Brock Purdy was out there dealing against the Rams, flashing that Ben Shelton-like intensity in his eyes, but man, you gotta feel for De’Zhaun Stribling. The dude got hurt, and you just hate to see a super smart, committed talent miss time. Prayers up for him coming back strong, because regardless of who he plays for, you always want to see guys like that win.
Purdy Found His Flow and Then Some
Look, the guy had a pick to Rams S Quentin Lake, and I’m sure he wants that one back. But after that, especially in the second half and cranking up in the third quarter, Purdy just looked absolutely locked in. Kyle Shanahan nailed it after the game, saying Brock “played so well” and “made some big-time plays, some big-time throws.” It wasn’t just Shanahan’s play-calling, though Purdy gave him credit for “dialing up the right play calls” and knowing when to “take a shot and go deep.” The Rams defense was giving them “ones and twos in the progression,” and Purdy was just taking what was there.
Then, when the plays weren’t there? He started using his legs. Shanahan specifically called out a 99-yard drive where Purdy had to “take off-schedule” multiple times, moving the chains with his legs. He even hit Deebo late on one of those scramble drills for a “big off-schedule for the touchdown.” Shanahan wrapped it up perfectly, saying “Brock was unbelievable today.” Now, the Rams might be a good defense on paper, but can Purdy keep this up against the Broncos? Their linebackers might be similarly bad in the passing game, but they’ve got some absurd talent elsewhere on that defense. It’s going to be a real test.
The Run Defense Is a Real Head-Scratcher
While Purdy was lighting it up, there’s a serious red flag on the other side of the ball. Hutchinson noted that the Rams were “able to Duo the hell out of the 49ers,” just pounding them with “double-team runs through their gut.” Apparently, CJ West was “frequently flailing around” and not doing his job, becoming a “bowling ball for the opposing team.” That’s a huge issue, and honestly, I thought it would define their success. It’s early in the season, but that kind of weakness can get exploited fast.
Good news? The secondary was “tremendous.” So, while the run defense was getting carved up, the pass defense held strong. You gotta take the good with the bad, but fixing that run-stuffing problem needs to be priority number one. No amount of “tremendous” secondary play can consistently cover up a leaky run D if teams just keep pounding the rock.
So, while Brock Purdy and the 49ers are trying to figure out their run defense woes, let’s talk about something more important for us. It was a good day for the Emerald City’s own. We came out on top against the New England Patriots, pulling out a 13-10 victory! Always feels good to snag a win, especially when the score is tight. We keep fighting, the 12s keep believing.
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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