How Brock Purdy Proved That the 49ers Needed a Quarterback Upgrade
One of the most spectacular stories in the NFL is the emergence of 49ers' rookie quarterback Brock Purdy.
For the very last pick in the NFL draft to be able to reel off wins on a playoff contending team is simply incredible. And while wins are not a quarterback stat, scoring points is. The 49ers went from averaging 24 points per game with Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter to 32.6 points per game (incl. playoffs) with Purdy.
A whole touchdown and a two-point conversion improvement is what Purdy gave the 49ers. How he elevated the offense was felt immediately in his first showing against Miami and he just kept it consistent. Every game he showed a fearless poise to stand in the pocket, the mobility to escape pressure from the pass rush, and the aptitude to take shots deep. These traits haven't been seen from a 49ers quarterback in so long. The 49ers ended up actually having an explosive passing attack, which has never been seen before with Kyle Shanahan. Purdy completely elevated the offense in his limited eight game action.
And in those eight games, he proved exactly why the 49ers have always needed an upgrade at quarterback.
The fact that Purdy followed up Garoppolo gives a great side-by-side comparison of how the offense operated. One quarterback has no problem taking shots downfield, while the other rarely tried. One quarterback has no problem operating with heavy pressure throughout a game, while the other one becomes skittish. One quarterback can actually move and create out of structure plays, while the other is limited. Can you guess which one is Purdy and Garoppolo?
It doesn't matter if Trey Lance wasn't the one to prove they needed an upgrade. Purdy showed exactly why they did and the logic behind trading up for a quarterback in 2021. They wanted to move on and upgrade from Garoppolo so badly. Shanahan was fed up with having a quarterback who is so capped in skills. It wasn't just because Garoppolo could never last a full season due to injuries. The limitations that he puts on an offense forces a coordinator to be near perfect.
Even with as great of a play caller as Shanahan is with creating opportunities, his job could be so much easier with a quarterback who actually has impressive traits like Purdy. The fact that Purdy gave the 49ers an extra 8 points per game when he took over is a testament to that. Not to mention that the 49ers had a fun offense to watch. They were just so balanced because they could hurt you on the ground or gash you in the air. It wasn't just one player carrying the offense like in previous years.
Without Purdy, the 49ers do not win against the Cowboys in the Divisional playoff round. There is absolutely no way that Garoppolo can handle a game where he is pressured on half of his passing attempts and then deliver several downfield impactful throws. Purdy did that despite not having impressive numbers. One can only imagine how he would've fared in the NFC championship game had he lasted.
