During training camp, Jed York revealed to the media last week that Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, believed that rookie quarterback Brock Purdy was the best.
While reading that could sting some feelings, Shanahan was right about this team’s success when you consider how quick and reliable Purdy has been behind center.
The 49ers have Purdy rated as a fourth-round pick, Kyle informed Peter King. It also resulted in a few unhappy coaches on staff.
Shanahan also said to King that Purdy was being complimented by the team’s interest in Tom Brady during the previous offseason. Kyle described Purdy’s personal foundation to King while mentioning Brock:
“I’m convinced his parents are the source of it. I believe his faith plays a major role in this. He have a core identity that forms his basis as a person. He has such self-assurance in his personal qualities. He’s among the most self-assured yet modest individuals I’ve ever encountered. He’s such a good guy and is so humble that to call him somewhat conceited would be such an inappropriate term. He has complete confidence in himself. He is not at all surprised by this.
I recall his pre-first-start walkthrough from the previous year. He committed all of these errors. A few audibles, or “cans,” were missed. Not a happy day. Soon after, he approaches me and says, “I hope that didn’t stress you out, Kyle.” That will occasionally occur with me. Believe me. In the game, I won’t screw those up. Be not afraid. Of course, he plays brilliantly when he gets out.
Shanahan was affected by his first start against the Miami Dolphins. A week ago, when I questioned Kyle about Purdy’s ability to escape sacks, he gave me specific instances from that game against Miami.
Purdy has an underappreciated yet excellent quality. The 49ers are still in the game because of it, and it’s probably why they win it all. Shanahan is growing accustomed to it:
I’m preparing my call for a situation when there isn’t any play, like second and twenty. Guy merely acts as though they aren’t there. Compared to other quarterbacks I’ve had, he does it more. Furthermore, he is an assassin when it comes to our goals.
Kyle refers to Purdy as an assassin, and I interpret that as meaning that he is a player that never misses a “kill shot.” That might be a ball of more than twenty-five yards to Brandon Aiyuk or a deep crossing route to Deebo Samuel. Shanahan admits that Purdy has been brutally effective on both kinds of throws.
But Shanahan’s favorite thing about his quarterback is Brock’s ability to block out outside noise:
This is the aspect about Brock that I adore. final selection in the draft. brings us to two conference finals and this year’s Super Bowl in two years. being discussed for MVP. And the guy doesn’t have to put forth any effort to ignore it, maintain his modesty, or avoid becoming enmeshed in the ways that life is changing. Do you know why? He is indifferent. He truly possesses a solid foundation and is aware of his identity and aspirations. That is not typical of any human. He’s a unique participant. However, this stuff—he’s a unique guy.
That’s the reason the NFL Draft can never happen. Teams can’t know a player’s reaction to hardship or, in this case, triumph until they have them in the building. You can only learn so much about a player’s work ethic and team dynamics from a coach or scout.
Based on what we’ve seen over the previous two years, Purdy is most likely still too high of a grade for a fourth round.
