Whitner explains why Mason is not responsible for Purdy’s expensive choice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Brock Purdy’s late interception was the final blow to the game. 49ers lose 24-23 at the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
While an untrained eye might have pointed the finger at running back Jordan Mason for allowing a free rusher to Purdy, NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Donte Whitner explained why the running back isn’t responsible for the critical failure to protect San Francisco.
“In Jordan Mason’s defense, there, they (Arizona) overloaded the blitz with five guys. They (49ers) had three offensive linemen and a fullback, and they (Cardinals) brought five guys, and they did a really good job of covering it up,” Whitner said on “49ers Postgame Live” after Sunday’s loss. “So I wouldn’t put that on Jordan Mason, because he’s supposed to have the most inside defender, and it was still an outside safety coming in, and the tackle picked up the outside guy.
“I would say it’s on Brock Purdy, and it’s on Kyle Shanahan. He’s got to see that, he’s got to get rid of the football, or he’s got to avoid it and make it miss, but I don’t think it’s the case. Jordan Mason.”
Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson was able to explode through the B-gap on the right side of the 49ers offensive line, hitting Purdy while the quarterback was winding up, leading to the linebacker’s game-clinching interception. Arizona Kyzir White.
As Whitner noted, Mason chooses the defender with the shortest path to the quarterback, in this case Arizona linebacker Krys Barnes, which is a cardinal rule in pass protection at all levels of football.
Mason’s fumble in the red zone in the fourth quarter was a crucial mistake in the 49ers’ second-half collapse, but the running back shouldn’t be blamed for San Francisco’s final offensive play in Sunday’s defeat.
