Brock Purdy's statistics from last Thursday night's game against the New York Giants don't paint the whole picture. Yes, Purdy threw for a career-high 310 yards, but the Giants defense was getting pressure on the San Francisco 49ers' second-year quarterback.
That didn't phase Purdy, though. He wasn't rattled. And that is just one of many traits that has one NFL analyst impressed with the 23-year-old.
"Obviously, the best that ever did it right there, Joe Montana, he had that. You couldn't rattle him," Brian Baldinger said Tuesday morning on 95.7 The Game's "The Morning Roast" show. "I'm not comparing him to Joe Montana. I'm not doing anything like that, but he does have that composure. He does have that poise."
Some passes have come close, but opposing defenses haven't been able to come away this season with a Purdy-thrown football. The 49ers quarterback is one of four starting quarterbacks that haven't thrown an interception this season. The others are Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, Joshua Dobbs of the Arizona Cardinals, and C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans.
Purdy has thrown for 736 yards and four touchdowns through three games, putting him on pace for 4,170 passing yards.
"He's outstanding," Baldinger said. "At the quarterback position ... it's about three things. ... It's about speed of decision-making because everything gets speeded up. When [Giants defensive coordinator Don] Martindale dials up a Zero Blitz and you've got a free hitter coming right at you, you don't have time to think about it. You hit [WR] Ronnie Bell on a perfect throw for a touchdown.
First NFL touchdown for @Ronnieb_8 comes under the primetime lights!
📺 #NYGvsSF on @NFLonPrime
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 22, 2023
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/EJgU3jjLEF
"So it's speed of decision making. It's how many great plays you make, which you don't have to make a ton of them, especially with all the players they have around him. And then it's about mistakes and limiting mistakes. But limiting mistakes [while] still staying aggressive.
"You can eliminate mistakes and throw the ball in the stands. So what? You're not making anything happen. Like, this guy's making things happen without making mistakes. It's three games now. He doesn't have a turnover. He hasn't thrown an interception in seven straight games.
"I see some of the stuff that people say. 'I'm not wowed by him. He's not great.' I don't know. I see all the little things, the ball handling. ... Like he's constantly parrying punches in the pocket, and it's a great skill."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Baldinger below.
