49ers Coach Impressed by Quarterback’s Performance in Win Over Giants
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed his admiration for quarterback Brock Purdy’s performance following the team’s 30-12 victory over the New York Giants on Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium. However, Shanahan’s appreciation grew even more after reviewing the game film.
Known for his aggressive blitzing tactics, Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale unleashed his blitz packages against Purdy and the 49ers’ offense. It was Purdy’s composure and ability to adjust that impressed Shanahan the most.
“After watching the film, I was even more impressed than I felt after the game,” Shanahan revealed during a conference call on Friday. “I thought he hung in there, made a few mistakes, and had a remarkable game.”
Despite facing an over 80-percent blitz rate from the Giants’ defense, Purdy struggled with accuracy in the first quarter, completing only five of his 11 attempts for 68 yards, resulting in a 65.7 rating.
However, Purdy quickly settled in and adapted to the pressure imposed by the Giants. In the second quarter alone, he displayed significant improvement, completing nine of his 12 attempts for 89 yards, one touchdown, and an impressive 123.3 rating.
By the end of the game, the Iowa State product had completed 25 of his 37 attempts for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and a solid 111.3 rating.
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Purdy’s most crucial statistic of the night was his zero turnovers, a testament to his decision-making and ball security.
Shanahan emphasized that it wasn’t just Purdy who adjusted to the relentless blitz; the entire offense worked cohesively as a unit. Moving forward, this game will serve as a valuable resource for the team to improve their performance against aggressive defenses.
“We missed several blitz pick-ups, leaving free defenders in space,” Shanahan acknowledged. “This made it challenging to maintain accuracy, as tipped passes become more likely. We need to avoid those situations.”
With a few extra days to rest and recover, the 49ers now turn their attention to the upcoming matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, who will visit Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, October 1.
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