Brock Purdy put up an A+ grade in Week 2, completing a mind-boggling 91% of his passes on target, and if you haven’t been paying attention to the 49ers, you need to now. This wasn’t some soft victory; it was a 22-point smackdown over the Miami Dolphins, and these guys are heading our way soon. What we saw from their offense in that game, especially their quarterback, should have every 12s radar buzzing.
Purdy’s Numbers Are No Joke, And Neither Is Their Passing Game
Seriously, Purdy’s Week 2 performance was lights out. He snagged the highest EPA per play by a whopping .40 for the week, and his success rate was a ridiculous 16 percentage points higher than anyone else. Throw in that 91% on target rate, his knack for dodging free rushers, and even using his legs to keep the plays on schedule, and you can see why they won by three touchdowns. When your quarterback is playing like that, you always have a shot, and he proved it.
It wasn’t just Purdy, though. Their tight ends, especially George Kittle, stepped up big time. Luke Farrell blocked like a beast again, just like he did in Week 1. Kittle and Farrell played the same number of snaps, but Kittle was the one getting targeted, and man, did he deliver. The guy still has enough burst to run away from safeties, even stiff-arming some poor rookie. He got some help from coverage busts, sure, but generating multiple explosive passing plays like that is huge. With questions swirling about their banged-up wide receivers, the answer seems pretty clear: throw it to Kittle more. They definitely found a way to make it work against Miami.
Cracks? More Like Tiny Scratches. But We’re Up Next.
While Purdy and the tight ends were shining, there were some smaller issues. Their running backs only got a C+. Christian McCaffrey ran well, but Kaelon Black left some yards on the table. Both produced yards after contact, but with the passing game going off, the run game didn’t get much volume. Honestly, it felt like the Dolphins kinda won that battle on the ground. The offensive line got a B-, with run blocking described as a stalemate. Trent Williams, that dude is amazing and seems to invent new techniques; he always pulls up their grade. But even he got off balance in pass protection on one play, which is rare. The pressures were low, but Miami still forced Purdy to move or stand tall.
The wide receiver group landed a B-, and this is where things get interesting for us. There’s a clear drop-off after Demarcus Robinson. Kyle Shanahan can create space for Deebo Samuel underneath, but trust in Deebo as a route runner beyond 10 yards seems iffy, plus he’s got a case of the dropsies. Mike Evans caught all three of his targets, but two were pure Purdy magic. They’re going to miss Robinson, who’s been everything you want from a “Z” receiver. KhaDarel Hodge, Jacob Cowing, and Jordan Watkins are all unknowns trying to fill that spot. The source even says it directly: “With Denver and Seattle on the horizon, somebody is going to have to step up” for them at receiver. Our secondary better be ready to feast on those unknowns!
Our guys on defense, under Mike Macdonald, better be locked in when these 49ers come to town. Sam Darnold will need to bring his A-game, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be crucial. This Week 2 report card isn’t just a breakdown; it’s a heads-up. Get ready, Emerald City, because a significant test is on the schedule!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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