Brock Purdy has mastered one of the hardest throws in football: the layered pass fitted between the second and third levels of the defense. ESPN NFL reporter Nick Wagoner writes that this skill is a big reason Purdy is playing at an MVP level this season for the San Francisco 49ers.
The throw is most valuable over the middle of the field, where Kyle Shanahan's offense relies on precise passes to pass catchers between multiple defenders. Purdy refined the skill through repetition against linebacker Fred Warner, the best middle linebacker in the game. In the 49ers' 16th training camp practice this August, Purdy completed a pass over Warner's outstretched arms to wideout Mike Evans for a big gain. Warner broke up similar attempts, and the two openly pushed each other to improve.
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris praised Purdy's intensity, saying it makes the team go. Through the first five weeks of the season, Purdy led the league in QBR (85.5) and touchdown passes (13). Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, inducted in 2017, said few people understand the degree of difficulty involved, and that Purdy's grasp of when and how to make these throws is one of the things that impresses him most.
Purdy explained that the throw requires precise timing and touch. The ball must be strong enough to clear a defender yet soft enough to arrive before the safety closes in. Reviewing film with ESPN, he walked through his pre-snap checklist covering the route concept, protection, timing and coverage. That preparation is what turns a risky throw into a reliable weapon for the 49ers.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing