“Unlocking Purdy’s Hidden Potential: The 49ers’ Path to Super Bowl Success”
Purdy is believed to be capable of leveraging his athleticism to enhance his performance. He showcased this ability in the second half of the NFC Championship game against the Detroit Lions, rushing four times for 49 yards.
“There are opportunities for free yards in today’s expansive game,” Young remarked. “The game has changed from 20 years ago, and players can gain these yards with their legs at crucial moments. Purdy should aim to achieve 50-60 rushing yards per game.”
Young cited the impactful scrambling abilities of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson, noting that Purdy could succeed similarly.
“Brock understands he’s not at their level, but he can still be a threat. This potential needs to be more evident this year,” Young commented.
Following the 49ers’ comeback NFC divisional round win over the Green Bay Packers, Young learned of the Packers’ defensive strategy against Purdy as he left Levi’s Stadium. Due to Purdy’s less powerful arm, the Packers anticipated his need to quickly process and release the ball. Their defense was instructed to move towards where Purdy was looking, knowing he wouldn’t stay in the pocket for slow-developing plays.
“We should aspire for the Super Bowl, and they are,” Young stated on the latest “49ers Talk.” “When they fall short, you must grit your teeth, swallow the disappointment, and try again. They are capable, and last year’s results don’t lessen their Super Bowl chances this year.”
Reflecting on his 2023 season predictions for the 49ers: George Kittle would make 65 catches (accurate), rookie kicker Jake Moody would miss four field-goal attempts (correct), Charvarius Ward would make his first Pro Bowl (spot on), Trey Lance would be traded (true), and the 49ers would acquire a pass rusher at the trade deadline (correct). He also predicted a narrow playoff victory over the Lions (uncannily accurate) and a season-ending special-teams blunder (remarkably precise).
Despite some labeling these predictions as luck, there were misses, such as undrafted rookie Khalan Laborn not making the 53-man roster and being released by both the 49ers and the Edmonton Elks. Additionally, Isaiah Oliver was labeled as the “Worst Free-Agent Signing” instead of the “Best.”
Lynch, a Hall of Fame safety, related to these experiences. He took a pay cut late in his career to stay with the Denver Broncos, then coached by Mike Shanahan, four years after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This experience motivated Lynch to personally call Juszczyk instead of just contacting his agent.
“Lynch told me he didn’t receive that courtesy as a player, which hurt his feelings,” Juszczyk said. “While appreciated, my immediate concern was, ‘How much?’”