QB Brock Purdy Press Conference

QB Brock Purdy

Press Conference – January 25, 2023

San Francisco 49ers

Do you think that the Cowboys were the best defense that you’ve faced to date, and if so, how do you think that’s kind of prepared you for your opponent on Sunday?
“Yeah. I do, I think they had a great front. I thought their secondary was really talented and skilled, so all around, I think their scheme was really good too. I do think it was one of the best defenses that I’ve seen, that our team has seen this year. And obviously, this week’s going to be a great challenge with the front that Philadelphia has, so I thought it was a good game to have and to work through and learn from for this week’s matchup.”
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that back before the Seattle game you worked silent count that week and he even then was thinking like, this could be good because we may play Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game. Did he mention to that to you at the time and what is the key to being good at working silent?
“Yeah. When we played Seattle that week and everything, he did say it was good preparation for what we might have to play in, in terms of the playoffs, going on the road for road games and obviously for Philadelphia. Everything in these kinds of games is all about communication. How can you operate smoothly, get in and out of the huddle, get the play off in the right way, make sure everyone’s on the same page, so that’s definitely a big emphasis this week just at practice with the little things, the details of communicating and being on point. And that starts with the cadence, so it’s going to be huge for us.”
Along those lines, the headset went out for one play on Sunday on a third down or something like that?
“Yes. Yeah.”
Does that happen a lot? How do you handle it? What do you do in that situation?
“It was really just a personnel issue that we had. We we’re trying to get the right amount of guys on the field and obviously the play clock was going down and so it just became one of those things where we got the play in a little late and we just ran what I heard, but it wasn’t the exact right play. In the moment, that’s just on us players I feel like, to be prepared and know what coach is trying to call. I put that more on myself than anything, but I think other than that, Kyle does a great job of getting the play in and everything operating pretty smoothly.”
Was that the first time that’s ever happened or–?
“There was a couple other times early in the year, but we got the play off in the right way. That was the first time we didn’t get to play in, and then we ran the wrong play, so it happens, it’s part of the game, but we want to do our best to eliminate those kind of things from happening.”
Does head coach Kyle Shanahan ever call a play and you say to yourself, I don’t like it, and then you call your own play?
“No, whatever he calls I have full faith and trust and I run it.”
Can go back to training camp and I remember you didn’t get many opportunities, obviously, probably about 10% of the team snaps, so how did you deal with that? Was it frustrating and just how did you try to maximize the opportunities?
“Yeah, at the time, obviously, [QB] Trey [Lance] and [Detroit Lions QB] Nate [Sudfeld] were taking the majority of the reps, and so I got a couple plays at the end of each period, but for me it was how can I do the reps that I have to the best of my ability, to do everything, the little things, right. I didn’t make it more than what it was. I just kept it simple, went through my reads and showed them that I can take care of the simple plays that they give me throughout practice, but I definitely wanted to have the opportunity that I had to show them that I can play, so that was just about build building trust back then.”
What do you remember from the college game against Oklahoma when you and Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts went up against each other, do any memories that stand out from that game?
“Yeah it was a game, obviously there was a lot of points scored, it was almost like you had to score every single time you had the ball. Different situation and scenario than what we’re about to go through on Sunday, but it was a fun college game. It was a great experience to go against Jalen and they had a great team, and he was making plays and I feel like we had to do the same to keep up and stay alive in that game as well, but this is a different situation, different scenario going into Sunday.”
You were sacked a couple times early, threw a bunch after that, never was sacked again. Was that just a matter of you realizing you might have to get the ball out sooner? Was there an adjustment in the play calling and how would you account for that?
“Yeah, I would say it was a mix of both things. I think it was a reality for myself in terms of knowing like, I can’t hold onto the ball all day. I have to be in rhythm. I have to be in time within the play that’s called and help my offensive line out by giving them confidence, by getting the ball out, allowing them to get settled in the game early. And then also, Kyle called some plays after that set up the pass game later so that the offensive line could get settled, that I could get settled and then once we got into a rhythm, things were better in the second half.”

The Oklahoma game, the two-point conversion, that was a very tight window. Did you for a moment think that was a completion and you guys had won the game? And then also that was not the first time you experienced a road atmosphere like that, but it was a night game in Norman, OK, with 80,000 people, does that collective experience kind of maybe make what you’re about to face Sunday a little less overwhelming?
“Yeah, to answer the first part, yeah, I thought it was a completion. Obviously, it sucked not getting the completion and the game being over, but yeah, that was that. In terms of the environment and everything, yeah, those kinds of games definitely helped, I feel like with just a lot being on the line, in the moment, focusing on what’s in front of you, focusing on the defense rather than getting caught up in the crowd. I played in a couple of those games in college and I think that was just a great experience for me to go back to and remember how I felt, what was going through my mind, how did it affect my decisions. I definitely feel like I’ve grown from it and that I went through something like that.”
You seem to be really comfortable going left, now with more games under your belt, is that something you want to change? Would you like to go more, right? What are you seeing from yourself on those situations?
“Yeah. Honestly, I hope I don’t have to scramble, so that’s not something that I have in my mind, but it is part of the game. I just feel like how the pocket is collapsed, that’s just an area I feel like I’ve gone to, but it’s not something that I’m like, man, I have to stop going left, or I need to go more right. It’s just part of the game. It’s a natural feel I feel like in the moment, so it’s not something that I’m practicing or anything like that.”