I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, Smayan. We wholly disagree on Brock Purdy.
The NFL has changed. Pocket presence does not mean what it used to mean. I know what I always say. Sack rate is a QB stat. In fact, it's THE QB stat, meaning it's the stat that the QB, individually, has the most control over. Your teammates can help you a little bit to not get sacked, but not as much as they can help you complete passes, accrue yards, throw touchdowns, etc..
As we're seeing with Jayden Daniels right now, as long as you can be productive and complete passes, who cares if you do it from inside the pocket or outside? Maybe some offensive linemen who don't want to do that much work, but there's no connection between offensive success and not throwing the ball on the move, as long as the QB is good at it. This reveals the real definition of pocket presence: how long can you hold the ball, without taking a sack?
There is more than one way to be successful, but it doesn't take any pocket presence to hit the back foot and get the ball out on time. Joe Burrow's lack of any pocket presence whatsoever is why the Bengals' offence has to operate the way it does.
Holding the ball is how you allow big plays to happen. You allow receivers to get open deeper down the field, etc.. Plays where the ball is held longer (but there is no sack) create scramble drill scenarios, and generally good things happen for the offence. On the condition that he can avoid a sack, I want my QB holding the ball as long as possible. This is what all the greats do.
Hold the ball forever, but don't get sacked.
This is really rough, and comes with obvious issues, but here is a back of the envelope measure of pocket presence: Who holds the ball longest, but maintains a below average sack rate?
Would you look at that?
1. Brock Purdy (3.17 seconds), and then there is a gulf before you get to...
2. Lamar Jackson (3.04)
3. Bo Nix (2.96), which is extremely impressive out of a rookie, and may indicate he's got some good years ahead of him.
4. Josh Allen (2.91)
T-5. Jordan Love (2.81)
T-5. Patrick Mahomes (2.81)
Looking at the names on this list, you can see that this is a skill that tends to separate the men from the boys. Far from thinking his pocket presence is inadequate, I actually think Brock has a serious argument for the best pocket presence in the NFL, because he can somehow manage to hold the ball all night (3.17 average time to throw is actually the longest in the NFL), and not get sacked. What people think Lamar Jackson is in terms of sack avoidance is what Brock Purdy actually is, and THIS is why Brock Purdy topped my QB tier list last year, while I never put Jimmy G higher than tenth.
This sack rate stuff is individual. It's not the SF system. Brock Purdy would still be not just great but number one at this if you put him in another uniform, and therefore would be an elite QB in any uniform. What people need to look into is why Brock is throwing into coverage more than any other QB in the NFL. Probably because he has no receivers that are open due to being stuck with really poor receivers for injury reasons, so he has to consistently force balls into tight windows, and still has a CPOE way above 0 by the way.
In short, I think Brock Purdy is elite. I think he was the MVP of the NFL last year, but didn't win the award because 'wow, Lamar so pretty', and should be getting MVP looks this year considering he's dragging the trash on offence he's been surrounded with to still be a top five pass offence in the NFL right now, but he won't. The NFL world discriminates against QBs who were not selected in the first round, and Brock Purdy (and his fans, like me) is feeling the full brunt of that right now.
Sorry for the rant buddy. You've hit a nerve with this one with the discrimination being so blatant and clear to see, not on your part, but on the part of anybody who thinks any other QB could do what Brock Purdy is doing right now.
Yes, I did look into his CPOE (it's pretty good), but here's what I was trying to say. I didn't really make it clear in the article.
I'm not saying this is something that is in a dire need of work. I'm saying, he could be an even better QB if he's able to throw in the pocket better. He can move around and do all he wants. That's the game of an NFL QB these days. What's also the game of an NFL QB these days is the pocket passing. If Deshaun Watson can do it, then Brock Purdy should be able to do it. Even the worst of the worst NFL QBs currently (Bryce Young???) or past (Ryan Leaf??) can pocket pass.
That is all I'm saying. (I'm on the Lamar Jackson is bad train too lol.)
I do not think that Brock Purdy's a bad QB. Maybe I'm an old school guy. Or it's that I'm so used to the QB running game (Jalen Hurts fan here), that I personally want another QB to throw the ball right.
Brock Purdy does throw the ball right. As far as I'm concerned, he does it better than anybody else until proven otherwise. Ever since Peyton Manning made happy feet the standard, there's been no going back.
Patrick Mahomes has been able to be the best QB in the NFL while remaining scared of contact, constantly falling away for no reason. I don't think pocket passing is a particularly important skill anymore. Passing is still the most vital skill in football, but with new schemes you can be the best QB in the NFL without being great at doing it from the pocket. Of course, more skills are better than less skills, but anything that Patrick Mahomes isn't great at clearly isn't a necessary skill.
Some of the best plays in football have come via the QBs scrambling. I get it. But, I'm a huge Tom Brady guy and whenever I see Purdy and his play, it always reminds me of Brady. I'm not sure if you can disagree with that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KjTLUeHpQw. If you take a look at that link, it highlights some of Tom Brady's best plays of his career. While I didn't spend my time watching EVERY single play, I watched 10 or so and all of them was him staying in the pocket. Brady's considered as the G.O.A.T.
I like the 49ers OL, but it isn't the best in the league for sure. In a recent analysis piece by PFF, they ranked the OL at 14. Despite having Trent Williams, well, it doesn't matter. He's one guy. Maybe, this is the reason Purdy's not very good in the pocket. Being good in the pocket has a lot of factors to it.
Don't look at Tom Brady, for this reason. When they elect groups into the rock and roll Hall of Fame, the main criteria they use is 'influence.' In other words, how many people tried to copy you? I think something similar should be done for sports Hall of Fames, because it is a good barometer to examine how many people tried to do what you did.
A scant few people tried to copy Tom Brady, and I think the best QB who copied the Tom Brady style is likely Andy Dalton. This is a damning argument against calling a player the best of all time. If he really was the best, more people would've tried to copy his style. This brings us to the man who's actually the best QB in NFL history.
Peyton Manning.
He's the one who killed the pocket passing style we're talking about here, because he showed everybody that you can come into the league with happy feet, never lose those happy feet, and still be the best QB the league has ever seen. From there, EVERYBODY copied him, and the league realised that happy feet may actually be a benefit, as it leaves you always ready to get away from prospective tacklers. If you can make the hilariously unathletic Peyton Manning so elusive (likely the best sack avoider in history) you can do it to anybody.
People like Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy are just the logical extension of Peyton Manning. Peyton with more athleticism, if you will. Instead of just using their elusiveness to avoid sacks, both are turning their pocket presence into big plays. Neither are as good as Peyton of course, but you never know how they'll turn out. Lamar has already lost too much time to be the GOAT, but Brock's had one full season and spent it on being the best QB in the NFL, so he's on GOAT pace (technically true LOL).
What I'm saying is basically don't look to Tom Brady for any modern comparisons, because the modern players didn't. They all looked to Peyton, subtly revealing that in the opinion of the players, Peyton was better than Tom, because if Tom was better they would've copied him instead. They can say whatever they want about Tom being the GOAT, but actions speak louder than words, and actions point to Peyton.
Purdy’s a really interesting QB. Part of why he established himself as the starter in Year 1 was because he was willing to stand in the pocket and take big hits, but he also possessed this crazy playmaking ability off-script. It’s kind of fascinating that his pocket presence isn’t where it should be right now, but this year just feels like one of those seasons where things are just a bit… off.
Either way, I don’t think anyone’s pointing the finger at him right now, and for good reason. He’s put them in great positions to win each week, and the defence just hasn’t done what they’ve needed to do to get them there.
I see what you're saying. I really just made this article because of the 49ers vs Seahawks game. Although I was tempted to just watch through it, I couldn't! I just had to analyze Brock's play. Like you said, the year just feels a bit off for the 49ers (Madden Curse)?
As long as they're winning games though. That's the approach the Eagles took in 2023.
I would say the defense has been okay. Fred Warner's making plays and they're able to get the other team to a 3rd down situation. But, just him, and even he goes bad once the other team gets to the Red Zone. They really have red zone problems. It could be better though. They lost Hargrave and Hufanga to injury, so there are a few holes.
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, Smayan. We wholly disagree on Brock Purdy.
The NFL has changed. Pocket presence does not mean what it used to mean. I know what I always say. Sack rate is a QB stat. In fact, it's THE QB stat, meaning it's the stat that the QB, individually, has the most control over. Your teammates can help you a little bit to not get sacked, but not as much as they can help you complete passes, accrue yards, throw touchdowns, etc..
As we're seeing with Jayden Daniels right now, as long as you can be productive and complete passes, who cares if you do it from inside the pocket or outside? Maybe some offensive linemen who don't want to do that much work, but there's no connection between offensive success and not throwing the ball on the move, as long as the QB is good at it. This reveals the real definition of pocket presence: how long can you hold the ball, without taking a sack?
There is more than one way to be successful, but it doesn't take any pocket presence to hit the back foot and get the ball out on time. Joe Burrow's lack of any pocket presence whatsoever is why the Bengals' offence has to operate the way it does.
Holding the ball is how you allow big plays to happen. You allow receivers to get open deeper down the field, etc.. Plays where the ball is held longer (but there is no sack) create scramble drill scenarios, and generally good things happen for the offence. On the condition that he can avoid a sack, I want my QB holding the ball as long as possible. This is what all the greats do.
Hold the ball forever, but don't get sacked.
This is really rough, and comes with obvious issues, but here is a back of the envelope measure of pocket presence: Who holds the ball longest, but maintains a below average sack rate?
Would you look at that?
1. Brock Purdy (3.17 seconds), and then there is a gulf before you get to...
2. Lamar Jackson (3.04)
3. Bo Nix (2.96), which is extremely impressive out of a rookie, and may indicate he's got some good years ahead of him.
4. Josh Allen (2.91)
T-5. Jordan Love (2.81)
T-5. Patrick Mahomes (2.81)
Looking at the names on this list, you can see that this is a skill that tends to separate the men from the boys. Far from thinking his pocket presence is inadequate, I actually think Brock has a serious argument for the best pocket presence in the NFL, because he can somehow manage to hold the ball all night (3.17 average time to throw is actually the longest in the NFL), and not get sacked. What people think Lamar Jackson is in terms of sack avoidance is what Brock Purdy actually is, and THIS is why Brock Purdy topped my QB tier list last year, while I never put Jimmy G higher than tenth.
This sack rate stuff is individual. It's not the SF system. Brock Purdy would still be not just great but number one at this if you put him in another uniform, and therefore would be an elite QB in any uniform. What people need to look into is why Brock is throwing into coverage more than any other QB in the NFL. Probably because he has no receivers that are open due to being stuck with really poor receivers for injury reasons, so he has to consistently force balls into tight windows, and still has a CPOE way above 0 by the way.
In short, I think Brock Purdy is elite. I think he was the MVP of the NFL last year, but didn't win the award because 'wow, Lamar so pretty', and should be getting MVP looks this year considering he's dragging the trash on offence he's been surrounded with to still be a top five pass offence in the NFL right now, but he won't. The NFL world discriminates against QBs who were not selected in the first round, and Brock Purdy (and his fans, like me) is feeling the full brunt of that right now.
Sorry for the rant buddy. You've hit a nerve with this one with the discrimination being so blatant and clear to see, not on your part, but on the part of anybody who thinks any other QB could do what Brock Purdy is doing right now.
Yes, I did look into his CPOE (it's pretty good), but here's what I was trying to say. I didn't really make it clear in the article.
I'm not saying this is something that is in a dire need of work. I'm saying, he could be an even better QB if he's able to throw in the pocket better. He can move around and do all he wants. That's the game of an NFL QB these days. What's also the game of an NFL QB these days is the pocket passing. If Deshaun Watson can do it, then Brock Purdy should be able to do it. Even the worst of the worst NFL QBs currently (Bryce Young???) or past (Ryan Leaf??) can pocket pass.
That is all I'm saying. (I'm on the Lamar Jackson is bad train too lol.)
I do not think that Brock Purdy's a bad QB. Maybe I'm an old school guy. Or it's that I'm so used to the QB running game (Jalen Hurts fan here), that I personally want another QB to throw the ball right.
Brock Purdy does throw the ball right. As far as I'm concerned, he does it better than anybody else until proven otherwise. Ever since Peyton Manning made happy feet the standard, there's been no going back.
Patrick Mahomes has been able to be the best QB in the NFL while remaining scared of contact, constantly falling away for no reason. I don't think pocket passing is a particularly important skill anymore. Passing is still the most vital skill in football, but with new schemes you can be the best QB in the NFL without being great at doing it from the pocket. Of course, more skills are better than less skills, but anything that Patrick Mahomes isn't great at clearly isn't a necessary skill.
Haha, I like the Patrick Mahomes one!
Some of the best plays in football have come via the QBs scrambling. I get it. But, I'm a huge Tom Brady guy and whenever I see Purdy and his play, it always reminds me of Brady. I'm not sure if you can disagree with that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KjTLUeHpQw. If you take a look at that link, it highlights some of Tom Brady's best plays of his career. While I didn't spend my time watching EVERY single play, I watched 10 or so and all of them was him staying in the pocket. Brady's considered as the G.O.A.T.
I like the 49ers OL, but it isn't the best in the league for sure. In a recent analysis piece by PFF, they ranked the OL at 14. Despite having Trent Williams, well, it doesn't matter. He's one guy. Maybe, this is the reason Purdy's not very good in the pocket. Being good in the pocket has a lot of factors to it.
Don't look at Tom Brady, for this reason. When they elect groups into the rock and roll Hall of Fame, the main criteria they use is 'influence.' In other words, how many people tried to copy you? I think something similar should be done for sports Hall of Fames, because it is a good barometer to examine how many people tried to do what you did.
A scant few people tried to copy Tom Brady, and I think the best QB who copied the Tom Brady style is likely Andy Dalton. This is a damning argument against calling a player the best of all time. If he really was the best, more people would've tried to copy his style. This brings us to the man who's actually the best QB in NFL history.
Peyton Manning.
He's the one who killed the pocket passing style we're talking about here, because he showed everybody that you can come into the league with happy feet, never lose those happy feet, and still be the best QB the league has ever seen. From there, EVERYBODY copied him, and the league realised that happy feet may actually be a benefit, as it leaves you always ready to get away from prospective tacklers. If you can make the hilariously unathletic Peyton Manning so elusive (likely the best sack avoider in history) you can do it to anybody.
People like Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy are just the logical extension of Peyton Manning. Peyton with more athleticism, if you will. Instead of just using their elusiveness to avoid sacks, both are turning their pocket presence into big plays. Neither are as good as Peyton of course, but you never know how they'll turn out. Lamar has already lost too much time to be the GOAT, but Brock's had one full season and spent it on being the best QB in the NFL, so he's on GOAT pace (technically true LOL).
What I'm saying is basically don't look to Tom Brady for any modern comparisons, because the modern players didn't. They all looked to Peyton, subtly revealing that in the opinion of the players, Peyton was better than Tom, because if Tom was better they would've copied him instead. They can say whatever they want about Tom being the GOAT, but actions speak louder than words, and actions point to Peyton.
Purdy’s a really interesting QB. Part of why he established himself as the starter in Year 1 was because he was willing to stand in the pocket and take big hits, but he also possessed this crazy playmaking ability off-script. It’s kind of fascinating that his pocket presence isn’t where it should be right now, but this year just feels like one of those seasons where things are just a bit… off.
Either way, I don’t think anyone’s pointing the finger at him right now, and for good reason. He’s put them in great positions to win each week, and the defence just hasn’t done what they’ve needed to do to get them there.
I see what you're saying. I really just made this article because of the 49ers vs Seahawks game. Although I was tempted to just watch through it, I couldn't! I just had to analyze Brock's play. Like you said, the year just feels a bit off for the 49ers (Madden Curse)?
As long as they're winning games though. That's the approach the Eagles took in 2023.
I would say the defense has been okay. Fred Warner's making plays and they're able to get the other team to a 3rd down situation. But, just him, and even he goes bad once the other team gets to the Red Zone. They really have red zone problems. It could be better though. They lost Hargrave and Hufanga to injury, so there are a few holes.
The Madden Curse! I knew there was something else I was missing...
It might just be that simple.
Purdy is a fraud, put him on another team and he will be mid
You never know though.
Last year, he had all the weapons. Aiyuk, Samuel, CMC, and more. This year, no CMC. The TEAM is not doing the best.
But, if you think about it, he's better than Hurts, Richardson, and Herbert (some of the most overrated QBs).