QB Brock Purdy Press Conference

QB Brock Purdy

Press Conference – November 16, 2023

San Francisco 49ers

The first official play against the Bucs, not the blitz, but there was a pass to the left flat WR Deebo Samuel and like he wasn’t looking for it, and it like banged off his shoulder. What happened in that play?

“From what I can remember, it’s a quick game play, so I set left, Deebo is my first guy in the progression, and then [WR Brandon] Aiyuk second, I just saw space and he had leverage on the backer, so I tried to put it on him on his back shoulder. And I remember he just saw it different. He thought he was going to run up the field and have me put it over his shoulder where I thought I needed to put it on him. So, we were just not on the same page, second play the game, I think it was.”

It was your first official snap as a starter.

“Yeah. We were just not on the same page, but from there I feel like we got right with each other.”

TE George Kittle said he thought that the first play might have woken you up. Is that what happened?

“Honestly, yeah. I was like, okay I need to get into it and that hit actually sort of settled the nerves and stuff that I had for that game. I feel like I sometimes need to get hit to get into the game and feel like, alright, now I’m good to go and good to stand in the pocket and make throws and go through progressions. So that hit sort of helped.”

Have you ever had somebody hit you before the game to try and get going?

“Nah. I just usually just let the game do it for me.”

George was laughing in the huddle, he said he was kind of laughing at you a little bit.

“Probably. I don’t really remember, man. I was so locked in on, ‘dang it, dude, I was on the wrong play or whatever.’ So, knowing George, he probably was laughing.”

As you reflect on that moment, that game, your first start winning against former NFL QB Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, what do you think about when you think about that moment, that game?

“Yeah, it was huge. Just like the confidence that came from that knowing that, alright, you know, I can play in this league. We were on a roll too we had our sights set on finishing out the season strong. So, I was more excited just to show my teammates and the guys in this building that I can be the guy to help do that. And so, it was a huge game for myself, my confidence, and looking back on it, it’s always sort of fun just to see where I was as a backup, trying to make my way in the NFL and then sort of making a name for myself. So yeah, it’s always a good memory for sure.”

When did you break your rib that game and when did you know it was broken? Like not until the next day?

“Yeah, it was the third down where I scrambled and dove. I dove for the first down, there was a holding on the play, so it didn’t even count. But I remember when I extended my body just sort of twisted against itself on the ground, and I felt a pop. But I had so much adrenaline and stuff, I was like, alright, I’m fine, I’ll keep playing. And then every drive it just got more painful and more painful. And then in the second half, I was like, yeah, this is killing.”

You got hit on both of your touchdown passes in that game, you got hit pretty hard. Did you feel it in particular on those plays?

“Yeah, in the back of my mind, every hit I was sort of trying to roll with the hits, trying to protect my rib, but yeah, it was like I said, it just sort of started getting worse and worse every drive. I remember that two-minute drill before the half, that last touchdown to [WR Brandon Aiyuk] B.A., that one, I was like, ‘yeah, this is hurting real bad.’ But the adrenaline and stuff from the game sort of just kept me going through it.”

How similar does the Bucs defense look now as it did back then?

“I think the scheme and everything is similar. Last year we obviously didn’t get a whole lot of [Tampa Bay Buccaneers DL] Vita Vea, [Tampa Bay Buccaneers S Antoine] Winfield Jr. So, it’s like those guys, man, they make a huge difference in that defense. They’re the generals on the field and then obviously the backers, we played against them last year but with all of them playing together, man, it’s definitely different for us, but in terms of the scheme, the coverages and what they do, it’s similar, but every year’s a little different.”

The other day you talked about the value of having WR Deebo Samuel and T Trent Williams back on the field. I’m curious, just big picture, how do you view having those guys? What does it mean in terms of just kind of setting a tone for what you guys want to be as a team?

“Yeah, I mean, they’ve been huge pieces the last couple of years for this offense. You know, guys that we could all look to in terms of creating the energy, the spark, honestly, even like before the game, Trent is the one that breaks us all down before we go out to the field and when he’s not playing, he doesn’t do it. So even just having that kind of aspect and energy, he’s a huge piece of this culture, man. And then Deebo as well, obviously being able to get him the ball, make plays, feed off his energy and his swagger that he plays with. They’ve had so much success and helped build this place to what it is now over the past couple of years. So having those guys back, I mean, they’re huge. They’re a part of our offense and for me as a quarterback, it’s like, man, those are two of the guys that I always want to be playing with, and for me it helps out with my confidence every play. So they’re definitely huge for us.”

I’m sure you don’t mark time like this, but that Tampa game was the first of 17 starts. So since then, you’ve basically started for one season now. When you look back at that game and that film and you look at yourself now, do you see a dramatically, or a lot better player now than 17 games ago?

“Yes and no. You know, there are plays that I made in that game where everyone was like, wow, this guy can play. So, it just felt good. But after you play for a while, it’s like, in a sense you’re sort of expected to play at that standard. So, that’s where I’m at with that. I watched the film, there’s some stuff on the film, honestly, where I was like, ‘dude, that’s a little sloppy. I can clean it up.’ Just the operation, how I run the offense, those are all areas I feel like I’ve grown and can continue to be better at. But you know, the spark, the energy, the chip on the shoulder that I played with in that game, I feel like in the sense is sort of the same, like still trying to prove to myself that I belong in this league and on this team and stuff like that.”

So you feel like you still have to prove that to yourself now?

“Yeah, I mean, honestly, I’m still learning with all this, my mindset and stuff throughout the season, it’s a long season, but even the three games where we lost, it’s like sort of reminding myself, dude, you got to play with that chip on your shoulder again and be hungry and prove to yourself that every single game you got to prove to yourself that you’re supposed to be there. And so, looking back on the film and watching that Bucs game, it’s like, man, I was playing like that. So, it’s always good to go back and sort of just remind myself of that mentality.”

What do you remember about your emotional state before going into that game? Your first NFL start versus how you feel now before going into a game?

“Yeah, I mean, honestly a lot. Last year going into that game, it’s like everyone’s eyes were on me. I feel like the guys in the locker room and stuff like, how’s this rookie going to handle it? The preparation, it’s one thing to get thrown into a game and not all the pressure and stuff’s on you, it’s like you sort of have that outlet of, ‘yeah, I just got thrown into the game, give me a week to prepare.’ But now you got a week to prepare, and it’s like, alright, let’s see what you can do with it. So, I feel like there definitely were some expectations and pressures and stuff that I felt just naturally. But you know, compared to now, it’s like, yeah, I put that pressure and expectation on myself in terms of, I have to play at the standard now. I’m trying to get better every single week. But last year going into this game was definitely on another level.”

How do you balance the mindset of stay aggressive versus be patient, take care of the football and take the check down? How do you balance that and still stay aggressive?

“Yeah, I mean it’s a mindset I’d say. Just playing without fear. The fear of failure is something that I feel like I’ve learned over the years, especially in college. If you go out there and have that mentality of, I don’t want to mess up, then you start playing timid and then you’re obviously not playing like yourself, like you have growing up your whole life with that competitive edge. So that’s one thing that I’ve learned for sure is to try to take out fear, throw it out the window, and play clear-minded, play like a surgeon. Do what [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] is asking of me, but being smart with the ball at the same time, but also having the mentality of playing fearless and that doesn’t mean play reckless but be smart with the ball, play within the offense and scheme, if something happens where it’s off schedule, play ball. So I’m still learning that honestly, but I feel like that’s how I look at it right now.”

We asked a lot of guys on defense yesterday just about being complacent coming off the big win against Jacksonville. How do you make sure the guys in the huddle on offense aren’t complacent, kind of overlooking this game just coming off that big win?

“Yeah, I think we have so much experience and just the veteran leadership on this team where I don’t have to be a rah-rah guy and tell guys, ‘hey, we can’t get complacent or anything,’ like that’s the expectation. We know it’s a long season. Every single Sunday matters, we all know what’s at stake every Sunday. So, that’s the cool thing about it. I mean, but with new plays and new things going on for this gameplan and this week, that’s my job. That’s where I sort of get on guys and be like, ‘hey, we have to be cleaner here, here, here with the little details within the plays and stuff.’ So, I mean that’s, I guess, where I could get on guys, but I don’t have to be in the locker room telling everybody because we have the experience and guys know what to do and what to expect.”