Hasselbeck identifies Purdy’s main trait that makes the 49ers QB a ‘player’ originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – If Brock Purdy ever needs someone to defend his skills on the field, NFL alum Matt Hasselbeck clearly has his back as the 49ers star.
The longtime NFL signal-caller spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area while attending Tight End University and explained why he believes Purdy is the real deal.
“Brock Purdy is a player,” Hasselbeck said. “People say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t have the ‘wow’ stuff.’ BS Turn on the tape. This guy has ‘wow’ moves. He’s a great defender. I know he might not win a combine competition or anything like that, but in my opinion he would win a quarterback competition. I think he’s a great player.”
Hasselbeck, who had an impressive 17-season career in the league, knows what it takes to fill the position and believes Purdy is the right guy for the job. The young quarterback the statistics clearly speak for themselvesbut Hasselbeck explained what it takes to get those numbers.
“I think a lot of this involves making split-second decisions,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s also about launching at the moment of truth. I use this example a lot with the defenders I coach – the best golfers in the world, they hit that shot the first time. You don’t get a second chance.
“[Purdy] took advantage of the opportunity, took advantage of it and made those big plays in a split second, when they needed to be made. A lot of guys out there think, ‘Oh, I could have done that.’ Yes, but you didn’t do it when the opportunity arose. He took advantage of that and I don’t think they’ll look back.”
Hasselbeck believes Purdy’s being a student of the game has paid off in his play on the field. But the former quarterback also pointed to Purdy’s trust not only with his teammates, but also with the coaching staff, especially head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan’s move and the system help Purdy’s success, but what matters is what the Iowa State product does with his opportunity. The fact that Purdy didn’t seem to shy away from off-schedule pitches impressed Hasselbeck.
“Just trust your training and then relax,” Hasselbeck said. “You have to play aggressive, you have to play offensive. You can’t look at a defense and see what they do and then react. It has to be: ‘I’m on the attack and I’m going to dictate where this football goes. I’ll release him.
“You can’t be reckless; That’s why you trust your training.”
Letting it go aggressively – and without being reckless – sounds exactly like the 49ers starting quarterback.
