Quarterback Brock Purdy was the main source of uncertainty for one of the NFL’s most talented teams when the San Francisco 49ers reported for training camp.
Purdy needed to demonstrate that his late-season performance in 2022 as a seventh-round rookie wasn’t an anomaly and that he wouldn’t be limited by the serious elbow injury that ended San Francisco’s chances of winning the Super Bowl this year.
Purdy provided the answers to all those questions after finishing the regular season with some of the most efficient numbers ever for a quarterback and starting each and every game until sitting in a pointless Week 18.
He now needs to demonstrate that he is a quarterback capable of leading the Niners—who have yet to win a Super Bowl under head coach Kyle Shanahan—to victory.
His performance helped Purdy and the 49ers (12-5) secure the top seed and a first-round bye. San Francisco made an effort to maintain its focus this week in preparation for hosting the lowest-seeded team in the NFC playoffs at home on January 20 or 21 following wild-card weekend.
Purdy is aware of what to anticipate when the stakes rise at this time of year, having experienced a deep playoff run as a rookie the previous season.
He remarked, “I just think you get everyone’s best ball.” “Everyone is highly aware of what they need to do. Every play, every drive, matters. That should obviously be the case during the regular season, but I felt that way last year during the postseason. Every possession counts. not tossing the ball over, as if every tiny detail counts. Thus, it seems to me that the intensity has been turned up a notch.
Purdy managed it quite well the previous season, tossing for 332 yards, three touchdown passes, and a touchdown run in a wild-card victory over Seattle and then going the entire game without committing a turnover in a divisional round victory over Dallas. On the initial drive, he then suffered an elbow injury.
He started throwing in late May, and by the time training camp rolled around, he had rapidly allayed any doubts about his potential to start in Week 1 in San Francisco.
The season began with him delivering right away. He became the first quarterback for the Niners in almost 20 years to throw for at least 30 touchdowns (31) or more than 4,000 yards (4,280 yards). With a passer rating of 113, he was the NFL’s top quarterback. His 9.6 yards per attempt were also the highest for a qualifying quarterback since Kurt Warner’s 9.9 in 2000.
“He is old enough to manage the pressure of starting for the 49ers and setting records in his first season of professional
quarterbacking,” Pro
Nevertheless, Purdy continued to encounter doubters who attributed his accomplishments to Shanahan’s creative plans and playmakers like as Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and NFL running leader Christian McCaffrey.
But in his locker room, none of those skeptics were present.
Trent Williams, a left lineman, stated, “I don’t understand why people say he’s a system quarterback.” “No quarterback in a system can make tight-window throws before the opponent gets there, opening doors for others, or tossing the ball through a window and hoping his receiver catches it. putting balls in front of linebackers who are well-positioned. He is quite precise. Observing numerous throws reveals that the precision of the throws allows players to sprint after the catch. I don’t think he receives enough recognition for it.
Purdy’s season did have some low points; in October, he was unable to lead the Niners from behind during a three-game losing run, and on Christmas night, against Baltimore, he threw four interceptions.
However, he never shied away from accepting responsibility for his errors and always answered in a way that gave his teammates faith in his ability to overcome any obstacles that may arise throughout the playoffs.
Kittle remarked, “I’m never really worried about Purdy.” In one game, he made several interceptions. I’m not overly concerned. He’ll recover just as he usually does.
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