Purdy proves he can do it all
QB impresses with fortitude in pocket, athleticism out of it
Brock Purdy is adept at standing stationary and throwing under pressure. And the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback is skilled at escaping the pocket because of pressure and throwing on the move.
Both vital and disparate QB qualities — the fortitude not to flinch when a hit is imminent and the athletic ability and sense of timing to flee when, say, a block is missed — were on display on back-to-back plays that basically put away the Cardinals in the 49ers’ 45-29 win at Arizona on Sunday.
The situation: The 49ers were leading 21-13 and facing 3rdand-11 at their 24-yard-line on the first possesion of the second half.
In 3rd-and-long, defenses often send a blitz, hoping to force a quick, short throw that will result in a short-of-the-sticks completion and a punt. The Cardinals did just that. Purdy was ready.
With tight end George Kittle aligned in the right slot, lined up across from linebacker BJ Ojulari, the Cardinals blitzed linebacker Owen Pappoe up the middle while Ojulari ran unblocked off the edge. Purdy, just before he was drilled by Ojulari, delivered a strike 13 yards downfield to Kittle that resulted in a 35-yard reception.
On the next play, Purdy wasn’t ready for defensive tackle Roy Lopez to easily dismiss center Jake Brendel and storm into the backfield. However, Purdy eluded Lopez by making a 180-degree spin to his left and then he kept his eyes downfield before launching a 41-yard, onthe-run touchdown pass to allalone running back Christian McCaffrey for a 28-13 lead.
“Brock,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “did a hell of a job buying some time so he could get away from the internal pressure.”
It was the type of play that disproves the belief that Purdy is strictly a system QB who would be badly exposed in another offense. Yes, Purdy benefits from Shanahan’s well-de
signed system, which is stocked with high-level skill-position players. But the 49ers often benefit from Purdy's ability to make something happen when part of the system falls apart.
“There is nothing that he can't do,” Shanahan said. “He has a poise out there — you can see it. He can react. When he doesn't have the time for stuff, he reacts and finds a way to check down and try not to take a sack. Or he creates and gets someone off-schedule.
“He's had a great command over the offense just running it. But also the amount of (unscripted) plays he's made throughout these two years has been as many plays of any quarterback I have ever been around.”
The 49ers' defense had no shortage of lowlights while allowing 234 rushing yards, its most since 2017.
Linebacker Fred Warner missed a tackle 2 yards beyond the line of scrimmage on Emari Demercado's 49-yard touchdown run. Warner, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Ji'Ayir Brown overran the play on James Conner's 44-yard run and safety Tashaun Gipson took a poor angle. And defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, who started and played 45 snaps with Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave sidelined, was driven backward and/or pancaked throughout the game.
With dual-threat QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens up next on Christmas night, however, the 49ers' most concerning breakdown might have been how they, um, defended Kyler Murray's lone designed run, a zone read in the second quarter.
Murray wasn't touched until the end of his 15-yard sprint around right end because defensive end Randy Gregory crashed down and smashed into tight end Elijah Higgins while cornerback Charvarius Ward ran to the middle of the field.
Say this for backup QB Sam Darnold: He's not tentative. At all.
Consider his first play after Purdy left for two snaps in the second quarter because of his shoulder stinger: Darnold moved left on a designed rollout, planted and fired a deep across-the-field incompletion to Kittle, who was well-covered by linebacker Victor Dimukeje.
Shanahan clearly had confidence in Darnold to call that on his first play off the bench. And it's possible Kittle was Darnold's primary read. That said, it was a dicey decision because Kittle was semi-blanketed.
It's folly to make too much of one snap. Still, the risky throw inspired memories of Darnold's first five seasons, which included 55 interceptions in 56 career games.
Since signing with the 49ers in March, Darnold has talked about “taking care of the football” and “playing patient” and “not forcing things” and “just playing within” himself.
His more risk-averse approach resulted in just two interceptions in 19 training-camp practices. He threw one pick that wasn't his fault (it clanged off a receiver's helmet) in 33 preseason pass attempts.
Was his toss to Kittle an aberration, or a signal that he'll revert to his old ways in games that matter? The 49ers, of course, would prefer not to find out.
Also say this for Darnold: He can fire fastballs.
Consider his second snap in his brief relief of Purdy: He targeted Kittle 12 yards downfield and his well-placed rocket slipped through Kittle's grasp (the incompletion was nullified by an illegalcontact call against Arizona's Antonio Hamilton Sr.).
Ward credited Darnold's velocity after he had the first two-interception game of his career Sunday. Ward said he enlisted Darnold last week to deliver smokeballs in practice.
“Sam's a quarterback,” Ward said, “who throws the ball hard.”
Plenty of 49ers fans had flashbacks in the second quarter when Ronnie Bell appeared to fumble during a punt return and the loose ball was returned for a 12-yard touchdown that was negated on replay review.
Those unpleasant memories involved Kyle Williams, who fumbled on two punt returns late in the 49ers' 20-17 overtime loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game in January 2012.
Williams, wearing No. 10, was a wide receiver who was a late-round draft pick (sixth) from a Power 5 school (Arizona State) and he was 23 when he subbed for injured punt returner Ted Ginn in the NFC title game. Bell, who sports No. 10, is a wide receiver who is a late-round draft pick (seventh) from a Power 5 school (Michigan) who is 23 and is subbing for injured punt returner RayRay McCloud.
A potentially significant difference? Bell, who muffed a punt out of bounds against the Eagles on Dec. 3, might not be handling punt runbacks in a playoff game. McCloud (ribs), who went on injured reserve Dec. 9, is eligible to return for the regular-season finale against the Rams on Jan. 7.