatever they're doing offensively and one of the differences in this game no doubt third down conversion and that is going to be a story they'll talk about after this one so not quite a first and goal it's first and 10 from the 10 looking to throw and he's got it touchdown from 10 yds out and the 49ers are looking good here in the season opener as they're able to extend their lead Charles a well drawn up play beautifully executed and look at the scoreboard and where we're at in the second half they are on their way to the San Francisco offense ready to start their next drive and after the interception they are sitting in an even better spot with the ball and a comfortable fourth quarter lead they'll start this drive out on the ground he'll be dropped at the 25 after a gain of six it's a 6yd pickup but it gets him to Second and four just two minutes remaining here in the fourth quarter of what has been a onesided affair so it's 49er football here as we get you reset and the scoreboard on their side they're just looking to melt away these final couple of minutes and put this one in the left hand column on second down now it's Craig and he's going to have a ners first down as he gets this up past the 30 to the 32 no doubt those are the types of carries they're looking for here Charles the lead in the fourth quarter this is when coaches that have a reliable running game they bre a little easier on the sideline yeah they love the idea that they can take the air out of the football at this point of the game that means they're really counting on that offensive line counting on the runners taking care of the football because you're going to tell your quarterback hey no time to be a hero we're not going to throw it here just eat up that clock and if you have the ball they can't score they'll try and choose some clock with Gore and he slips up past the 45 before being tackled 15 for the ners there and a first down well you know me partner I never tell him to back off of being aggressive but sometimes you see the consequences when you're overly aggressive and you don't secure tackles guys break through trying to sell out to pry that football loose and just as you said cost some yardage yeah you got to go get him stand him up first before you go for the ball don't just go for it initially a couple of first downs on the drive already as they'll go from the 47 now on first down up the middle they go it's Craig and he'll get this one across Midfield and down into Steeler territory he'll get a nice chunk there on the first down run and it's second and four this drive is pretty clear almost feels like old school fundamentals doesn't it want to impose their will on the defense was that five straight runs yeah five straight carries to start this drive and like you said the way it's working they may just stick with it and he's got this down to the 35 he'll get a dozen there and it's a first down [Applause] 49ers the CD always a little extra excitement for week and one of our early window games here in week one on a Sunday comes to a close good to be back in the booth with you my friend and it's good to be back in the booth with you as well and we know that not everyone's going to start the season one and0 right half the league is going to have a loss on their record but everyone's going to have to build off of that opener and how many coaches tell us every single year you make your most progress between week one and week two we'll see how both of these teams progress the rest of this season so for for San Francisco hey you get a win you get it on the road you can't ask for much more than that to start the year and they'll get another road date next week meanwhile for the Steelers they obviously fall to 0 and one with the defeat and they'll get a chance to redeem themselves at home next week and for Charles Davis and our entire crew I'm Brandon G you've been watching the NFL on EA Sports