49ers' Kyle Juszczyk recalls Brock Purdy out-dueling Tom Brady

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers executed a flawed defensive gameplan against San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during Purdy's first NFL regular-season start this past December. 

"Usually, when a young guy comes in, you're going to see all types of blitzes, and Brock got that," 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk told the "Haberman and Middlekauff" podcast, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I think we were playing against Tampa Bay, and you saw, like, a record number of zero blitzes where they're bringing everybody. No safeties in the back, just man-to-man on each receiver. They're going to bring one more than you can block, and it's just kind of like, 'All right, rookie, can you make a decision quick?' It didn't go well [for the Buccaneers.]"

Purdy mostly was known as the final pick of the 2022 draft until he was called into action after Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a season-ending broken left foot against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13 on Dec. 4. The 23-year-old surprised many when he completed 25-of-37 pass attempts for 210 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the 33-17 win over Miami, and Purdy then had less than a full week to prepare for a Buccaneers team led by living legend Tom Brady. 

The Week 14 clash wasn't close for reasons many didn't anticipate. Purdy connected on 16-of-21 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, and he added a third score on the ground to help the 49ers earn a blowout 35-7 victory. To compare, Brady completed 34-of-55 attempts for 253 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. 

Purdy, of course, became a rookie sensation who won seven straight starts (including the playoffs) before he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game. He reportedly is on track to play in Week 1 this coming September, and Juszczyk wonders how opposing defenses will now scheme against who no longer is an unproven commodity. 

"Usually, it's, 'Heat him up, let's see what kind of decisions he makes under pressure,'" Juszczyk said about defenses facing younger signal-callers. "Now it's like, do you just play him like a normal quarterback? Are there things that he kind of gives away? I don't know. I haven't done that evaluation of him. Honestly, I'm interested to see, too, how people play him."

49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan likely share Juszczyk's curiosity as they attempt to determine how they'll handle 2021 first-round draft pick Trey Lance once Purdy is cleared to practice.