Brock Purdy is averaging a 2.99-second time to throw through seven weeks this season, putting him fifth in the entire league and painting a clearer picture of what’s really happening on that San Francisco offense. The Niners are on their bye week, doing their due diligence on potential trade partners, but out on the field, Purdy’s numbers are sparking some real talk, separating fact from the same old “Shanahan’s system” arguments.
Purdy’s Scramble Game and First-Read Prowess
While the San Francisco offensive line has been playing well, that 2.99-second average time to throw actually tells us Purdy is scrambling more than you might think. He is right there with some of the league’s most dynamic QBs in that metric. Think about it, the guys ahead of him on that list, like Patrick Mahomes and Drake Maye tied at 3.17 seconds, and then Caleb Williams and Bo Nix, are known for extending plays. It definitely shows Purdy is making things happen outside the pocket.
But it isn’t all improvisation. When it comes to “first read” throws, Purdy is absolutely elite, sitting at fourth in the NFL with a 67.5% completion rate. That’s a huge number, right behind guys like Matthew Stafford (77.4%), Jared Goff (72.7%), and Jordan Love (69.6%). What’s interesting is Stafford and Love run offenses that demand timing and precision, much like the Niners. Even Joe Burrow, coming from a similar coaching tree as Shanahan, is right behind Purdy. This isn’t about dinking and dunking, it’s about hitting targets quickly and accurately as designed. As for “designated receiver” throws, like screens or jet sweeps, Purdy’s percentage is a modest 7.5%. Honestly, his pure passing ability probably just negates the need for a ton of those types of plays, unlike what we’ve seen from other quarterbacks in Shanahan’s past.
Decoding the “Second Read” and the Checkdown Confusion
Now, let’s talk about “second read” throws. Purdy clocks in at 7.5% in that category. For context, that’s the third-lowest percentage in the league, with only Jordan Love (2.2%), Malik Willis, and Tyler Shough having fewer. Willis and Shough, by the way, have zero throws to a second read. This number isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially in Shanahan’s timing-based offense. When that system is humming, the ball is supposed to be out quick, hitting an open receiver exactly where they’re supposed to be. It’s about precision, not necessarily working through multiple reads on every play.
And what about that age-old “checkdown” narrative? It often gets mixed up with designed throws underneath that are meant to gain yards after the catch. People just don’t understand the difference. A true checkdown is…
Through seven weeks, these numbers paint a picture of a quarterback who’s upgrading his play, balancing designed precision with the ability to extend plays when needed. He’s making the system work, and that’s something the rest of the league, especially the NFC West, has to grapple with as the season pushes forward.
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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