Kyle Shanahan runs a QB-friendly system in San Francisco, but star left tackle Trent Williams doesn’t want Brock Purdy called a system quarterback.
After the 49ers finished off their latest romp — 28-16 over division rival Seattle — Williams scoffed at the notion that Purdy is propped up by the offense.
“I don’t get why people say he’s a system quarterback,” Williams said via 49ers Web Zone. “… No system quarterback makes tight-window throws before they’re there, throwing people open, putting the ball into a window and trusting his receiver to get there, layering balls over linebackers who are in good position, and still getting the ball over their head, getting it to the playmaker.
He is incredibly precise. Observing many of his throws, it’s evident that his accuracy allows his teammates to continue running after making a catch. I believe he doesn’t receive adequate recognition for this skill.
On Sunday, Purdy tossed for a career-high 368 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception. His 122.1 passer rating was his 12th career game with a 100-plus rating, second-most all-time in a player’s first 18 starts since 1950, tying Dan Marino and Kurt Warner, behind only Patrick Mahomes (14).
Purdy joined an exclusive group of Super Bowl era quarterbacks, which includes Joe Montana, Drew Brees, and Sam Bradford, by achieving a completion percentage of over 70 in seven consecutive games within a season. His completion percentage was 70.4, making him the fourth QB to achieve this feat.
Williams stated, “In locker rooms, players who understand football and study us before competing against us, cannot label him as just a ‘system quarterback’. This is evident from the throws he makes, especially under pressure. He rarely resorts to checking the ball down. His focus is primarily on getting the ball upfield. Moreover, he is apt at creating extra time with his mobility. And even then, his gaze remains down the field. He seldom looks to run the ball past the line of scrimmage, as his main goal is to deliver the ball to his playmakers.”
Currently, he is arguably the most proficient in the NFL at delivering the ball to his playmakers, regardless if it’s five or 55 yards away. He has the capability to execute every possible throw. There’s not a single throw that he can’t accomplish.
Williams thinks that Purdy being the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has critics sticking to their assessments.
“I know obviously with him being the Mr. Irrelevant, everybody is slow to give him his flowers because then what’s that say about a lot of scouting departments if you let a guy like this slip to Mr. Irrelevant pick,” Williams said. “I think a lot of people are slow to give him his props just because of his draft status and where he was drafted. If he was Zach Wilson, I think he’d probably be unanimous MVP, the next coming of Aaron Rodgers or somebody like that. But since he’s a Mr. Irrelevant pick, and this is what, almost two years of him putting just unbelievable quarterback play on film and it’s still guys saying, ‘Hey, I think it’s Deebo. I think it’s Trent.’ I think, yeah, that’s not realistic.”
Purdy’s play enhances the offense for Williams, not vice versa.
His success is not hidden, and it certainly has nothing to do with the system.
