It’s on him.
After all, he’s an NFL starting quarterback. It’s the most powerful position in Western Civilization.
Sure, we spent the week on the show listing all the good reasons the 49ers are a rather disappointing 2-3 thus far, with two blown fourth-quarter leads at the Rams and at home against the Cardinals. Among those reasons:
— No Christian McCaffrey has the team bereft at crunch time.
— New defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen’s defense has yet to plug leaks at key times, as I was just saying to my good pals Justin Jefferson, Kyler Murray and Tutu Atwell.
— Special teams has been a disappointment, ranging from fake punts to blocked punts to a key Jake Moody miss in L.A. to an unfortunate Jake Moody mid-game injury.
— Red-zone offense is among the worst in the league.
— Kyle Shanahan seems to press the wrong buttons on the play sheet at crunch time, leading to blown second-half leads in three of their last four losses, and yes that includes February’s Super Bowl.
But I’m looking at Brock Purdy.
Because whether it’s fair or unfair, the QB in the NFL is the Big Man on Campus, and at the homecoming rally, it’s always up to the BMOC to rally the troops.
Are wins a QB stat?
They are for the purposes of this Jock Blog.
Sure, we can point to any of the above reasons and say that if any one of those was fixed, the Niners would be 4-1 and feeling the love from all the NFL pundits.
But it’s QB time Thursday in Seattle. Although I am a major advocate of increasing the use of Jordan Mason and the run game at all times — George Kittle came on our show this week and said he wouldn’t mind running it 40 times every week — there will come a time on Thursday night when Purdy has to make the right decision, the right read and the right release.
He did not do that on a couple of critical occasions in the shocking loss to Arizona, and it stung. His overly long scramble and ensuing 9-yard sack that pushed the Niners out of Moody-less field goal position was injurious to the cause. And of course, his deflected pass that resulted in a game-ending interception killed the game.
Couple this with Purdy’s inability to lead the 49ers from their own 30-yard line to even launch a field goal try in a 24-24 game at L.A. and you have a QB who needs to up his game at crunch time. Yes, I know Ronnie Bell dropped a pass that could have changed the narrative. As an alternative, Purdy also could have smartly checked the ball down the field and not relied on one big play.
In fact, that’s one of the key things I’d love to see increase in Purdy’s game: take what the defense gives him, and not worry about holding the ball so long for big plays deep. Check it down, 13. Five and six-yard gains are good things, my brother.
It’s time for the leader to lead. NFL quarterbacks are world-famous because they make game-winning plays at game-winning times. In two recent blown losses, the 49ers QB did not do as such.
To do it in Seattle on a Thursday night in front of God, the 12s and the veteran pipes of Al Michaels? Now’s the time, Brock Purdy. Earn that Toyota ad money.