San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has already become a Cinderella success story after he was the last player taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. He had already shown some potential while at Iowa State University, but plenty of scouts overlooked him because of his lack of arm strength, size and outward athleticism.
But he has put in plenty of work over time to become at least a near-elite QB at the pro level.
One thing he did even prior to being drafted was improve one aspect of his throwing motion. He went to CORTX Sports Performance and asked physical therapist Tom Gormely to help him get better.
“He told me, ‘I want to be able to have more arm velocity, I want to be able to throw better on the move,’ ” Gormely said. ” ‘I want to know what I’m good at and what I’m bad at so I can improve. Tell me everything.’ “
Gormely and crew went to work and figured out how to elevate Purdy’s game.
“Using biomechanical analysis and visual cueing via high-speed cameras, Gormely and his CORTX team saw the issues that would hold back Purdy if not resolved,” wrote ESPN’s Stephania Bell. “His throwing shoulder was tight with limited external rotation compared to other quarterbacks. Purdy needed the ability to create separation between his shoulder and his hips that would allow him to access increased rotational motion to create stronger throws.
“… Gormely gave Purdy a plan to address deficits specific to his delivery. It involved physical therapy to address joint stiffness and soft tissue mobility, exercises in the gym to target specific muscle groups that would assist in his throwing delivery and movement patterns and work on the field with CORTX’s quarterbacks coach, Will Hewlett, to turn those neuromuscular developments into actual football skills.”
That work that was put in paid dividends very fast.
“The changes were visible almost immediately. At Purdy’s pro day, several scouts recognized more explosiveness and pop in his throwing than they’d seen during his final season at Iowa State or on tape. The 49ers were impressed enough to use the final pick of the draft pick on him, and during his first training camp and NFL preseason reps the evolution continued. Purdy was amazed by how quickly the work he’d done at CORTX during the spring and summer began to have practical applications.
“‘There are a lot of plays where the pocket starts closing in on you. You’ve got offensive linemen getting pushed back into your lap,’ Purdy said. ‘And you’re thinking, “How do I get this ball off with a lot of velocity and zip on it?” And when I would watch back the [practice] film it’s like, “Oh shoot, that looks like the drills that we were doing.” Warming up with the balls against the wall or exercises in the weight room. And I’m like that’s that.’”
Purdy immediately shined like a bright diamond once he took over under center as the Niners QB1 in Week 13 of the Week 13 season. He started 2022 as an afterthought since he was their third-string signal-caller, but upon becoming the starter, he gradually proved he was so much more than “Mr. Irrevelant.”
He was outstanding all through last season, and although he has been somewhat up and down this year, he still ranked sixth in passing yards and 10th in QBR coming into Sunday’s slate of games.
