Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
49ers QB Brock Purdy Shows Benefits of Healthy Offseason Early in Training Camp
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 months ago on
August 6, 2024

Quarterback Brock Purdy is taking full advantage of a healthy offseason to refine his game and emerge as a vocal leader for the San Francisco 49ers. (NFL)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — Brock Purdy stayed on the field after a recent practice for some extra work, making throws on the run in hopes of improving his accuracy and timing in that aspect of his game.

The task may have seemed a bit mundane on the surface but points to a reason why the San Francisco 49ers believe that Purdy can build off his spectacular second season in the NFL thanks to having a healthy offseason when he didn’t need to limit his throws from his surgically repaired right elbow.

Purdy Takes Advantage of Full Health in Camp

“It’s completely different,” quarterbacks coach Brian Griese said Monday about this training camp for Purdy. “Last year I was just hoping that he was going to be healthy and we were taking whatever reps we could get. We were on a pitch count. So we’re every single period we had a certain number of throws, including warmups. It’s so nice this year to not be dealing with that. Second, that if we need to push it a little bit in a practice to work on something or to take five extra reps after a period, during a special teams period, we can do that. Post-practice he can get out there and throw on the move. It’s completely different.”

Purdy is taking full advantage of his full health as he has been able to participate in every practice this summer after taking regular days off a year ago and had time in the offseason to work on some smaller aspects of his job when he didn’t need to go through rehabilitation.

He bulked up a bit in hopes of having a stronger base in the pocket and spent more times on his mechanics, using 3D motion capture technology with his private coach to get more velocity on his throws.

Improved Arm Strength Evident in Camp

The improved arm strength has been evident in training camp where Purdy has done a good job hitting on more deep throws and throws outside the numbers.

With those throws, have come a few more interceptions than usual in practice — including seven in a two-day period last week. Purdy said he never likes throwing interceptions, even in practice, but sometimes tries to make throws there that he wouldn’t try in the season.

“Now’s the time to be trying out some stuff in terms of throwing some windows and some tight coverages and whatnot,” he said. “But you know, I still have to grow. I still have to be better and I’m hard on myself with it. But now’s the time to do it.”

Purdy Reflects on Super Bowl Loss, Seeks Growth

Purdy’s second NFL season exceeded all expectations as he set a franchise record for yards passing (4,280), became the first Niners QB in more than two decades to throw at least 30 TD passes (31), and led the league in both passer rating (113) and yards per attempt (9.6).

He finished fourth in MVP voting and led three go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter and overtime of the Super Bowl that the 49ers eventually lost to Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City.

But there’s one play that still haunted him in the offseason. It came late in regulation against the Chiefs, when his third down throw to Jauan Jennings against a blitz was tipped at the line when he had Brandon Aiyuk open on the play. That forced the 49ers to settle for a field goal and gave Kansas City time to drive for the tying score before winning in OT.

“It’s those plays and those moments that’s situational football,” he said. “That’s where I can grow. So that’s what I mean by like, there’s certain plays like that where I’m like, ‘dang.'”

One other area of growth Purdy is seeking is in becoming a more vocal leader. After stepping into a veteran lineup as a seventh-round rookie in 2022 and just trying to get healthy last season, Purdy is now established as a proven star.

That has helped him develop from a player sometimes timid to call teammates out to one taking charge of the huddle in a development Griese has been pushing for all offseason.

“Brock’s a reserved guy, which I think the team appreciates about him. But then there’s also times where you need to push the issue a little bit,” Griese said. “You need to be accountable to yourself, but also hold others accountable during the course of an individual period, a practice, a game, a low point in the season where you lose back-to-back games. That’s a skill that you need as a leader of a team. For a young quarterback, sometimes that’s difficult. Now, Brock in his third year has not only the experience, but also, the positivity and the results to warrant that a little bit more. Guys look to him. He has been a leader, despite the fact that he is not always the most vocal.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Take a Bow, Bulldog Football Fans. Some Power 4 Schools Would Love to Have You.

DON'T MISS

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

DON'T MISS

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

DON'T MISS

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

DON'T MISS

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

DON'T MISS

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

DON'T MISS

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

DON'T MISS

Norwegian Student Arrested on Charges of Spying on US for Russia

DON'T MISS

Eagles Seek to Extend Win Streak in Prime-Time Clash With Resurgent Rams

UP NEXT

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

UP NEXT

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

UP NEXT

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

UP NEXT

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

UP NEXT

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

UP NEXT

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

UP NEXT

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

UP NEXT

Norwegian Student Arrested on Charges of Spying on US for Russia

UP NEXT

Eagles Seek to Extend Win Streak in Prime-Time Clash With Resurgent Rams

UP NEXT

Nick Chubb Plows Through Heavy Snow as Browns Beat Steelers

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

2 hours ago

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

2 hours ago

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

2 hours ago

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

2 hours ago

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

2 hours ago

Norwegian Student Arrested on Charges of Spying on US for Russia

2 hours ago

Eagles Seek to Extend Win Streak in Prime-Time Clash With Resurgent Rams

2 hours ago

Nick Chubb Plows Through Heavy Snow as Browns Beat Steelers

2 hours ago

German Auto Supplier Bosch to Cut 5,500 Jobs in Further Sign of Carmakers’ Woes

2 hours ago

Woman Found Dead in Fresno. Homicide Investigation Underway.

2 hours ago

Take a Bow, Bulldog Football Fans. Some Power 4 Schools Would Love to Have You.

Steven Sanchez Sports Even though Fresno State’s football season hasn’t lived up to expectations, Bulldog fans are doing their ...

33 minutes ago

33 minutes ago

Take a Bow, Bulldog Football Fans. Some Power 4 Schools Would Love to Have You.

1 hour ago

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

1 hour ago

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

2 hours ago

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

2 hours ago

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

2 hours ago

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

2 hours ago

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

2 hours ago

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend