San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy put together an impressive third-quarter touchdown drive against the Denver Broncos last week. But even with the offense finding the end zone, head coach Kyle Shanahan saw something he wanted his quarterback to clean up.
Speaking with Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Shanahan revealed that Purdy was getting impatient on a couple of plays during the drive, abandoning his progressions and leaving the pocket before giving the play a chance to develop. The result was a touchdown pass to wide receiver Deebo Samuel, but Shanahan wasn't interested in letting the good outcome overshadow the mistakes that preceded it.
"Dude, we scored because of you on that drive," Shanahan recalled telling Purdy. "But settle down."
Shanahan acknowledged that Purdy made an excellent play on the touchdown, which developed off schedule. However, the head coach wanted his quarterback to recognize that not every play required him to make something happen outside the structure of the offense.
"You're losing your patience a little bit," Shanahan told his QB. It's a lesson Purdy must remember as the 49ers prepare to face the Seattle Seahawks, a defense that Shanahan knows can make life difficult for opposing offenses.
Seattle has the personnel and discipline to limit explosive plays, making patience especially important for Purdy. Shanahan explained that trying to force the issue against a defense like the Seahawks can quickly turn a manageable situation into a much bigger problem.
"You want to get aggressive and try to change that fast," Shanahan added. "But sometimes when you do that, it ends things really quick because you get sloppy with the ball. You get more sacks. You get more turnovers, and then it's not a close game."
The 49ers experienced some of those challenges in the previous two meetings with Seattle. Shanahan pointed to the importance of staying composed when the offense isn't moving the ball as easily as it would like. That doesn't mean San Francisco wants to get off to a slow start. Shanahan would obviously prefer to see the offense establish itself early. But against a defense capable of making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, forcing the action can be more damaging than accepting a difficult stretch and continuing to work through the game plan.
Purdy's demeanor has generally served him well in those situations. Shanahan praised his quarterback's ability to remain levelheaded, noting that he doesn't get too high or too low. Still, the coaching never stops, even after a touchdown.
Shanahan said Purdy doesn't take that kind of criticism personally. Instead, he's receptive to the message and understands the value of correcting mistakes, regardless of how a drive ultimately ends. That's even more important this week. Seattle can make an offense work for every yard, and the 49ers may need to stay patient if their first few possessions don't produce the results they want.
Purdy has shown he can make plays when things break down. Shanahan isn't looking to take that ability away. He simply wants his quarterback to recognize when it's time to improvise and when it's better to stay in the pocket and let the play develop. Against the Seahawks, knowing the difference could be critical.
Watch Maiocco's full interview with Shanahan below:
More info on: Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel
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