It seems like the 49ers from San Francisco have found their quarterback. Finding him was a difficult trip as well. There was the erratic tenure of Jimmy Garoppolo, who at times looked to have a problematic relationship with head coach Kyle Shanahan. And then there was the brief Trey Lance trial.
The arrival of Brock Purdy as the team’s quarterback is a big factor in Garoppolo and Lance’s departure. After finishing with 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns in the Pro Bowl during his season, Purdy advanced to the Super Bowl in his second season. In addition, he set league records for several metrics, including as QBR (72.8) and passer rating (113.0). In addition, Purdy received four votes for NFL MVP.
However, nobody knew what to anticipate from the former quarterback for Iowa State a year ago. Due to a ripped UCL in his throwing arm, Purdy was recovering from surgery. In addition, he had begun the regular season as the backup quarterback and had barely participated in a portion of his first year. Therefore, there were doubts about his performance in his follow-up season.
But when Purdy took the call, he had improved noticeably. Can he, however, repeat that? Here are five reasons why Purdy will be better in 2024, and I think he can:
1. His assurance
Purdy isn’t arrogant. He really is a modest person. Nonetheless, he is quite confident in his ability to guide his squad to victory. And he has good cause to feel assured. After all, in a couple of weeks, he went from being the team’s backup quarterback to a starting position. If you don’t believe in yourself, that doesn’t occur.
2. His dedication
Purdy doesn’t experience low self-esteem. Purdy felt like he belonged even as a rookie who was the fourth-string quarterback at the time. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco has said that he saw it right away when he first met Purdy. A rookie, fourth-string quarterback typically doesn’t exude confidence, according to Maiocco. However, he claimed Purdy exuded such confidence, bordering on conceit.
Purdy is incredibly dedicated to getting better and is not just self-assured. To understand this, simply look back to the previous offseason, when Purdy was recovering from his injuries. Not only did he get back to practice sooner than most anticipated, but he also had a fantastic season that showed significant progress from the previous one. The way he got out of the pocket was one area where I saw progress.
When Purdy was a rookie in 2022, he would frequently spin around and take off to his left. This is a risky maneuver since you might run straight into a defender without realizing it. He didn’t do that nearly as much as he did last season, which was something I had hoped he would cease doing. Rather, he would find far safer and more effective routes out of the pocket.
Without a doubt, Purdy won’t be content with his 2023 season achievements. He is going to keep trying to become better.
3. During his off-season
At last, Purdy has an offseason to hone his skills. He had to pick up the offense two years prior as he was getting ready for the NFL Draft. Purdy was healing from his ruptured UCL over the previous summer. This time, instead of just recovering from his injuries, he can concentrate on getting better and learning more about the offense and the game.
GM John Lynch had a conversation with Maiocco regarding Purdy around the beginning of March. “Well, I think the first thing that comes to mind, this time last year, we’re wondering and didn’t really have the answer,” Lynch stated. They are precise when they offer you timeframes for these injuries. Other than initially delaying his operation, which was the appropriate thing to do, he fortunately had no problems. However, we were there at the same time last year. It is so amazing that he was able to bounce back and play at moments during the season as well as any quarterback in the league, leading the MVP race well into the season.
“And what I do know from people, they’ll always tell you the year after, ‘I thought I was okay the year before, but man, now I feel even better,'” Lynch went on. “We thus expect that to be Brock’s situation. Instead of only becoming better, he can concentrate on areas that need improvement. And then there’s simply the encounter. The more experiences you have in this league, particularly in that position, the more you can draw from them. We are therefore quite pleased with Brock, everything he stands for, and the manner he is currently leading our team. We also envision an already fantastic career continuing to grow.”
It is crucial that Purdy has a healthy offseason to improve his skills. And as a result, we ought to witness an even greater QB1 in San Francisco.
4. His sagacity
Purdy has a high IQ. He picked up a complex offense quickly, something that at times even Lance and Garoppolo struggled to understand. As proof, Purdy is able to read a defense’s actions fast and adjust his strategy accordingly. Young quarterbacks are not very good at that. Yet Purdy has proven adept at this, spotting things on the field that some more seasoned quarterbacks fail to notice.
Who could forget the report from the previous offseason regarding Purdy’s exceptional S2 Cognition test score, which was in the mid-90s? Athletes’ ability to process information accurately and swiftly is measured by the S2 test. Purdy’s exceptional performance demonstrates both his intelligence and his ability to respond.
5. His non-material attributes
There are certain intangibles about Purdy that aren’t typically talked about in the run-up to the NFL Draft and at the NFL Scouting Combine. Talks about the quarterback’s arm power, his ability to make every throw (whatever that means), and his general athleticism are frequently the topics of discussion. Experts felt Purdy lacked the elite arm skill, which was one reason he was hardly picked.
However, Purdy, like Joe Montana years before him, possesses attributes that are more difficult to quantify.
Poise. What is the poise? It’s about understanding what needs to be done and doing it. Rewind to the Miami Dolphins game in 2022. Purdy entered the game when Garoppolo was injured. He didn’t appear to be a quarterback who was intimidated or overpowered by the circumstance. He gave off the impression that he had been playing for years. In contrast, consider what we witnessed the previous year when Lance filled in for Garoppolo. He lacked the elegance Purdy displayed and was far less confident.
Precision. One of Purdy’s greatest qualities is his accurate throwing, which lands hits on receivers exactly where he should and in time for them to catch the ball and continue running.
Take the lead. Purdy’s teammates have faith in him and support him. in part due to his readiness to take the fall for the team’s defeat. in part due to the way he performed on the field. Additionally, in part due of his readiness to assume the initiative and lead. Do you recall the first time Purdy took charge of the huddle and instructed George Kittle to stop talking because the great tight end wasn’t paying attention? That demonstrates effective leadership.
Will Purdy improve even more in 2024, building on his 2023 season? I think he will, and with a new contract coming up in a year, he has an opportunity to position himself and his team for success in the years to come.