The San Francisco 49ers have finally announced Brock Purdy’s replacement.
After a struggle that lasted throughout training camp and the preseason, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Brandon Allen will be the 49ers’ second quarterback. Josh Dobbs will be the third quarterback in case of emergency.
The pick wasn’t necessarily a sure thing given how both players performed in training camp and the preseason. Both have had their ups and downs, and Dobbs managed to put himself in the conversation by getting quick offense and closing the gap between him and Allen, who spent last season with the 49ers.
It is no surprise that Shanahan has taken this path with his decision.
If the 49ers don’t have Purdy at quarterback, Shanahan will try to remove as many variables from the offense as possible. Allen can effectively run the offense and get the throws to the right spots.
Dobbs can do that, but he’s still learning Shanahan’s scheme and his athleticism adds an uncharted layer to his game. He made plays with his legs in the preseason, but he also held onto the ball too long at times and made unnecessary negative plays by trying to extend a play too long.
After the preseason, it was clear that the ceiling was higher with Dobbs, but the ceiling was higher with Allen, which is important for the head coach if they have to survive a period without their starting quarterback.
