Brock Purdy is leveling up and saving the 49ers

Misplaced within the San Francisco 49ers’ lackluster 2-3 begin to the 2024 NFL season was one easy reality.

Quarterback Brock Purdy was beginning to prepare dinner.

Coming into Thursday evening’s recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy was among the many league leaders in many statistical classes, together with Adjusted Web Yards per Try, Web Yards per Try, Anticipated Factors Added per Dropback, and extra. Plus, Purdy was doing this averaging 10.3 air yards per try, second solely within the league to Anthony Richardson.

Here’s a have a look at how Purdy stacked up in “quarterback effectivity,” a composite measuring his EPA/Play in addition to his Completion Share Over Expectation, courtesy of RBSDM:

Up and to the appropriate is precisely the place you wish to be on this graphic.

In fact, one of many knocks on Purdy comes from the scenario round him. With a lot expertise within the 49ers’ offensive huddle, and Kyle Shanahan calling the performs, Purdy was dubbed a “paint-by-numbers” kind of quarterback, somebody happening the guidelines and working the offense, in distinction to a quarterback who can create massive performs exterior the pocket and off construction.

Nonetheless, with Christian McCaffrey sidelined with a calf damage this season, Purdy has been tasked with creating extra, and the consequence has not solely led to these numbers above however outcomes as we noticed on Thursday Evening Soccer, as Purdy related on 18-of-28 passes for 255 yards and a trio of touchdowns, with out an interception, because the 49ers defeated the Seahawks by a remaining rating of 36-24.

After the sport Deebo Samuel was requested what was working for the 49ers, and he saved his response to 2 phrases.

“Brock Purdy.”

His efficiency not solely drew reward from his teammates however prompted analysts equivalent to ESPN’s Mina Kimes to give attention to his play-making talent through the recreation, as Purdy was capable of create alternatives by getting deep into his progressions, and typically creating house within the pocket to increase performs and create alternatives downfield:

Take this early completion to Jauan Jennings:

Purdy needs to work the two-receiver idea to the appropriate, however he additionally sees a crease kind within the pocket, which has him considering of selecting up this 2nd-and-5 scenario together with his legs. However as he begins to climb the pocket massive Leonard Willams flashes in entrance of his eyes, so Purdy adjustments course, retreating within the pocket to purchase sufficient time to make this throw to Jennings on the bottom of the idea.

Take Purdy’s second landing move of the evening, a 10-yard throw on an out path to George Kittle:

Jennings is available in movement to the appropriate, and when the play begins Purdy first needs to learn out just a little “comply with” idea, the place Deebo Samuel runs a slant and Jennings tries to seek out house working behind him on that route path. However with the Seahawks in zone protection, three defenders find yourself converging on that pair of receivers. Purdy then comes off that pair, resets, and will get his eyes to Kittle’s out route. Kittle is working towards the protection, and Purdy fires in a perfectly-placed throw in direction of the entrance nook of the tip zone that Kittle snares for the landing.

Early within the fourth quarter, after the Seahawks reduce San Francisco’s result in simply 23-17, the 49ers confronted a 1st and 15 in their very own territory. Once more Purdy needs to work a two-receiver idea, this time to the appropriate, however a mix of a collapsing pocket and tight protection pressure him to work bottom, the place he picks up Kyle Juszczyk bottom on a check-down route:

Or we are able to have a look at his remaining landing of the evening, this nine-yard connection to Kittle:

Purdy once more needs to work to the appropriate on this play, trying first on the inside slant route from Brandon Aiyuk out of the slot. However when the center linebacker jumps that route Purdy makes a fantastic “no throw” choice, pulling the soccer down and getting his eyes bottom. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson’s choice to leap the slant from Aiyuk has created house for Kittle’s in-cut, and after resetting his ft and sliding a bit within the pocket, Purdy places this throw on Kittle for his third TD move of the evening.

In fact, Purdy nonetheless has that “in construction” membership in his again, and there may not be a greater instance than this completion to Aiyuk on a “drift” idea. Aiyuk runs an in-breaking route, and Purdy additionally has an possibility under Aiyuk, this time working again Patrick Taylor Jr. on a route out of the backfield. Watch the timing on this throw as Purdy splits a pair of beneath defenders on a completion to Aiyuk:

This can be a good instance of throwing a receiver open in house towards beneath zone defenders. To carry the purpose dwelling, have a look at the state of play simply earlier than Purdy releases this move:

This can be a textbook anticipation throw.

Now, the 49ers are 3-3. Purdy is taking part in properly, they usually hope to have McCaffrey again for the stretch run. It was not the begin to the season San Francisco hoped for, however with the way in which Purdy is taking part in, this season may need a greater end.