Through four weeks, Brock Purdy has done more than steady the 49ers - he’s drawn real praise from people around the league who think he’s playing at an elite level. One of the loudest voices in that camp is former NFL quarterback Brian Hoyer, who didn’t hold back when he joined Kay Adams on “Up & Adams” Friday morning.
“You were talking about Brock Purdy who right now to me is the MVP in the NFL,” Hoyer said, setting off a big reaction from Adams. “It’s not always about the height, you’ve got to anticipate and throw in those windows and I think that’s what Brock does better than anyone else.
“I saw an interview with him, he’s like ‘there’s probably 30 to 40 percent of the throws where I don’t necessarily see the receiver - the full receiver - I might see the top of his helmet’ but if you’re going to be in that rhythmic passing game, you’ve got to throw with anticipation.”
Adams jumped in with her own praise, saying, “I feel like Brock is getting the love now,” Adams said. “I’m excited for him. Everyone says he’s the best processor of the game.”
Hoyer, who spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, said what stands out most is the way Purdy is operating right now.
“He’s playing differently to me now than he has in the past,” the ex-Las Vegas Raiders QB added. “He is playing on time and in rhythm. I saw this stat in the last game that when they didn’t bring pressure, his average completion was like five yards, but when they brought pressure, he knew where to hit them and these were the explosive plays.”
Purdy and the 49ers now turn to a Week 5 matchup with the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks, a division test that could make life tougher for San Francisco’s offense. Sports Illustrated reported that the Seahawks are able to read the Niners’ offense “easily,” and the 49ers will be without starting fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
That absence could push San Francisco toward more 12-personnel, with one running back and two tight ends. The outlet noted that one of the biggest parts of the 49ers’ offense is motion and the way Juszczyk is used in both the run game and the passing game, which could leave the attack looking too predictable for Seattle and create problems for Purdy.
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The 49ers have opened 4-0 under Kyle Shanahan even while juggling significant injuries on both sides of the ball, and Brock Purdy has helped steady everything on offense. He leads the NFL in QBR and has not been sacked through four games, which has given San Francisco a clean, efficient starting point every week and helped keep the wins coming despite the attrition around him.
Still, the defense has not looked as airtight as the record suggests, especially up front and against the run. Injuries have thinned the pass rush, and the early-down issues in the ground game have been hard to ignore, leaving the 49ers with a couple of problems that could matter more once the schedule tightens and opponents start leaning into them. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Protection Faces Its Biggest Test Yet Against Seattle
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Mike Macdonalds defense will try to be the first to break through, but the challenge is more than just finding the quarterback. Purdy has drawn attention for the way he operates the 49ers passing game, and Seattle knows it will need to disrupt both his timing and the rhythm of an offense that has stayed clean through the first month. How well the Seahawks can do that could go a long way toward shaping the tone of the game. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Have A Real Chance To Flip This Seahawks Matchup
The 49ers have spent the offseason reshaping the parts of the roster that can swing a divisional game, and the matchup with Seattle looks far different now than it did a year ago. San Franciscos receiver room has gained a bigger edge on paper, with the offense now built around more proven targets and a more balanced structure than the Seahawks are bringing into the game.
Seattles backfield situation only adds to the concern, because the room behind the starter has been thinned by injuries and departures. For a rivalry game that often comes down to who can stay on schedule and keep the quarterback comfortable, those missing pieces matter, and they help explain why San Francisco sees a real path to controlling the matchup if its own offense executes cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
