SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy is not any braggart.
However following Sunday’s 30-13 win over the New England Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback did state that his 10-yard break up popping out of faculty was quicker than Deebo Samuel’s and Christian McCaffrey’s.
“I suppose,” he harassed. “You guys must fact-check me. I believe I’ve simply sufficient (velocity) to get out of the pocket and make a play and choose up 5, seven yards right here or there. I’m not Lamar Jackson by any means.”
A extra correct assertion may be that his time was corresponding to his teammates. Purdy’s 10-yard break up of 1.55 seconds in 2022 was truly a number of fractions of a second slower than Samuel’s (1.48) and McCaffrey’s (1.52) once they have been coming into the draft.
Nonetheless, everybody understands his level, particularly his latest opponents.
For the second straight sport, Purdy resorted to his legs when the passing sport was sputtering. He gained 7 yards on the 49ers’ first third down of the opening possession. He picked up one other 5 — and a primary down — on the second on a drive that stretched 15 performs and ended with a Jake Moody 22-yard subject purpose. There have been additionally a number of nifty throws through which Purdy regarded like Fran Tarkenton in ducking out of hassle, scrambling towards the sideline and finishing unbelievable passes earlier than getting hit. He completed 15 of 27 for 288 yards.
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49ers sack Jacoby Brissett six instances in 30-13 win over Patriots: Takeaways
It was removed from an ideal sport for Purdy. San Francisco had an opportunity to place the Patriots away for good early within the fourth quarter when Purdy’s go, meant for Brandon Aiyuk ultimately zone, as an alternative was intercepted by security Jabrill Peppers. Kyle Shanahan stated afterward he thought Purdy ought to have thrown the go earlier whereas Purdy stated he initially didn’t see Peppers.
“It’s one thing that I’ve acquired to maneuver on in my progressions and never be grasping,” he stated. “I believe I hitched to him two or 3 times, which simply isn’t good as a quarterback. You undergo your progressions primarily based off of your hitches and also you learn together with your toes and on that one I acquired grasping.”
After 4 video games, the passing sport isn’t as easy and automated because it was initially of final season when the 49ers jumped out to a 5-0 begin. For one, groups are targeted on taking away Purdy’s bread-and-butter throws, together with the intermediate and deep crossing routes to Aiyuk that have been so dependable final season.
Final week, for instance, the Los Angeles Rams generally dropped eight gamers into protection and rushed solely three, main to 1 play on which Purdy held the ball for greater than 12 seconds. Purdy famous that on one other play they dropped 9 and rushed simply two.
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On Sunday, he stated the Patriots’ safeties did a very good job of anticipating the 49ers’ favourite routes and taking them away. However as the sport went on, Purdy and the passing assault began benefiting from these changes. When New England’s safeties stored stepping ahead to clog up the center, he began going deep. His three longest throws:
• A 53-yarder excessive to Deebo Samuel Sr. within the third quarter. Samuel, who lined up as a tailback to begin the sport, had three catches for 58 yards after lacking final week’s outing with a calf harm.
Deebo’s acquired us movin’ 55yds down the sector.
📺 #NEvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/u3vZTNGkcJ— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 29, 2024
• A forty five-yard strike to Jauan Jennings early within the fourth quarter. Jennings led the staff in receiving yards for the second straight week, ending with three catches for 88 yards.
JJ’s down there someplace
📺 #NEvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/aqUyQBiGov— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 29, 2024
• A 38-yard go to Aiyuk on Purdy’s first throw of the sport. Aiyuk completed with modest receiving numbers — two catches for 48 yards — for the fourth straight sport, however his second reception, a diving, fingertip seize on third down, was the type of high-degree-of-difficulty snag he wasn’t making earlier within the season.
Even one in all Purdy’s shorter throws, a 12-yard landing to George Kittle within the second quarter, traveled a good distance by means of the air.
That is our TE @gkittle46
📺 #NEvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/2KnvF7QeFz— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 29, 2024
Kittle stated the play known as for him to run an out and up and that it’s speculated to be run from farther again, say across the 40-yard line. He thought that exact play was “a bit aggressive” that near the purpose line.
“I wasn’t actually assured within the play name,” he admitted afterward. “As a result of that was one thing we’d known as initially from method farther out. And after we known as it from the (12-yard line) I needed to double-check with Brock to verify we known as the suitable play. And I used to be like, ‘All proper, man, simply throw it.’”
Purdy did and put the ball the place solely Kittle may catch it, and the 6-foot-4 tight finish hauled within the go amongst a trio of sub-6-foot Patriots defensive backs.
That landing put the 49ers forward 20-0, they usually led by no less than two scores the remainder of the best way,
Nonetheless, it was a muddy victory in opposition to a Patriots staff devoid of offensive expertise and battered by accidents. The 49ers suffered numerous accidents of their very own — together with to defensive starters Fred Warner (ankle) and Jordan Elliott (knee) — and had one other pricey particular groups bungle, a kick-return fumble within the third quarter by Isaac Guerendo that led to New England’s solely landing.
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The 49ers additionally continued to battle within the purple zone. That they had six journeys contained in the Patriots 25-yard line on Sunday however solely two touchdowns, Kittle’s and a 4-yard run by Jordan Mason within the third quarter. In any other case, they settled for 3 Moody subject objectives and threw one interception. Final season, they led the league in purple zone effectivity, scoring touchdowns 67 p.c of the time.
“We have to clear that up, particularly after we’re enjoying very dominant groups which have actually good offenses,” stated Kittle, who appeared to acknowledge the Patriots have been a decidedly forgiving opponent earlier than catching himself. “To not say the Patriots don’t, however our protection was enjoying excellent in opposition to them.”
(Picture: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photos)