Super Bowl Shock: Purdy’s Unseen Mental Fortitude Unleashed…
Purdy showed off an underrated skill of his in the 49ers’ comeback win against the Lions. It is a skill that will benefit the 49ers against the Chiefs.
Brock Purdy didn’t start off too hot in the NFC championship game against the Lions.
It was part of why the 49ers only mustered seven points in the first-half. However, Purdy was able to flip the script in the second-half by making a handful of plays. He showed his greatest trait in that half, which is his mental fortitude. That is something Purdy never gets enough credit for when he faces pressure both figuratively and literally
But there is one other trait he has that is massively underrated, and it was put on display against the Lions. It is a trait that will come in handy and prove crucial in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs. That trait is his “functional mobility” as my good friend Moe Moton of Bleacher Report would say. Purdy demonstrated that mobility to perfection against the Lions by carrying the ball five times for 48-yards. His longest run was for 21-yards, which potentially could’ve been a touchdown according to Deebo Samuel. Without it, the 49ers likely struggle more on offense
However, rushing with the ball isn’t the only factor as to what gives him functional mobility. Purdy is talented in maneuvering in the pocket to buy time and knowing how to scramble away when pass rushers are in his face. More times than not, Purdy will bail out of the pocket based on pressure or if nothing opens up after a few seconds. He does that so well consistently, and it is why he doesn’t take too many sacks. In the regular season, he was only brought down 28 times, and anyone who has watched the 49ers this year knows that it would’ve been higher if he didn’t utilize his mobility.
He’s got a natural ability of when to give up on the play. When to make a guy miss. When to turn it off schedule. No matter what happens, he gives you a chance. Everyone knows because everyone saw it, but those plays he made with his feet last night in the second half that was a problem for the defense and they had some good coverages on. He kept the chains moving and also found a way to get some explosives doing it too.”
Avoiding sacks would’ve been more than enough for Shanahan to be happy, especially when you consider the years with Jimmy Garoppolo. He would get sacked far too easily or even walk into them. It was pitiful to see. The 49ers’ offense would stall way too often as a result, and that partly occurred in Super Bowl 54 against the Chiefs. That isn’t the case with Purdy who excels at it. This time around when Chris Jones and the Chiefs’ pass rusher get after the quarterback, they will have to truly earn it.